Learn about occupational therapy
Plain-English guides written for the people who actually need them: families navigating a new diagnosis, solicitors building a case, and professionals figuring out what to ask for.
Basics
3 articlesWhat is an occupational therapist?
An occupational therapist (OT) is a healthcare professional who helps people regain or maintain independence in everyday activities — washing, dressing, working, parenting, hobbies, getting around — after illness, injury, disability, or as part of ageing. In the UK, occupational therapists must be registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).
Read articleBasicsWhat is a case manager?
A case manager coordinates the rehabilitation, care, and support needs of someone with a complex injury, illness, or disability. In the UK, case managers typically work with people recovering from brain injury, spinal cord injury, or catastrophic injury — often funded by a personal-injury settlement, an insurer, or a privately-funding family.
Read articleBasicsOccupational therapist vs physiotherapist: what’s the difference?
Physiotherapists focus on movement: regaining strength, range of motion, balance, and physical recovery from injury or surgery. Occupational therapists focus on activity: what you need to be able to do every day, and what’s in the way of doing it. The two often work alongside each other but ask different questions.
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