Do you know what an occupational therapist is? Most people don't.

They are the people who give victims of stroke, the mentally and physically challenged, whether young or old, a purpose in life, and the courage and education to enter mainstream society.

BOTA member Lisa Perry, who is a paediatric occupational therapist at King Edward, puts it in a nutshell: "People often confuse occupational therapists with physiotherapists.

"Physiotherapists are people who help clients get up and get moving after an accident, injury or illness, and the OT's give them somewhere to go,'' This is the tenth anniversary of the founding of the Bermuda Occupational Therapy Association (BOTA) -- a perfect time for occupational therapists to come out and let the public know of the many different things they do to help others.

The association started because there were so many occupational therapists here in Bermuda working in different areas that it was thought to be a good idea to form an association so they could get together and share various experiences, network with each other, and give professional support, according to association vice chairperson Sharon Godwin.

BOTA was formed with 12 local members in 1987 with an aim to establish a professional association with credentials to join the World Federation of Occupational Therapists (WFOT).

According to the association, occupational therapy is the use of purposeful activity with individuals who are limited by physical injury or illness, psychological dysfunction, developmental or learning disabilities, or the ageing process in order to maximise independence, prevent disability and maintain health.

The practice encompasses evaluation, treatment, and consultation. Specific occupational therapy services include: Teaching daily living skills; Designing and/or fabricating orthotics (splints); Encouraging the proper use of selected adaptive equipment; Developing perceptual motor skills and sensory integrative functioning; Developing play skills; and Developing pre-vocational and leisure capacities.

Association chairperson Angela Mocklow said occupational therapy is a relatively new profession in Bermuda. The profession was first established in Bermuda in the early 1960s with the appointment of one occupational therapist in the mental health field. Since that time there has been a rapid expansion of the profession on the Island, mirroring the growth of occupational therapy elsewhere in the developed world.

Today, there are 19 occupational therapist, who are trained in different areas such as community, physical disabilities, and psychiatry.

"And currently, OT services provided in Bermuda exceed threefold those provided in the entire Caribbean,'' Mrs. Mocklow said.

There are ten occupational therapists at St. Brendan's Hospital working with the learning disabled and in acute psychiatry, community mental health, vocational training, and child and adolescent psychiatry.

Three occupational therapists work at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital in neonatology, paediatrics, adult orthopaedics, neurology, and eldercare. In the community there is one occupational therapist who works with eldercare and environmental adaptations.

In the Education Department, there are five providing services to special needs children in the Government school system from pre-school through high school.

But, increasingly, occupational therapy is becoming a community based profession.

The community occupational therapy (COT) programme has been in effect since 1982. A large part of the COT's day is spent "on-the-road'', visiting residents (clients) in their own homes, and residential care facilities. Miss Godwin, who is the community OT, said: "The COT plays a major part in helping clients to understand their disability, accept the limitations that cannot be changed, develop and maximise the abilities that remain and to minimise the handicapping affects of the disability.'' She added: "Sensitivity on the part of the COT is very important in helping clients, especially the senior population, to accept help with dignity.

"If someone has a stroke, they can sometimes be very despondent, and if they have no function in one side "we teach them daily functions with one hand.

They have to adapt to their lifestyle, getting dressed, bathing, kitchen skills etc.'' In the role of helping children, OT's assist children to the greatest degree possible, to achieve appropriate self help, play and leisure skills. U sing purposeful activity, including play therapy, the OT seeks to help children gain greater self-awareness, and insight to their problems.

Therapists go public Mrs. Perry said: "I work with people right across the lifespan from the very young, newborns, to the very old. I follow kids right through until they go to Government schools. I also look at whether a baby is progressing normally.'' Mrs. Mocklow said the association would like to see occupational therapy skills used in other areas of the community where people are having problems.

"We have been historically involved in getting the physically challenged back into the mainstream of the community, and getting the mentally challenged to assume their normal role in the community.

"BOTA is delighted with the development of the OT service in the Department of Education, which has occurred with the mainstreaming of special needs students. In the future, the association would like to develop a prison rehab programme for offenders,'' she said.

She added: "In other parts of the world, OT's are providing interventions in new areas, including primary care and litigation in the UK and US, and through private practice.'' For those interested in becoming an OT, Mrs. Mocklow said one must have a degree qualification. "You do need a university education in either the US, Canada, or Europe. It is demanding training and it requires a certain person to do it.

"A person needs to have an accredited occupational therapy course that will lead to state registration in that country because if they return to Bermuda they must be registered. OT's are registered under the council of professions supplementary to medicine, and in order to qualify for registration under that council you need to have a qualification from a university offering an approved course leading to registration in the country that you have qualified.'' Asked about how their jobs make them feel all three ladies said they felt their jobs were fulfilling and worthwhile, but by the same token very challenging.

"It truly gives you satisfaction when you see someone with a disability back in the mainstream, coping with daily living activities,'' Mrs. Mocklow said.

Mrs. Perry concluded: "We have to find out what motivates our clients even if they don't seem motivated.'' In celebration of the anniversary the OT's will be having coffee mornings on April 23 in the conference room at St. Brendan's Hospital and on April 27 in the occupational therapy department at King Edward.

HELPING THE PEOPLE -- Bermuda Occupational Therapy Association chairperson Mrs. Angela Mocklow (left) and vice chairperson Miss Sharon Godwin HANDICAP HAN HEALTH HTH