FAQ

For Prospective Students

Questions likely to be asked by students interested in OT

What is Occupational Therapy?

Occupational therapy is a rehabilitation profession that focuses on helping people develop, restore, or maintain INDEPENDENCE and FUNCTION. 

OT practitioners work with all ages - birth through the end of life - to help people do the things (occupations) they want to do by using activities, tools and strategies. 

What is required to become an occupational therapy assistant?

What is required to become an Occupational Therapist? 

Note: There are many different paths to become an OT practitioner. If you have additional questions or concerns, please reach out to us directly at ot4natives@gmail.com

What resources are available for me if I want to go to OT or OTA school? 

If you still need to take prerequisite courses, look into Community Colleges or Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs) which may offer them in person or online for a lower cost than 4-year universities. See the Resources page for a list of TCUs. 

Check the Resources Page for the link to a large list of scholarships for Native students

For more info/help, contact ot4natives+recruitment@gmail.com 

For Current Practitioners

Questions we often get from current OT/OTA students and practitioners.

How does occupational therapy benefit Native Americans? 

The benefits are the same as for any client: increased participation in activities that are meaningful to the person. The barriers to occupational participation can be greater for Native people because of the policies and targeted oppression that have been consistent since colonization (e.g. boarding schools which attempted to "kill the Indian, save the man"; reservation systems which forced us away from our rich natural resources and made us dependent on government rations which contribute to modern diseases like diabetes; Native mascots which keep our diverse tribal cultures frozen in a homogenized past and negatively impact the self-image of Native youth; ETC). 

Do not assume that someone who identifies as indigenous will hold a particular set of values. It is not possible, within one tribe, one generation, or even one family, to assume anyone holds identical (or even similar) views. As with any client you see, the best you can/should do is to ask about THEIR specific life, values and beliefs and how that might affect their participation in occupations. 

I want to volunteer to use OT to help Native Americans 

or 

I want to work on a reservation, how do I do that? 

First we would suggest self-reflection. Why do you have this interest? What do you know of the history and modern reality of the tribes in your area? Anyone who wants to work specifically with tribal nations needs to understand that our modern reality is painted by the historical trauma of genocide, government rations, residential schools, etc. A good place to start for preparation would be the documentary "Don't Get Sick Before June". Look into treaties that promised - among other things - health care in exchange for land (treaties which have obviously been broken by the US). Tribal communities rarely lack talent, ideas, innovation -- they lack funding and resources. We challenge any person intending to do a service trip to any community to think critically about what exactly they are providing with their presence that could not be better served by resources/funding. Any collaboration should be approached as an equal exchange and not a paternalistic/"savior" one. 

Where Can I learn more?