How is occupational therapy defined in Georgia?

"Occupational therapy" means the therapeutic use of occupations with individuals, groups, populations, or organizations to support participation, performance, and function in life roles.

Occupational therapy is provided for habilitation, rehabilitation, and the promotion of health and wellness to those who have or are at risk for developing activity limitation or participation restriction. Occupational therapy addresses the physical, cognitive, psychosocial, sensory perceptual, and other aspects of performance in a variety of contexts and environments to support engagement in occupations promoting health, well‐being, and quality of life.

What is included in the practice of occupational therapy?

The practice of occupational therapy in Georgia, including that which may be provided through telehealth, includes, but is not limited to, the following:

Evaluation, treatment, education of, and consultation with, individuals, groups, and  populations whose abilities to participate safely in occupations, including activities of daily living  (ADL), instrumental activities of daily living (IADL), rest and sleep, education, work, play, leisure,  and social participation, are impaired or at risk for impairment due to issues related, but not limited to, developmental deficiencies, the aging process, learning disabilities, physical environment and sociocultural context, physical injury or disease, cognitive impairments, and psychological and social disabilities.

Evaluation to determine abilities and limitations related to performance of occupations, including the identification of physical, sensory, cognitive, emotional, or social deficiencies.

Treatment based on such evaluation utilizes task oriented, purposeful, and meaningful goal directed activities to prevent, correct, minimize, or compensate for deficiencies to maximize independence in daily life and promote overall health and wellbeing.

Specific occupational therapy techniques used for treatment that involve, but are not limited to:

• Training in activities of daily living;
• Environmental modification;
• The designing, fabrication, and application of orthotic or orthotic devices; selecting, applying, and training in the use of assistive technology and adaptive devices; sensory, motor, and cognitive activities;
• Therapeutic exercises;
• Manual therapy techniques that do not include adjustment or
• Manipulation of the articulations of the human body; and
• Physical agent modalities.

Such techniques are applied in the treatment of individuals, groups, or through organizational‐level practices to enhance physical functional performance, work capacities, and community participation.

What is specifically excluded from the practice?

N/A

Are there any special trainings or requirements?

Georgia OT Physical Agent Modalities

Reference

Ga. Code Ann. § 43‐28‐3