Occupational Therapy is the only profession that helps people across the lifespan to do the things they want and need to do through the therapeutic use of daily activities (occupations). Occupational therapy practitioners enable people of all ages to live life to its fullest by helping them promote health, and prevent—or live better with—injury, illness, or disability. 

In an educational setting, Occupational therapy focuses on helping children with disabilities to participate in and access their curriculum as a Related Service.  This means that Occupational Therapy is not a stand-alone service and usually isn't accessed without other interventions in Special Education.

Occupational therapy services typically include an individualized evaluation, customized intervention, and support to students and staff in order to maximize participation with school-related tasks. This is a holistic profession, in which the focus is on adapting the environment and/or task to fit the person.