MILWAUKEE — Helping patients do their everyday activities is how Becky Hein describes her job as an occupational therapist. 

“We look at helping you get dressed, bathing, eating, making sure that we also incorporate things that are important to you such as play, we look at arm movement, we look at cognition,” said Hein. “There’s so many things OT can help with.” 

What You Need To Know

  • Occupational therapists help patients do their everyday activities, whether that's eating, bathing or making a sandwich 

  • Bryant and Stratton College OTA instructor, Ashley Ovaska-Weber said the profession its a blend of science and creativity 

  • Wisconsin Occupational Therapy Association membership includes legislative advocacy and free webinars for OTs

Occupational therapists work in a variety of settings, which include nursing homes, schools, home health and hospitals. 

Hein works at Children’s Wisconsin and utilizes the therapy room daily for sessions. In that room, she and her patients work on exercises, play games and even make brownies. 

Ashley O’Connor is currently shadowing Hein. She’s an OT student at Concordia University. 

“I like the approach of therapy you’re modifying and adapting the patient in their environment,” said O’Connor. “We’re not necessarily changing with the diagnoses they may have, but we’re modifying their environment to make sure it’s suitable for them.”

She encourages high school seniors to consider a career as an occupational therapist or an occupational therapist assistant (OTA). 

Ashley Ovaska-Weber is an instructor at Bryant and Stratton College for the occupational therapy assistant program. She said there’s a growing need for OT and OTA. 

“I think the boomer generation that everyone talks about there’s more need in health care settings,” said Ovaska-Weber. “I think in post COVID and the pandemic as well there’s been a lot more challenges. I think mental health has become more of an issue since that time. Knowing that we have background in psychology and mental health is really a role I’d like to see occupational therapy step into and using all of our skills.” 

She said the profession is the perfect blend of creativity and science. Creativity is something Hein said she enjoys including into her sessions. 

“Coming to the hospital is never really a fun place, but being able to bring a little joy to their stay and to help them get back to all the things they’re doing is really special and rewarding,” said Hein. 

Occupational therapist is a title Hein and Ovaska-Weber said they are proud to have. It’s a title O’Connor said she hopes to have soon. 

Ovaska-Weber encouraged those in the profession to join the Wisconsin Occupational Therapy Association. The membership includes legislative advocacy and free webinars.

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