Occupational therapists help people of all ages develop or maintain abilities to promote health and prevent disability. They work in a variety of settings like hospitals, schools, and community services. Occupational therapists help people learn new ways of doing activities, adapt equipment to suit people's needs, and make changes to environments to help people participate in important activities. Becoming an occupational therapist typically requires a three-year bachelor's degree, and the career offers rewarding, challenging, and diverse work helping people live fulfilling lives.

1. Occupational Therapy Career Choice Helping people attain their potential Photographers (top to bottom): D Brook, J Smith, J Higgins, P Eaton

3. adapt equipment or materials used every day

9. Consult in schools to help children with writing or attention skills and learning challenges

10. Help someone experiencing depression return to the workplace

12. Rewarding Photographer: E Vachon Photographer: T Tyre

13. Challenging Photographer: C Swift Photographer: J Atkinson

14. Diverse Photographer: P Eaton Photographer: T Trye Photographer: J Smith

16. Full-time courses lasting two years for people with a first degree

17. Four year part-time

19. Jo Learning Disability Community Team Jo has been an occupational therapist for four years, helping people who have learning difficulties: "My job is really challenging, and I genuinely love it. I am so lucky to work with a great team of people, and to have so many wonderful patients. It is so rewarding to be able to work together in achieving goals that will hopefully enable them to lead independent and rewarding lives.”

20. Barry Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency Barrylooks at vehicle access and at equipment and techniques to make cars accessible to passengers or drivers. “It’s really great when we can tell people they can drive again thanks to the work we have done. This gives them a huge part of their life back, and gives them the freedom to go where they want to go without relying on other people “Working as an occupational therapist is about providing support in all areas of a person's life. It's a very flexible career option.”

21. Denise Hospital Denise is the professional head of all occupational therapy staff in a large acute teaching hospital. “Occupational therapy gives me an opportunity to work with people and provides variety. I manage a staff of about 100 people, and no two days are the same. After 20 years I'm still excited by the job and never bored. There are always new things to learn and develop. “There's now a need for more occupational therapists, to help people come out of hospital and back into their homes and to people to stay independent in their homes.”

23. Helping people of various ages

24. Creative problem solving

25. Are you…

26. A good communicator?

27. Adaptable and flexible?

29. Challenging and

30. DiversePhotographer: T Trye Photographer: J Smith

31. Then to find out more about Occupational Therapy Visit the College of Occupational Therapists’ website www.cot.org.uk For a Careers’ Handbook, send a self-addressed, stamped (to the value of 80 pence) envelope to: Careers College of Occupational Therapists 106-114 Borough High Street Southwark London SE1 1LB