The Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) Program prepares the student for entry into a health care/community service profession that uses a variety of activities and modalities to help individuals learn and/or re-learn daily life skills needed in order to function at their most productive and independent level.
The OTA, under the guidance of an Occupational Therapist, uses their knowledge of human growth and development in the areas of physical, social and emotional functioning to carry out programs with clients of all ages. Clients who have a varying abilities resulting from physical injury or trauma, disease, aging, mental illness or substance abuse may require Occupational Therapy intervention. Functional goals established jointly with the client are aimed toward individual self-care, entry/reentry into the community and/or to work.
Activities employed may take many forms but might include activities as basic as daily tasks of bathing, dressing and cooking, or may be as complex as the use of computer assisted communication or work .
Program Topics
Professional Organizations & Sites of Interest
These web sites represent only a partial list of professional organizations and regulating bodies having to do with the field of Occupational Therapy in Texas.
- The American Occupational Therapy Association, Inc. (AOTA) - The organization that represents the interest of the profession of Occupational Therapy on a national level. They regulate the educational standards and accredit all universities and schools offering programs to become an Occupational Therapist or Occupational Therapy Assistant in the United States. This process is under the auspices of the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE). The AOTA offers a wide variety of Continuing Education programs throughout the US.
- Texas Occupational Therapy Association, Inc. (TOTA) - The state association representing Texas Occupational therapists in matters concerning legislation relative to the profession and consumers of our services. They offer a variety of continuing legislation relative to the profession and consumers of our services. They offer a variety of continuing educational opportunities throughout the year, including the Mountain Central Conference held in the Fall.
- Executive Council of Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy Examiners - You must apply for license as an Occupational Therapist or an Occupational Therapy Assistant with this agency following graduation from an accredited program in Occupational Therapy Assistant with this agency following graduation from an accredited program in Occupational Therapy and having successfully passed the national certification examination in order to practice in the state of Texas. That includes using any title or terminology implying that you are an Occupational Therapist or that you provide Occupational Therapy in any way.
- National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy, Inc. (NBCOT) - The certification examinations for both the Occupational Therapist and the Occupational Therapy Assistant given by this organization following graduation from an accredited program. Passing scores on the examination are accepted by the state of Texas for a license to practice Occupational Therapy.
We hope the following web sites are of interest to potential students, therapists and consumers of Occupational Therapy services. We will update this page periodically. Please feel free to let us know of other sites that we might look at to include.
- OT Advantage - Free social networking site for OT practitioners, students, and educators, with online courses and practice certification examination information, treatment articles, blogs, and resources.
- Advance Magazine for OT - Free print and online magazine with occupational therapy related articles, blogs, columns, continuing education seminars, and job information.
- Occupational Therapy Net - COTA jobs, license, schools, resources, and more.
- Promote OT - Free videos, client stories, and general information from the American Occupational Therapy Association.
- 2011 OTA Student-Fieldwork Educator Handbook - This handbook contains information for students enrolled in the OTA program.
Faculty & Staff
The Occupational Therapy Assistant program faculty are dedicated and licensed professionals. Each faculty member has graduated from an accredited program and has clinical experience in various areas. Contact information for each faculty member is provided below.
Rosemary Lanza, MSA, OTR
Instructor, Program Director
Email: rlanza@alamo.edu
Phone: 210-486-2426
Location: Center for Health Professions (CHP) 330L
Kathryn Freeman, MOT, OTR
Clinical Education Coordinator
Email: kfreeman24@alamo.edu
Phone: 210-486-
Location: Center for Health Professions (CHP) 330M
Ada L. Jackson, AAS, COTA
Instructor
Email: ajackson119@alamo.edu
Phone: 210-486-2041
Location: Center for Health Professions (CHP) 330B