Will “Direct Support Professional” be Replaced By Robots? 🤔

Job Description

Under close supervision of an occupational therapist or occupational therapy assistant, perform only delegated, selected, or routine tasks in specific situations. These duties include preparing patient and treatment room.

Job Details

• The SOC (Standard Occupational Classification) code is 31-2012.00
• The Mean Annual Wage in the U.S. is $ 31,840.00
• The Mean Hourly Wage is $ 15.00
• Currently, there are 7,210 people on this job

☝️ Information based on the reference occupation “Occupational Therapy Aides”.

Also Known As…

• Occupational Therapy Aides
• Restorative Coordinator
• Restorative Aide
• Rehabilitation Technician (Rehab Tech)
• Rehabilitation Services Aide
• Rehabilitation Aide (Rehab Aide)
• Occupational Therapy Technician (OT Tech)
• Occupational Therapy Aide (OT Aide)
• Direct Support Staff
• Direct Service Professional
• Certified Occupational Rehabilitation Aide (CORA)
• Therapy Tech
• Restorative, Rehab Aide
• Rehabilitation Tech
• Rehabilitation Aide/Scheduler
• Program Trainer
• Occupational Therapist Aide (OT Aide)
• Occupational Rehabilitation Aide
• Independent Living Specialist

Tasks for “Direct Support Professional”

• Encourage patients and attend to their physical needs to facilitate the attainment of therapeutic goals.
• Supervise patients in choosing and completing work assignments or arts and crafts projects.
• Prepare and maintain work area, materials, and equipment and maintain inventory of treatment and educational supplies.
• Manage intradepartmental infection control and equipment security.
• Accompany patients on outings, providing transportation when necessary.
• Transport patients to and from the occupational therapy work area.
• Perform clerical, administrative, and secretarial duties, such as answering phones, restocking and ordering supplies, filling out paperwork, and scheduling appointments.
• Assist educational specialists or clinical psychologists in administering situational or diagnostic tests to measure client's abilities or progress.
• Adjust and repair assistive devices and make adaptive changes to other equipment and to environments.
• Assist occupational therapists in planning, implementing, and administering therapy programs to restore, reinforce, and enhance performance, using selected activities and special equipment.
• Report to supervisors or therapists, verbally or in writing, on patients' progress, attitudes, attendance, and accomplishments.
• Observe patients' attendance, progress, attitudes, and accomplishments and record and maintain information in client records.
• Evaluate the living skills and capacities of physically, developmentally, or emotionally disabled clients.
• Instruct patients and families in work, social, and living skills, the care and use of adaptive equipment, and other skills to facilitate home and work adjustment to disability.
• Demonstrate therapy techniques, such as manual and creative arts and games.

Related Technology & Tools

• Orthopedic splints
• Rehabilitation training ramps
• Sewing machines
• Transfer belts
• Desktop computers
• Sewing needles
• Personal computers
• Latch hooks
• Crochet hooks
• Adaptive cutlery
• Multi-line telephone systems
• Rasps
• Power hand sanders
• Hand weights
• Braille writers
• Leather scissors
• Beading needles
• Reachers
• Lacing needles
• Multi-purpose saw sets
• Rotary punches
• Knitting needles
• Photocopiers
• Dressing sticks
• Augmentative communication systems
• Canes
• Communication boards
• Rivet setters
• Crutches
• Therapeutic balls
• Wood chisels
• Rawhide mallets
• Wheelchairs
• Wheeled walkers
• Scooter boards
• Punching awls

• Electronic medical record EMR software
• Data entry software
• Billing software
• Microsoft Word
• Microsoft Office
• Microsoft Excel
• Microsoft Access
• Microsoft PowerPoint
• Scheduling software
• MEDITECH software