Will “Direct Support Staff” 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
• Direct Support Professional

Tasks for “Direct Support Staff”

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

Related Technology & Tools

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

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