Occupational therapy (OT) is a branch of healthcare that helps people of all ages who have physical, sensory, or cognitive problems. Occupational therapists use everyday activities, exercises, and other therapies to help people regain independence in all areas of their lives. The goal of OT is to promote health, well-being, and the ability to participate in important activities. OT can help people with a wide range of conditions, including birth injuries or birth defects, sensory processing disorders, traumatic injuries to the brain or spinal cord, learning problems, autism, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, mental health or behavioral problems, broken bones, or other orthopedic injuries. Occupational therapists help with barriers that affect a persons emotional, social, and physical needs. They can help people learn or regain skills of daily living after a change in ability, and teach them how to adapt to perform any kind of task at school, work, or in their home. OT can help people eat without help from others, take part in leisure activities, do office work, bathe and get dressed, do laundry or clean up around the house, and more. Occupational therapists work in clinical practice, community outreach, education, research, private practice, and many other diverse areas. They evaluate and treat people who have injuries, illnesses, or disabilities, and help clients meet goals to develop, recover, improve, or maintain daily living and work skills.