North Dakota § 43-40-01 - Definitions

§ 43-40-01. Definitions

As used in this chapter, unless the context or subject matter otherwise requires: 1. "Board" means the board of occupational therapy practice. 2. "Occupational therapist" means a person licensed to practice occupational therapy under this chapter. 3. "Occupational therapy aide" means an unlicensed person who assists in the practice of occupational therapy under the direct supervision of an occupational therapist or occupational therapy assistant in accordance with rules adopted by the board. 4. "Occupational therapy assistant" means a person licensed to assist in the practice of occupational therapy, under this chapter, who works under the supervision of an occupational therapist. 5. "Occupational therapy practice" means the use of occupation and purposeful activity or intervention designed to achieve functional outcomes that promote health, prevent injury or disability, and which develop, improve, sustain, or restore the highest possible level of independence of any individual who has an injury, illness, cognitive impairment, psychosocial dysfunction, mental illness, developmental or learning disability, physical disability or other disorder or condition, and occupational therapy education. Occupational therapy encompasses evaluation, treatment, consultation, research, and education. Occupational therapy practice includes evaluation by skilled observation, administration, and interpretation of standardized and nonstandardized tests and measurements. The occupational therapy practitioner designs and implements interventions directed toward developing, improving, sustaining, and restoring sensorimotor, neuromuscular, emotional, cognitive, or psychosocial performance components. Interventions include activities that contribute to optimal occupational performance including self-care; daily living skills; skills essential for productivity, functional communication and mobility; positioning; social integration; cognitive mechanisms; enhancing play and leisure skills; and the design, provision, and training in the use of assistive technology, devices, orthotics, or prosthetics or environmental adaptations to accommodate for loss of occupational performance. Therapy may be provided individually or in groups to prevent secondary conditions, promote community integration, and support the individual's health and well-being within the social and cultural contexts of the individual's natural environment. 6. "Occupational therapy student" is a person enrolled in an accredited occupational therapy education program.