How can occupational therapists change an environment to improve a person’s ability to function?

Occupational therapists improve a person’s ability to function by analyzing the complex relationship between the individual, their daily activities, and their environment. When a person faces difficulty engaging in meaningful occupations due to illness, injury, or disability, therapists may choose to modify the environment to remove barriers and enhance performance.1

Environmental changes can take many forms, including:

• Home and Living Spaces: Therapists may adapt living environments to minimize risks, such as fall-prevention modifications for older adults, or reorganize kitchens to ensure utensils are reachable and meals can be prepared safely.1
• Work and School Settings: Therapists analyze the demands of a person's job or classroom to make adjustments that minimize pain and fatigue, such as modifying a workstation or changing the physical layout of a classroom to support a student’s specific needs.1
• Community Accessibility: Therapists conduct accessibility audits of public locations and programs to identify and provide recommendations for decreasing physical, attitudinal, and policy barriers.1
• Assistive Technology: Therapists may integrate devices—such as automatic door openers, accessible bathrooms, or environmental control systems—that act as part of the environment to reduce activity limitations and promote independence.2

By addressing these environmental factors, therapists help individuals participate more fully in their daily lives.1