April is Occupational Therapy Month (OT Month), organized by the American Occupational Therapy Association, and this year’s theme is Enriching Lives Through Meaningful Engagement. Occupational therapists help people of all ages, including people with disabilities and their families, to engage in activities at home and in the community. They can help recommend strategies or tools for activities of daily living such as bathing, dressing, and eating; modifications to home or workplace for safety and usability; and programs to help engage in their community.

We gathered a resource from NIDILRR-funded research and development projects for each week of OT Month that can help OT support their clients in meaningful engagement:

• Community Life Engagement Toolkit helps OTs and other service providers develop and improve high-quality supports for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to engage in meaningful activities outside of work. 
• Get Involved, Get Inspired: How to Start Volunteering Now helps young people with disabilities understand the benefits of volunteering for connecting with community, learning skills, and bringing adventure, and offers steps to finding the volunteer opportunity that meets their interests and abilities.
• Guidelines for Delivering Telewellness Programs to Older Adults with Disabilities (PDF) guides providers in developing virtual wellness classes, including key considerations for platforms, class organization, safety, social time structure, and technical support.
• The Out and About Workbook (PDF) helps individuals achieve their community participation goals. OTs can use the workbook to help their clients learn about different types of goals and how to choose and track them, find information and resources work toward their goals, and review and celebrate their progress. 

Since April stretches over five work weeks, we’re also featuring a bonus resource: The Life Skills Manual available free from our website. This four-volume program was developed by an OT to help people with mental health conditions experiencing homelessness to learn the skills they need to live independently and safely in their communities.

If you’re an OT and have a favorite resource in your toolbox, please share it in the comments below!