Diploma in Occupational Therapist Assistant and Physiotherapist Assistant Seneca Polytechnic - King Campus, Canada

An Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy Assistant is a versatile healthcare professional who assists licensed occupational therapists and physiotherapists in providing comprehensive rehabilitative care to patients. With a broad skill set, they support individuals of various age groups in enhancing their physical, cognitive, emotional, and developmental well-being. By implementing treatment plans, guiding patients through exercises, teaching adaptive techniques and monitoring progress, these professionals contribute to improving functional independence, mobility, and overall quality of life. Their dedication helps patients recover from injuries, surgeries and medical conditions, facilitating their journey towards regaining strength, flexibility and overall physical well-being.

Ontario has seen a growing need to support the aging population, individuals with disabilities as well as those with rehabilitative needs or injuries. Occupational therapists, physiotherapists and their assistants are much needed health care professionals responsible for helping individuals to recover and maintain their physical abilities while managing functional limitations associated with a range of acute/chronic conditions.

Unique to Seneca’s approach, in the first semester of the program you’ll learn two-eyed seeing; a theoretical concept of seeing the world through both Indigenous and Western perspectives.

The program delivery model will explore a mix of delivery modes that include an in-person hands on component as well as online, hybrid and flexible classes. You’ll gain practical experience in our brand-new, on-campus simulation lab and through robust work placements that span more than 500 hours. This allows you to apply in-class learning to a workplace, while building a professional network and ensuring you are career-ready upon graduation.

Skills
Throughout this program you will develop the following skills:

• Communicate appropriately and effectively with clients, families and others
• Practice competently in a legal, ethical and professional manner
• Document and complete client records in a thorough, objective, accurate and non-judgmental manner 
• Contribute to the development, implementation and modification of intervention/treatment plans, under the supervision of and in collaboration with the occupational therapist or physiotherapist 
• Incorporate principles of equity, inclusion, belonging and Indigenous understanding of health and wellness into professional practice to optimize client care

Work Experience
Students will be exposed to their professional environment by completing four mandatory work placements spread across semesters two, three and four. Students must be in good standing and meet all requirements prior to participating in the work placements. The successful completion of all four placements is required for graduation. Eligibility for participation does not guarantee that a particular placement will be secured.