Occupational therapy aims at improving an individual's quality of life by assisting him/her in choosing, arranging and carrying out daily activities. Individuals who may benefit from occupational therapy include those whose daily function and social participation are limited by physical and/or psychosocial dysfunction, developmental disabilities, learning disabilities, aging, or an inadequate socio-cultural environment.

Started in the end of 1950s, Occupational therapy is a branch of the development of rehabilitation medicine in Taiwan. The School and Institute of Occupational Therapy of National Taiwan University is the first educational program on occupational therapy in Taiwan. With the collaborative effects of the past and current chairman and colleagues, there are around 600 students graduated from this school. These graduates of our School have devoted to occupational therapy or related field in Taiwan or overseas and contributed to the quality of occupational therapy service and the educational standards of occupational therapy profession.

There are currently 10 full-time faculty members, 6 part-time professors, and 8 adjunct professors   contributed to three specialty areas such as occupational therapy for physical disabilities, occupational therapy for psychiatric patients, and occupational therapy for pediatric patients. All faculty are members of the Occupational Therapy Association of Taiwan. Some members of the faculty are on the Board of Directors of this association. In this capacity, they promote the development of the occupational therapy profession in this country.

The undergraduate program was founded in 1970 as a division of the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. This was the first educational program on occupational therapy in Taiwan. In 1992, the school of occupational therapy was set up. The master of science program was established in 2002. The doctoral program was established in 2007.

We have developed and tested the effects and possible mechanisms of stroke rehabilitation based on randomized controlled trials with emphasis placed on contemporary treatment approaches (e.g., constraint-induced movement therapy) We aim at developing comparison trials to continue the research program and establish models of evidence-based stroke rehabilitation for research and practice (Arch Phys Med Rehabil 88:273-278, 2007; Arch Phys Med Rehabil 88:964-970, 2007; Neurorehabilitation and Neural Repair 21(5):460-466, 2007; Clinical Rehabilitation 21(12):1075-1086, 2007).Improving assessment efficiency by the development of a short-form of the Fugl-Meyer motor scale in patients with stroke (Stroke 38:3052-3054, 2007). Our finding might help to encourage clinicians to include psychosocial assessments when evaluating children with movement difficulties (International Journal of Rehabilitation Research 30:327-332, 2007).

We successfully integrated pervasive computing into play-based occupational therapy which enable the occupational therapists to (1) utilize digital technology to assist them in implementing an effective behavior intervention program and (2) target the client's specific functional behavior at the naturalistic place where the behavior occurs and when the treatment is most effective (in Proceedings of Ubicomp 2007). We found that severity of depression, perceived occupational competence and environmental support are important factors to influence quality of life for persons with depression, and occupational therapy could be included in the treatment team of depression since we could offer psychosocial rehabilitation for this group of patients (Quality of Life Research, 15:39-48, 2006).

We have developed a new radiographic method combined with an adjustable seating system for the measurement of the 3D posture by the use of the new technique to study the effects of special seating of lateral trunk support (LTS) on the posture (Arch Phys Med Rehabil 87(6):764-771, 2006). Our research team has focused on validating and modifying the famous foreign assessment tools (i.e. motor scales and postural assessments) for many years to meet local needs. The results of our studies are also very practical for clinical usage (Stroke 38:3052-3054, 2007; J Rehabil Med 39:454-460, 2007; Neurorehabil Neural Repair 21:81-90, 2007; J Rehabil Med 38:375-380, 2006; Phys Ther 86:936-943, 2006; Physical Therapy 86:195-204, 2006; Phys Therapy 85:887-894, 2005).

We found the effectiveness of occupational rehabilitation and factors influencing the returning workers with injuries and diseases to work. Results will be the major references of the policy of workers compensation (NSC 95-2314-B-002-223-MY3). Realizing the differences between patient and proxy reports in daily function after stroke will enable the clinicians and researchers to make appropriate medical plans according to the client's needs (Clin Rehabil 21:351-356, 2007). In our serious of study, biomechanical risk factors of falls during obstacle crossing were investigated using motion analysis techniques. It was suggested that investigating kinematics and kinetics of the locomotor system during obstacle crossing may help in devising strategies to predict and prevent trip-related falls (Gait & Posture, 23:69-77, 2006; Gait & Posture, 23:471-479, 2006; Gait & Posture 26:553-559, 2007; Journal of the Chinese Institute of Engineers 30:471-479, 2007).

According to research by the faculty and their clinical practice interests, specialty areas are divided into occupational therapy for physical disabilities, occupational therapy for psychiatric patients, and occupational therapy for pediatric patients. The teaching program covers services from acute care to the community-based practice. The students learn a comprehensive view of occupational therapy and gain practical experience in different service models.

The purpose of the undergraduate program is to cultivate students as occupational therapists with adequate professional knowledge and skills. This four-year occupational therapy program is part of the government's overall strategy for providing her people with comprehensive healthcare, including rehabilitation services and complies with the educational requirements for accreditation by the World Federation of Occupational Therapists. The aim of the master program is to cultivate occupational therapists with teaching and research abilities. The prospect of the doctoral program is to promote the quality of service and the educational standards of occupational therapy.