§ 5-40.1-3. Definitions.
(a) "Administrator� means the administrator of the division of professional regulation.
(b) "Board� means the board of occupational therapy practice within the division of professional
regulation established pursuant to the provisions of §â€‚5-40.1-4.
(c) "Chapter� refers to chapter 40.1 of this title, entitled "Occupational Therapy.�
(d) "Director� means the director of the Rhode Island department of health.
(e) "Division� means the division of professional regulation of the department of health.
(f) "Occupational therapist� means a person licensed to practice occupational therapy
under the provisions of this chapter and the rules and regulations authorized by this
chapter.
(g)(1) "Occupational therapy� (OT) is the use of purposeful activity or interventions designed
to achieve functional outcomes that promote health, prevent injury or disability,
and develop, improve, sustain, or restore the highest possible level of independence
of any individual who has an injury, illness, cognitive impairment, sensory impairment,
psychosocial dysfunction, mental illness, developmental or learning disability, physical
disability, or other disorder or condition.
(2) Occupational therapy includes evaluation by means of skilled observation of functional
performance or assessment through the administration and interpretation of standardized
or nonstandardized tests and measurements.
(h) "Occupational therapy aide� means a person not licensed pursuant to the statutes and
rules applicable to the practice of occupational therapy; who works under the supervision
of a licensed occupational therapist or occupational therapy assistant; who assists
in the practice of occupational therapy; and whose activities require an understanding
of occupational therapy, but do not require professional or advanced training in the
basic anatomical, psychological, and social sciences involved in the practice of occupational
therapy.
(i) "Occupational therapy assistant� means a person licensed to practice occupational
therapy under the provisions of this chapter and the rules and regulations authorized
by this chapter.
(j)(1) "Occupational therapy services� includes, but is not limited to:
(i) Evaluating and providing treatment in consultation with the individual, family, or
other appropriate persons;
(ii) Interventions directed toward developing, improving, sustaining, or restoring daily
living skills, including self-care skills and activities that involve interactions
with others and the environment, work readiness or work performance, play skills or
leisure capacities, or educational performance skills;
(iii) Developing, improving, sustaining, or restoring sensory-motor, oral-motor, perceptual,
or neuromuscular functioning; or emotional, motivational, cognitive, or psychosocial
components of performance; and
(iv) Educating the individual, family, or other appropriate persons in carrying out appropriate
interventions.
(2) These services may encompass evaluating need; and designing, developing, adapting,
applying, or training in the use of assistive technology devices; designing, fabricating
or applying rehabilitative technology, such as selected orthotic devices; training
in the functional use of orthotic or prosthetic devices; applying therapeutic activities,
modalities, or exercise as an adjunct to or in preparation for functional performance;
applying ergonomic principles; adapting environments and processes to enhance daily
living skills; or promoting health and wellness.
(k) "Supervision� means that a licensed occupational therapist or occupational therapy
assistant is at all times responsible for supportive personnel and students.