Occupational Therapy

Clinical Services

West Virginia University’s Division of Occupational Therapy participates in numerous clinical initiatives throughout the region. Across these programs, faculty and students strive to help those we serve to overcome barriers to living life to the fullest.

Some of the services offered are:

Driving Risk Evaluation

The WVU Occupational Therapy faculty practice clinic offers off-road driving evaluations using a state of the art driving simulator. The purpose of the evaluation is to examine the physical, visual, and mental abilities required for safe driving. This includes:

  • Reaction time 
  • Basic driving-related visual assessment
  • Decision-making, judgment, and planning (e.g., needed for making left turns)

In addition, the occupational therapist can do a “CarFit” assessment of you in your car.  This non-driving assessment looks at the fit and safety supports in your own car.  Based on your evaluation, the therapist can make recommendations about strategies, specialized equipment, and training to improve your driving safety and your overall health and well-being. 

For more information on driving rehabilitation services contact the WVU Physical and Occupational Therapy Clinic at 304-293-3600.

Cancer Survivorship

Some people experience cognitive changes during and after cancer treatment. These changes can include: 

  • being unusually disorganized
  • confusion
  • difficulty concentrating
  • difficulty finding the right word
  • difficulty multitasking
  • short attention span
  • short-term memory problems
  • taking longer than usual to complete routine tasks.

Within occupational therapy, we help break down barriers so that clients can do the things they need and want to do in life. In addition to cognitive changes, cancer survivors may also experience fatigue, anxiety, and depression, as well as struggling to perform their activities of daily living. The severity and duration of the symptoms of chemo brain and other cancer-related effects differ from person to person, so the interventions and coping strategies will also vary for each person as appropriate.  Our skilled clinicians will work with you to:

  • develop strategies to improve your cognitive abilities and performance
  • help you improve your ability to complete everyday life activities
  • create a plan that equips you to better manage any symptoms associated with cancer treatments and
  • identify ways to improve your overall health and wellness.

Assistive Technology and Computer Access

Occupational therapy, in collaboration with speech therapy and physical therapy, offers a team of experts to partner with you to perform a comprehensive evaluation and assessment so that together, we can find just the right assistive devices for you or your loved one. Our services provide enhancements to or suggest changes to the way a task is performed.  The use of assistive technology promotes greater independence by enabling people to do things that they were formerly unable to do or had great difficulty completing. Specific examples might include:

  • provide clinical computer access evaluations, including options for “hands free” access
  • consult on new mobility device evaluations, including complex seating and mobility needs
  • assess multiple strategies for producing written output and make recommendations based on your individual writing needs
  • assessment and intervention for young children by introducing assistive technology use through play activities to support the development of more complex mobility and communication device access strategies.

For more information on services and programs please contact:

Brain Injury Services

The symptoms of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) vary from person to person and may include: physical difficulties, cognition (thinking, memory, and higher level judgement issues), and psychological/emotional challenges.  Occupational therapy focuses on maximizing independence at home and in the community.

For more information on services and programs please contact:

Outpatient Rehabilitation

A wide range of outpatient occupational therapy services is available including hand therapy, with a certified hand therapist, services for persons with neurological conditions, pediatric services (i.e. early intervention through WV Birth-Three, feeding and swallowing clinic, and handwriting interventions).

For more information on services and programs please contact: