Factors influencing the education of occupational therapists in Ontario

This paper examines some of the factors which were involved in the December 1974, decision, of the Ontario's Minister of Colleges and Universities to Mohawk College of Applied Arts and Technology to establish an experimental program in occupational therapy. This program is being launched without the endorsement of the provincial and national association of occupational therapy which wish to maintain a baccalaureate level of education for occupational therapists in a university settings. Some questions which are explored in the examination of this case are: What is a College of Applied Arts and Technology? How is it different from a University? What is a profession? What is a paraprofession? Is occupational therapy a profession or a paraprofession? Why did Mohawk College propose an occupational therapy program? What factors contributed to the occupational therapists' inability to stop the proposal? What was the process of approval of the proposal? How important are status and prestige as factors in these issues? The following discussion will attempt to deal with these questions as they relate to the educational arrangements for occupational therapists in Ontario.