P.R. Laws tit. 20, § 1047
For the purposes of this chapter, the following terms shall have the meaning indicated hereinbelow:
(a) College. — Means the College of Occupational Therapy Professionals of Puerto Rico.
(b) Occupational therapist. — Is the licensed professional, certified and recertified to practice the occupational therapy profession in Puerto Rico. He/she evaluates, analyzes, interprets and intervenes with the needs and expectations of the consumer of the services, in the community context as well as in the medical model, using appropriate evaluation methods that identify the needs that hinder the achievement of optimal functioning in the occupational performance of the person. His/her other functions are to educate and offer consulting services to promote health and prevent any type of situation that may affect the health and well-being of the individual.
(c) Occupational therapy assistant. — Means the person who, under the supervision of a licensed occupational therapist, performs selective tasks or activities specific to occupational therapy. He/she shall be licensed, certified and recertified to practice the occupational therapy profession in Puerto Rico.
(d) Occupational therapy. — Means the science that studies occupation by means of the therapeutic use of activities of daily living (occupations) with individuals or groups of individuals so that they may participate in their roles and situations at home, in school, at work, in the community and in other scenarios. Occupational therapy services are provided with the purpose of promoting health and well-being for those who have developed or are at risk of developing illnesses, injuries, disorders, conditions, disabilities, deficiencies, limitations in activities or social participation restrictions. Occupational therapy addresses physical, cognitive, and sensory aspects, as well as other aspects of performance in a variety of contexts to support participation in daily living activities that affect health, well-being and quality of life.
(e) Consumer of the services. — The person who, both in the individual and the group environment has a limitation that does not allow him/her to perform his/her roles and related tasks in an independent manner within the contexts.
(f) Board. — Means the “Board of Examiners of Occupational Therapy”, by virtue of §§ 1031—1043 of this title.
(g) Occupational therapy professional. — The occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants.
History —Dec. 11, 2007, No. 183, § 2.