Occupational Therapy Empowers Veterans to Reclaim Their Lives

At the Lake Baldwin VA Clinic, occupational therapy is helping Veterans do exactly that, one milestone at a time. 

Observed each April, Occupational Therapy Month recognizes a profession centered on helping people participate in the activities that matter most to them. Whether that means writing, getting dressed, preparing meals, returning to work, or pursuing personal goals, occupational therapists help patients rebuild function, confidence, and independence. 

At the Lake Baldwin VA Clinic, that work is changing lives for Veterans like Ronald Beasley and Alicia Malcolm. 

Beasley, a retired Navy Captain, came to occupational therapy following a life-altering stroke years ago. He worked tirelessly to relearn basic skills on his own, but knew there was still more progress to be made. 

“I had a massive stroke,” Beasley said. “I had to teach myself how to walk, talk and do a lot of things again.” 

He said occupational therapy has remained an important part of his journey, especially as he continues seeking ways to improve his upper extremity function and maintain his independence. 

“Don’t give up on yourself,” Beasley said. “Be patient with the process and celebrate the small successes.”

Malcolm, a Marine Veteran, began occupational therapy after undergoing surgery in 2024 to remove a tumor that had been pressing on her brain. After surgery and radiation, she experienced weakness and coordination issues on her right side, making everyday tasks like writing, typing, and tying her shoes difficult. 

“As an accountant, a teacher and a recruiter, that had a big impact on my day-to-day life,” Malcolm said. 

She began occupational therapy at the VA in July 2024 and said the progress she has made since then has been life changing. 

“He pushed me a lot, and that’s what I love,” Malcolm said of her therapist. “I was really hard on myself, and one thing he told me was not to compare my progress to how I was before the surgery, but to how I was after the surgery. That helped a lot.” 

Malcolm said therapy has helped her regain confidence and keep moving forward, both physically and mentally.

“Try it. Don’t just stay home,” she said. “Coming out to occupational therapy, you get that inspiration and you can set different goals that you want to accomplish.” 

For Andres Perez, occupational therapist and neuro rehabilitation coordinator at the Lake Baldwin VA Clinic, that is exactly what occupational therapy is meant to do. 

“Our goal is not just to get the patient moving or address pain,” Perez said. “It has a higher purpose of getting them back to their occupations.” 

Perez explained that occupations are the daily activities that fill a person’s life and give it meaning, from dressing and grooming to driving, working, exercising, and caring for a home. He said occupational therapy focuses on helping Veterans safely and independently return to those tasks while also addressing the emotional and social impact of recovery. 

“A lot of them suffer from social isolation,” Perez said. “We are trying to be very holistic.” 

That Veteran-centered approach includes evidence-based therapy, interdisciplinary collaboration and a growing focus on community reintegration and support. Perez said occupational therapy seeks to see the person before the illness and understand what is most meaningful to them. 

“When we lose our capacity to do our tasks, we can lose our sense of identity,” Perez said. “When we are able to restore the ability to do those tasks, we help Veterans regain a sense of who they are.” 

For Veterans like Beasley and Malcolm, that restoration is already underway. Beasley continues to advocate for fellow stroke survivors, while Malcolm is working toward completing a 5K later this year. Their journeys reflect the heart of occupational therapy: helping Veterans not just recover, but reclaim their lives. 

To learn more about Occupational Therapy services, Veterans are encouraged to contact their primary care provider for evaluation and referral options.  

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Established in October 2006, the Orlando VA Healthcare System (OVAHCS) was designated a 1a facility (most complex) in 2021, with more than 5,660 employees and an annual budget of $2.4B and serves more than 149,000 Veterans in Central Florida. The Orlando VA Medical Center at Lake Nona provides outpatient, inpatient, and emergency services. Lake Nona’s 65-acre medical campus encompasses 134 acute inpatient beds, providing complex Medical/Surgical/Mental Health specialty care, advanced diagnostic services, and a large multispecialty outpatient clinic, as well as a 120-bed Community Living Center, two Mental Health Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Programs/Domiciliaries (60-beds located at the Lake Nona Campus and 56 beds at the Lake Baldwin Campus). Outpatient services are provided at a Health Care Center in Viera, a Multispecialty Community-Based Outpatient Clinic in Daytona Beach, and five Community-Based Outpatient Clinics located in Clermont, Lake Baldwin, Kissimmee, Deltona, Palm Bay and Tavares.

To learn more about the facilities and services offered by the OVAHCS, please visit: VA Orlando Health Care | Veterans Affairs, subscribe to receive email updates by clicking here, like us on Facebook at: Orlando VA Healthcare System | Facebook, follow us on Instagram at: Orlando VA Healthcare System (@ovahcs) • Instagram photos and videos or on Twitter at: @OVAHCS / Twitter.