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Occupational therapy emerged in the early 20th century, rooted in the belief that purposeful activity is essential to health and healing. It grew out of the moral treatment movement of the 1800s, when practitioners began using crafts, work, and daily tasks to support mental and physical well-being. During and after World War I, OTs played a vital role in rehabilitating injured soldiers, and by 1917 the profession formally organized with the founding of what is now the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA). Since then, OT has expanded to address the needs of people across the lifespan, from premature infants to older adults, helping individuals live meaningful, independent lives.