Occupational Therapy Insights: Recent Episodes
Dr. Frederick B. Covington
Occupational Therapy Insights is a show for parents, educational professionals, and occupational therapists, that delves into the world of occupational therapy. Here occupational therapy is broken down into its simplest form for all to understand. The show is hosted by Dr. Frederick Covington, an occupational therapy professor, author, award winning inventor, and occupational therapy private practice owner.
đ¨âWhy Did We Create IhomaWorld? âđ¨ I want to talk to you about why we built IhomaWorld. When we started designing IhomaWorld, we didnât begin with a product. We began with people. People who receive services through Medicaid waiver programs. People who live with disabilities. People who are often left out of the conversation when it comes to innovation, fun, and freedom. And we listened closely. What we heard, over and over again, were some very real, very raw pain points. We heard that leisure time often looks the same, day in and day out. repetitive, uninspired, and honestly, boring. We heard about the isolation. not just physical, but emotional. People feeling disconnected from their communities, their peers, from life. We heard that so many services are overly clinical and task-driven. That thereâs little time carved out just for joy, exploration, or even silliness. the very things that make us feel human. And we heard frustration with tech. systems and platforms that werenât made with accessibility in mind, or worse, made without the input of the people with disabilities. So we decided to build something different. IhomaWorld is our answer to those problems. Itâs a digital space, accessible by VR headset, and soon computers, phones, tablets, that is designed specifically for the overall disability community. Inside IhomaWorld, youâll find: ⢠Real opportunities for connection and community. ⢠You will find Interactive, meaningful leisure. ⢠you will witness A platform thatâs safe, inclusive, and easy to navigate. ⢠And most importantly, fun thatâs aligned with service goals. so it supports progress, not distracts from it. We didnât build IhomaWorld just to entertain. We built it because leisure matters. Because engagement matters. Because people deserve more than task lists and checkboxes, they deserve joy, autonomy, and a space to just be themselves. So when someone logs into IhomaWorld â maybe to dance, to play a game, to hear a lecture, or to talk one-on-one with a healthcare provider â theyâre not just killing time. Theyâre living. Thank you â and welcome to IhomaWorld. If you'd like to learn more please visit - https://www.ihomahealthcare.com/ihomaworld
Check out this short discussing someone with a disability participating in judo. What do you think the benefits are? Let's take a look.
What happens to those with disabilities who fly commercial airlines? Learn more here.Â
Here is a personal discussion about various misconceptions about visual impairments. These type of discussions need to be heard by occupational therapist, in order to be able to provide more patient centered treatments.
Try this interesting exercise to get a glimpse of what it is like to live with a disability
As we continue to encounter increased cases of Monkeypox, it is very important to be prepared and knowledgable. Here is a very comprehensive certification course. Link below.
đ´ https://thetherapyinstitute.thinkific.com/courses/monkeypox-management-and-prevention-certification đ´
Sometimes when the world sees someone with a disability, they question how they survive and how they cope with their daily lives. This man gives an explanation and shows the world how it's done. Let's go!
A man with Down syndrome fights for his right to live. Check out this compelling video.
This study sought to understand the specific disability-related support needs of families with children with IDD in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. We answered the following questions:
(1) How do family members of children with IDD in the Mekaneyesus Centre in Addis Ababa currently meet their disability-related support needs?;
(2) what are these family membersâ most pressing unmet disability-related needs?Â
(3) how do family members perceive their capacity to meet their support needs?
Work and psychiatric disabilities. A person, environment, and occupation perspective on Individual Placement and Support
Objectives: To conduct a process evaluation on the development of self-help groups during a 10-month set-up period, focusing on implementation and mechanisms associated with their
functional status.
Using decolonial theory, this empirical study sought to explore obstacles confronted by students with disabilities at entry in a specific institution of higher learning in South Africa.
The aim was to unveil the invisible obstacles and their causes for an effective intervention.
This study investigated utilization of SRHS amongst the in-school young people with disabilities (YPWDs) in Ghana using the healthcare utilization model.
The present study undertakes a scoping review of research to synthesise the current
literature about barriers and facilitators to participation in everyday life for children and
adolescents with disabilities living in low- and middle-income countries.
This article introduces the African Journal of Disability (AJOD)âs special issue on Disability and
Inclusion in Africa: The Role of Assistive Technology. The special issue comprises papers
presented at the fifth African Network for Evidence-to-Action in Disability (AfriNEAD)
conference which focused on the role of Assistive Technology (AT) in social inclusion of
persons with disabilities in Africa.
Background: Working-age adults with aphasia experience difficulties in social participation,
specifically fulfilling social roles and reintegrating into communities. Literature regarding
social participation of people with aphasia (PWA) is predominantly based on studies conducted in high-income countries (HIC), limiting generalisability of findings.
Perspectives of social participation are influenced by person, place and cultural background warranting investigation in heterogeneous low- and middle-income countries (LMICs),
like South Africa.
Objectives: Describe perspectives of working-age adults with aphasia regarding social participation within the first 2 years post-incident.
To investigate the nursesâ perceived role in healthcare transition of adolescents with ID into adulthood.
The aim of this study was to compare the impacts of aetiology and radiographic status on pain, disability and quality of life in a Beninese population with hip osteoarthritis.
The main objective was to obtain clarity on the factors that differentiate best between learners who participate in sport and those learners who are not participating.
This article aimed to establish the implementation of policy by researching the lived experiences of students with specific learning disabilities (SLDs) studying in the university.
Background: Cerebral palsy (CP) is the most common and most complex disabling disorder
in children. Newly qualified therapists are expected to manage CP despite feeling
inexperienced and inadequately prepared. Short postgraduate practical training courses
could potentially help bridge this readiness gap. However, the value of these short courses in
addressing the knowledge and experience gap is unknown.
Objectives: To establish the value of a short practical training course on the self-perceived
readiness of newly qualified South African trained therapists to work with children with CP.
Background: Habitual school backpack carriage causes neuro-musculoskeletal vertebral,
shoulder and hand pain; deviated posture compromised cardiopulmonary function and
proprioception.
Objective: Present a novel literature summary of the influence of backpack carriage associated
with deviated cervical posture and compromised pulmonary function.
Background: Access to assistive technology (AT) is poor in African countries because of a lack of knowledge, resources, services and products. A mobile application (app), the AT-Info-Map,
was developed to map AT availability in southern Africa.
Objectives: This article aimed to describe usersâ and suppliersâ perceptions of the AT-InfoMap app.
Background: People with disabilities often participate in income-generating activities (IGAs)
in sheltered workshop in South Africa. However, they face many barriers that limit their
ability to participate effectively in economic activities hosted by the workshops.
Objectives: To illustrate the barriers that limit the participation of people with disabilities in
IGAs in a sheltered workshop.
This research aimed to identify court accommodations recommended by legal
experts, which could assist individuals with severe communication disabilities in the South
African court.
The study aimed to examine the narratives of disability among SWD, lecturers
and the DU within a tertiary institution, with a view to better understand their experiences
and required initiatives to address the challenges of disability within a higher tertiary
institution.
The aim of this study is to subject the term disability to some relevancy litmus
test with a view to prevent it from acquiring Lyotardâs âgrand narrativeâ and to propose and
argue for the term âdifferently abledâ because of its transformative and anti-discriminatory
slant.
This article seeks to explore students with disabilitiesâ experiences of parental
support in the South African higher education context. The research question guiding this
article is: What forms of economic, social and cultural capital do parents and extended families
provide to students with disabilities to enable them to succeed in higher education?
The main aim of this study was to explore the experiences of primary caregivers across the trajectory of the diagnosis (before, during and after) of CP in the setting of a tertiary
hospital.
Against this backdrop, this study was designed to explore the level of resilience of Adults living with blindness. The influence of some demographics on resilience was also examined.
This study aims to answer the question: How are power relations depicted through linguistic landscaping in the universities?
This feasibility study aims to determine the requirements for a large descriptive cohort, to adequately describe the functional outcome of stroke patients with varying HIV status.
This study investigated how pain management intervention for children with CP in South African schools complied with international scientific knowledge about evidence based interventions. The intention was to provide support for an update of knowledge on both individual level (i.e. professionals) and system level (i.e. decision makers).
To gather life histories of people with disabilities in three sub-Saharan African countries (Kenya, Uganda and Sierra Leone) who have achieved economic success in their lives and to analyse factors that explain how this success has been achieved.
Background: Many patients with Down syndrome (PWDS) have poor cardiometabolic risk profiles, aerobic capacities and weak hypotonic muscles, primarily because of physical inactivity and poor diet.
Objectives: This study discusses the benefits of exercise therapy on body composition, aerobic capacity, muscle strength, proprioception and cardiometabolic profiles of PWDS.
The objective of this article was to assess the impact of an inclusive education intervention led by a non-governmental organization (NGO) on the educational attainment of girls with disabilities in the resource-poor Lakes region of Kenya.
This study focused on the learning support strategies used by recently qualified teachers in accommodating learners with NDDs in mainstream classrooms in the Gauteng
province of South Africa.
The study sought to understand the experiences of children with IDDs in learning in inclusive schools in Accra, Ghana.
Around the world, institutions of higher education are recognizing their responsibilities to achieve the full inclusion of individuals with differing needs and/or disabilities. The frameworks of universal design (UD) and universal design for learning (UDL) offer unique ways to build inclusiveness in our systems. The role of UD and UDL to strengthen successful inclusion of persons with differing needs in higher education programmes is presented from literature, inclusive of national and international policies and resources. Examples from South African and US institutions of higher learning are shared. Discussions of online accessibility, environmental issues, professional development, barriers to inclusion and recommendations for future development in an international context provide a vision for developing inclusive learning environments in higher education.
The fourth edition of the Occupational Therapy Practice Framework: Domain
and Process (hereinafter referred to as the OTPFâ4), is intended for occupational therapy practitioners and students, other health care
professionals, educators, researchers, payers, policymakers, and consumers, the OTPFâ4 presents a summary of interrelated constructs that describe occupational therapy practice.
Occupational therapy academic programs are tasked with preparing occupational therapy assistant (OTA) students to develop and use clinical and professional reasoning in practice. A component of this academic education, Level II fieldwork (FW), develops clinical and professional reasoning by allowing
students to practice this skill. Although numerous studies have investigated this topic in occupational therapy students, only one small study has previously investigated this in OTA students during Level II FW.Â
A short film for the Basingstoke and District Disability Forum raising awareness of physical and mobility disabilities.
Fieldwork education is an integral part of the educational process in occupational therapy and assessing student competency at the end of fieldwork is important. The aim of this study was to design andconduct an Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) based on the Occupational Therapy Practice
Framework (OTPF) for occupational therapy students on Level II fieldwork in Iran. A seven-station OSCE was designed and conducted with 13 students.
There is growing concern about student mental health, particularly during the COVID-19 crisis. Mental
health factors impact self-efficacy and study behaviors, thus there is a need to explore changes in these
factors during the pandemic. The aim of this study was to explore changes in allied healthcare studentsâ approaches to studying, self-efficacy and positive mental health before and during the COVID-19 crisis.
The Approaches and Study Skills Inventory for Students, General Self-efficacy scale, Mental Health Continuum â Short Form were given to graduate students (n=26) prior to, and one year into the pandemic.Â
High levels of stress among occupational therapy graduate students have led to the adoption of unhealthy coping habits such as poor nutrition, little exercise, and disrupted sleep. In response, many institutions have explored programming and even curricular changes to support student well-being.
However, very few are built upon a strong theoretical foundation to address holistic well-being. Therefore, this paper describes how logic modeling was used to develop a student well-being program based on Facilitating Learning and Occupational Well-Being Using Research-Based Initiatives for Student Health
(FLOURISH), a theoretical approach rooted in the Person-Environment-Occupation Performance Model.Â
When you use Words with Dignity, you encourage equality for everyone. If youâre in doubt, use people first language (e.g., âa person with a disabilityâ; not âa disabled personâ).
This article sought to interrogate some veiled challenges in border management systems affecting PWDsâ quest to venture into cross-border entrepreneurship. This angle has, to this end, been timidly addressed as most organisations and legislation have concentrated on making things work for the majority of the populace.
Self-advocacy is the ability to speak up for yourself and the things that are important to you. For individuals with learning disabilities (LD), self-advocacy means that you can explain what you need and why with confidence
Congenital upper limb deficiency (CLD) results from failure of formation or abnormal shaping of the upper limb during gestation. CLDs can be isolated, impact a single structure, or occur in multiple limbs, suggesting a pattern or syndrome.
The vision for Rising Tide Car Wash was inspired by Founder and CEO John D'Eri watching his son Andrew struggle to find his place in the world. As most families affected by autism often lose sleep over, John spent countless hours thinking about what Andrew would do when he was no longer there to support him. As Andrew grew up John started to see that although he was becoming a very capable young man, but there were virtually no opportunities for him after he aged out of the school system. Then in 2011, when Andrew was 21, John came up with the novel idea of buying a car wash to employ Andrew and others like him.
Objectives: This article looks at the functioning of â and politics governing â DPOs in Burkina Faso, their significance in the lives of people with disabilities and the challenges they
encounter.
Objectives: This study describes the engagement process of reciprocity and responsivity in aligning needs identified by persons with disability to four undergraduate allied health student training programmes in Worcester, Western Cape.
Since the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in
1990, the number of students with disabilities entering postsecondary institutions has increased significantly (United States Government Accountability Office, 2009). Despite the fact that these students comprised roughly 11% of the post-secondary population in 2007-2008 (National Center for Education Statistics, 2012), higher education research has largely ignored students with disabilities.Â
When there is a child that is a Sensory Avoider and the Dog, what will happen? Let's find out.
From a peer with dyslexia to a cousin who uses a wheelchair, your child may be curious about people with disabilities. Talking to your child about disabilities can help them gain a better understanding of why some people look, talk, act, or move a little bit differently.
There are 10 different impairment types. They are often divided into three groups of impairment: physical (impaired muscle power, impaired range of movement, limb deficiency, leg length difference, hypertonia, ataxia, athetosis and short stature), vision and intellectual. Once it has been assessed whether or not an athlete has an eligible impairment, it then has to be determined whether the athlete meets the "Minimum Impairment Criteria."Â
The COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately affected many who have historically faced
significant barriers to employment, including people with disabilities, compounding the
economic hardships many with disabilities faced before the pandemic.Â
A common tool in the special educatorâs toolbox is the social story. In 1989, Carol Gray developed the social story to show her students the âhidden social rulesâ and teach them how to respond, interact and value social relationships. Since then, teachers, OTs, and others have used social stories to teach a wide variety of skills to learners who need extra support to interact and become independent in their school, home and community.
When society views disability all many see are differences. But once you dig a little deeper, we can find out we are more alike than different.Â
The psychiatric reform has demanded to Occupational Therapy a boarder type of care
focused on autonomy production of individuals facing social exclusion. Despite the wide academic production in this subject, there is lack of studies addressing professional practice on new mental health services.
Disparities remain in mental health status and care for racial and ethnic minority youth, despite national attention to disparity reduction. This paper offers a comprehensive picture of the status of pediatric disparities, by addressing the major areas affecting minority youth mental health, including: prevention of problems, need for services, access to care, mental health treatment types and treatment outcomes. It addresses relevant factors in the family, community and socioeconomic
context, and describes various local and national programs that aim to tackle the obstacles and fill
the gaps in high quality care for racial/ethnic minority youth. It concludes by offering
recommendations for improvement which acknowledge the importance of understanding
preferences and attitudes towards treatment, ensuring that screening and diagnosis is appropriate to minority youth, and ensuring that evidence-based programs are available at multiple levels to best service children and succeed in addressing their needs.
Employment is a key goal for many people with long-term mental health issues. Evidence-based Individual Placement and Support (IPS) is a
widely-advocated approach. This study explored explore whethe
These exercises are designed to be completed with instructions from your occupational
therapist. ;)Â
The recent shooting has evoked many emotionsâsadness, grief, helplessness, anxiety, and anger. Children who are struggling with their thoughts and feelings about the stories and images of the shooting may turn to trusted adults for help and guidance.
Occupational therapy plays an essential role in an integrated system of services needed for healthy ageing across the life course. The unique focus of occupational therapy on the value of occupation advances the functional ability of older adults in meaningful contexts to support participation, inclusion, respect and security. Occupational therapists recognize active ageing, with involvement in lifelong activity and social interaction significantly contributes to creating and maintaining health,
wellbeing and quality of life.
Statement of the position being taken
Telehealth is an appropriate and effective delivery model for occupational therapy services when inperson services are not possible, practical, or optimal for delivering care and/or when service delivery
via telehealth is mutually acceptable to the client and provider. Telehealth can also be part of a blended service delivery model wherein some occupational therapy services are delivered in-person, and some
services are delivered at a distance.
Dear Therapist/Therapist Assistant,
Thank you for taking a few moments to learn more about
what your patient with Guillain-BarrĂŠ syndrome (GBS), chronic
inflammatory demyelinating neuropathy (CIDP) or a variant has
been experiencing and how you better can help them on their
road to recovery. Perhaps they already are well along on their
journey, or they just may be getting started, but their experience
to this point undoubtedly has been a frightening and stressful
one. Some of a patientâs greatest fears regarding therapy are that
their therapist will not know what to do with them and/or will not
understand their limitations, or that therapy will be so painful and/
or hard that they will not be able to move the next day.Â
To date, a range of qualitative studies have been undertaken in intervention effectiveness, but none has synthesized such studies within the occupational therapy mental health literature. This research article presents a
qualitative research synthesis that identifies those interventions used by occupational therapists, internationally, which are viewed as effective from both clientsâ and carersâ perspectives.
Children living in poverty in the UK are four times more likely to have mental health problems than children from high-income families. In turn, black and minority ethnic (BME) children are more likely to be living in
poverty than are white British children.
However, statistics on child and adolescent mental health by ethnicity are woefully lacking in the UK, with the last comprehensive national survey done 14 years ago. For BME adults, research indicates a higher prevalence
of diagnosed mental health problems compared with white adults but longitudinal data show that the pattern is mixed and inconsistent over time.
Evidence Connection articles provide case examples of how practice decisions may be informed by findings of systematic reviews sponsored by the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) Project. This Evidence Connection article describes a case report of a child with a diagnosis of autism
spectrum disorder who has difficulties in function and participation related to challenges in sensory integration. This
article is the first in a two-part series, and it focuses on occupational therapy provided to the child by a clinic-based therapist in collaboration with the childâs school-based occupational therapist. Part 2 in this series will describe the same childâs intervention by the school-based therapist. Intervention decisions are informed by findings of systematic reviews of intervention effectiveness that were part of an AOTA EBP Project addressing occupational therapy interventions for children and youth with challenges in sensory integration and sensory processing.
Sensory-based therapies are increasingly used by occupational therapists and sometimes by other types of therapists in treatment of children with developmental and behavioral disorders. Sensory-based therapies involve activities that are believed to organize the sensory system by providing vestibular, proprioceptive, auditory, and tactile inputs.
Here are some cool occupational therapy home activities to try out with those that you work with.
What are your OT thoughts on this? What approach would you take with a similar potential client and family? CAMILLE, from Connecticut, lives with a rare genetic condition called Prader-Willi Syndrome, a condition best known for creating an insatiable sense of hunger in the individual. The craving is so strong that if left alone and with access to food, a person with Prader-Willi Syndrome could eat themselves to death. That means Larry and Camilleâs mother Kim must create a completely âfood secureâ environment, including padlocking kitchen cabinets and having an alarm on the kitchen door to stop Camille foraging for snacks.
This article presents a model to guide activity-focused motor interventions as a component of early
intervention services for physical and occupational therapists working with infants and young children with neurological conditions and other developmental disabilities. Activity-focused interventions involve structured practice and repetition of functional actions, and are directed toward the
learning of motor tasks that will increase the childâs participation in daily routines. According to
this model, the pediatric physical therapist or occupational therapist, as a member of the intervention team, develops activity-related goals in collaboration with the childâs family. The therapist
plans activity-focused interventions by (1) using guidelines based on principles from motor learning and motor development, (2) adapting these guidelines, when necessary, to address the young
childâs individual strengths and needs, and (3) integrating impairment-focused interventions with
activity-focused interventions, optimally within the context of everyday routines and activities.
The elements of this model will be discussed through an example that is applicable to early intervention.
Sensory Integration theory, as discussed in this booklet, comes from a body of work
developed by A. Jean Ayres, PhD, OTR. This theory has been further developed and refined by the research of Dr. Ayres, and other occupational and physical therapists. In addition, literature from fields such as neuropsychology, neurology, physiology, child development, and psychology has contributed to theory development and treatment techniques.
Parents usually know and understand their children better than anyone else. Therefore, they also know better than anyone else then their children are struggling, stumbling, or suffering. This booklet was written to provide information on why some of these problems occur. It is also meant to help better understand the reasons why some of the things parents do naturally are vital to
fostering optimal development in their children. This booklet can also be used to communicate with teachers, physicians, counselors, therapists, and others, to help them understand some of the behaviors of the children with whom they work.
Here's a great way to track any sensory activities that you have planned for the children that you work with.
Here are some exercises to use with your clients for their upper extremities. Let's go!
As occupational therapist we have all had our share of auto accidents patients. Here is a brief overview of whiplash, which many of us have dealt with.
As we continue to dive into varying diagnosis, let's take a look at a scenario when there is visual impairment. What approach would you take with this client, how would you advise the family, let us know your thoughts.
As we are all used to watching singing contest like American Idol and those similar, it is not often that we see one with a perceived disability on the stage.
Highlights ADHD occurs in 5.9 % of youth and 2.5 % of adults.
Most cases of ADHD are caused by the combined effects of many genetic and environmental risks.
There are small differences in the brain between people with and without ADHD.
Untreated ADHD can lead to many adverse outcomes.
ADHD costs society hundreds of billions of dollars each year, worldwide.
Pediatric mental health is just as important as pediatric physical health. Let's take a deep dive and learn more.
How do occupational therapists function in the intensive care unit. At first I thought one may see little use of occupational therapy services on the surface level, but let's take a deeper dive to see how useful otiz really are in this setting.
Like traditional personality textbook, this textbook divides topics mostly by personality theorists. However, the authors also added some non-traditional personality topics, such as yoga, Buddhism, religious and African perspective on personality. The authorâs efforts to add these overlooked areas should be commended.
All brains and all people work differently.  Let's look at an Autism and varied pathways to interpretation.Â
Here is a wonderful study guide for your occupational therapy certification test. It was composed by Dr. Frederick B. Covington and the therapy institute. This is a free resource available to all. Check it out and pass your exam!!
Here is a very interesting excerpt. It's from the point of view of a parent and things that they initially noticed in their autistic child prior to in after the diagnosis. Let's take a look.
My mother used to say that there is no better way to learn than âstraight from the horses mouth closed quote. Here, let's take the chance to be educated by this little one.
Educating others about those with a disability can be rewarding and enlightening for both the educator and the educated. As occupational therapist we have to take our knowledge outside of the clinic and classroom and teach to the masses.
Here is a wonderful example of a neurotypical sister educating the world about her autistic brother. We almost take a first step to educate the masses, especially those of us in occupational therapy.
Home modification and adaptation is one of the places that occupational therapies truly stand out. Let's take a look at the future adaptations and modifications.
What is the true point of differentiation between a parent with a disability and a parent with no disability? Let's explore.
PURPOSE
To provide teachers and parents with information on evidence-based strategies to help their children better regulate their sensory processing.Â
Let's continue to take a deep dive into specific learning disability categories. The more you know, the more you know.
To do better you have to be better. This is in all aspects, not just in occupational therapy. Let us all begin...
Is there a way to joke about disability without being offensive? Whose sense of humor do we go by those that have a disability or those that do not? Let's take a gander OK.
What differentiates you and your job from a person with a disability in their job? Nothing. We all want recognition and notoriety for the things that we accomplish. Let's take a look here.
Today let's look at a personal account of what can initiate a sensory meltdown. Any interventions you would recommend?
Today let's take a moment to gain a better understanding of how visual perception is in those with autism.
Though many of us work in healthcare settings, we all know too well that infections occur in sometimes the most sterile environments. What can we do to make this better?
How do you think someone that is hearing impaired (deaf) would respond to the question, âwhat is disability?â Let's see.Â
Here is an individualized account of progeria. Let's take a deeper look and learn more.
What is the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, & Health?
Hmmmmm.......
Let's take a deeper look!!
As an occupational therapist, when encountering such a diagnosis, how would you advise this potential client and their family?
Questions to Ask When You Think A Student is Having Difficulties with Visual Perception
Objectives: To explore the perspectives of caregivers who are responsible for caring for both
family and children living with ASD and to highlight the needs of children with ASD as well
as the needs of their caregivers.
Background: Community-based rehabilitation (CBR) is a complex concept and strategy that
has been implemented in diverse ways globally and in South Africa. Internationally, some
stakeholders have described CBR as confusing, and this may influence implementation. A
southern African study reports that there is insufficient evidence of the understanding of CBR
in the region to influence training, policy and practice.
Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate South African stakeholdersâ knowledge of CBR
Background: Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) can assist persons with complex communication needs to communicate competently with a variety of communication
partners in a variety of contexts. However, AAC systems and intervention often do not take multilingual aspects into consideration.
Objective: This small-scale exploratory study had three aims, namely: (1) to describe the self reported language skills of multilingual South African adults using AAC, (2) to describe the
languages and communication modalities they used in interaction and (3) to obtain their views regarding access to various languages.
This article explores discourses of empowerment of persons with disability in Southeast Nigeria. We concentrate on the relation between local elites and the disability community and how it impacts our understanding of empowerment. Conceptualising empowerment as worldmaking, and disability as something that is ambiguous, we challenge the assumption that the aim of empowerment of disabled people is to improve their (disabled peopleâs) quality of life.
Learn more about a conceptual framework for designing ambient assisted living services for individuals with disabilities in Uganda and South Africa
Over 90% of Deaf parents have hearing children, but there are very few, if any,
studies that have explored the life worlds of hearing children of Deaf adults (CODAs) in
South Africa. This article is an account of part of the life experiences of a female hearing child
who was born and raised by her Deaf parents in apartheid South Africa in the 1980s.
The development of secondary health conditions (SHCs) after spinal cord injury (SCI) is common and can affect an individualâs emotional well-being, and his or her health-related quality of life (QOL). Little is known about relationships between performing
health-benefiting behaviours and the presence (or absence) of SHCs and QOL, particularly in South Africa.
This leaflet provides general information
about carpal tunnel syndrome and simple
exercises that may help
The challenges of wheelchair provision and use in less resourced settings are the focus of global efforts to enhance wheelchair service delivery. The shortage of professional wheelchair service providers in these settings necessitates the collaboration of multiple stakeholders, including community-based rehabilitation (CBR) workers, whose role needs to be further understood.
Musculoskeletal diseases consume a large amount of health and social resources and are a major cause of disability in both low- and high-income countries. In addition, patients frequently present with co-morbid chronic diseases of lifestyle. The area of musculoskeletal disease is restricted by a lack of epidemiological knowledge, particularly in low- and middleincome countries.
The Persons with Disability (PWD) are the minority group dehumanized in the
church. The subject of disability is complicated because of the impact of the Judeo-Christian
teachings. The Apostolic Faith Mission (AFM) in Zimbabwe is a leading Pentecostal church
with a pastoral ministry theology which emphasises divine healing, miracles, signs and
wonders. Thus, the space of PWD and how the PWD either connects or benefits from this
Pentecostal heritage is a critical gap in this study
There has been an overwhelming call to improve the understanding of how
children develop within an African context as Euro-American definitions of competence have
been uncritically adopted as the norm for children in Africa. The activities that children engage
in within the family setting are seen as important to understand how children develop within
context. The use of activity settings is closely aligned with a strengths-based perspective of
family-centred practice and contributes to improved sustainability of intervention.
Background: There is increasing interest in the collection of globally comparable disability data. Context may influence not only the rates but also the nature of disability, thus locally collected data may be of greater use in service delivery planning than national surveys.
Objectives: The objective of this article was to explore the extent to which two areas, both under-resourced but geographically and socially distinct, differed in terms of the prevalence and patterns of disability.
Background: Plaster of Paris (POP) is being used in different ways in the field of medicine, dentistry and rehabilitation. One of its uses is in the manufacture of models of body segments
in prosthetics and orthotics. It is used as a one-off procedure in which the used material is dismantled and discarded. The disposal of discarded materials does not allow easy decomposition which then pollutes the environment. It is not known whether this material could be reused if recycled.
Objectives: The main objective of the study was to recycle POP models and determine its reuse in producing models with identical qualities, and thus reduce environmental pollution.
Historically, challenges faced by students with disabilities (SWDs) in accessing higher education institutions (HEIs) were attributed to limited public funding. The introduction of progressive funding models such as disability scholarships served to widen access to, and participation in, higher education for SWDs. However, recent years have seen these advances threatened by funding cuts and privatisation in higher education.
While institutions of higher education may have increased access and accommodation for students with disabilities, institutions primarily providing nurse training in South Africa do not mirror the same practice.
As part of a larger qualitative exploratory study on the preparation of undergraduate civil engineering students in a local university to contribute to the development of an inclusive society, this article seeks to understand the impact of the lived experiences of
people with disabilities in their interaction with the built environment.
Background: Much has been done regarding the promotion of equality in rights in terms of legislation, but persons with disabilities remain marginalised in society. Negative attitudes and prejudice contribute towards numerous challenges for persons with disabilities. Objectives: This study investigated the level of empathy and prejudice of students towards
persons with disabilities, and the effect of the use of a serious game to enhance empathy and
reduce prejudice.
A lesson to help health and care workers understand how they could recognise deterioration and sepsis in patients with learning disabilities. Whilst aimed at care workers, this resource can be utilised by all learners to support their development.
Little is understood about best educational strategies to engage diverse occupational therapy students in professional advocacy. The purpose of this research was to use design-based research (DBR) methods to design a novel educational intervention to promote professional engagement of diverse students over three subsequent years. This study used a pre/post design to design, implement, evaluate, and revise an educational program entitled âStudent Engagement in Professional Advocacyâ (SEPA).Â
This useful questionnaire can be used to quantify activity limitation and measure functional outcome for patients with any orthopaedic condition.
Previous literature explored the concepts of stress, mindfulness, and occupational
engagement, yet there is a substantial gap linking these terms within the field of
occupational therapy (OT). The researchers identified a need to investigate the
perceptions of these concepts among graduate-level OT students and its impact on
their quality of life and occupational balance. Current research identified mindfulness
and occupational engagement as healthy coping strategies for reducing stress and both
concepts emphasized the action of being fully present and engaged.
This animation âexercise after illnessâ is one of 6 animations in the series which is based upon the guidance document âSupport for Rehabilitation Self-Management after COVID-19- Related Illnessâ. The guidance in the animation advises on the return to exercise after COVID-19 related illness.
Write a vision statement for your child or have your child help you write one. (Example:Mariana is a fully capable and determined young girl with Down syndrome with great potential. We see her living independently, having a job that provides for her needs, and developing meaningful and lasting relationships. Therefore, it is our responsibility to provide the right supports she needs for her to learn and make this a reality.)
An animated educational video to help consumers with disability make informed purchasing decisions.
Background: Motor outcomes of children with unilateral cerebral palsy are clearly documented and well understood, yet few studies describe the cognitive functioning in this population, and the associations between the two is poorly understood. Using two hands together in daily life involves complex motor and cognitive processes.
Impairment in either domain may contribute to difficulties with bimanual performance. Research is yet to derive whether, and how, cognition affects a childâs ability to use their two hands to perform bimanual tasks.
The Do-Live-Well (DLW) framework is a health promotion approach developed by
Canadian occupational therapists (OTs). As the DLW framework is relatively new, it has
not been widely adopted by OTs. In order to facilitate OTs to incorporate the DLW
concepts in their practice, there should be more learning opportunities, and online and
in-person workshops have been chosen to be a specific interest of this study. The
purpose of this project was to develop theory- and evidence-based in-person and online
educational workshops for OTs as a pre-implementation study to increase the
knowledge of the DLW framework among OTs. In order to develop workshops, we
incorporated three different phases. First, we interviewed four OTs who have been
applying the DLW concepts in practice to understand their use of the framework and
training needs. It was identified that OTs experienced difficulty applying the DLW
concepts in practice and wanted opportunities to learn more about the DLW framework.
Next, problem-based learning (PBL) guided the workshop development, and the same
eight key PBL principles were incorporated in both the in-person and online workshops.
Finally, four different experts completed usability testing of the online workshop website
to improve its learning environment. The online workshop website was improved based
on the feedback from the usability testers. The next step of this research will be to
compare effectiveness of in-person and online platforms for workshop delivery. The
detailed development process described in this project may assist occupational therapy
educators in developing theory- and evidence-based educational delivery methods.
Why is disability research important? When asked this question I tend to respond by revising it in my head (if not out loud). Why is disability research so important? Why is any research important? I might go on in this vein but my point is that disability research has the potential to improve understandings of the most fundamental aspect of the human condition ânamely, the diversity of minds and bodies.Â
We asked people with a learning disability, parents and carers to describe what learning disability means to them - in their own words. This is what they had to say...
Parents with learning disabilities are twenty times more likely to have their children removed from them and placed into care. Yet with the right support, we can keep families together.
The aim of this study was to assess the acceptability, implementation and practicality of conducting a prospective, observational and longitudinal trial to describe physical and functional impairments of patients with active TB.
Occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants rely on knowledge and skills to guide their intervention planning as they help clients who are experiencing difficulties with engaging in occupation. Sensory integration theory, with its rich history grounded in the science of human growth and development, offers occupational therapy practitioners specific intervention strategies to remediate the underlying sensory issues that affect functional performance. This article articulates the core principles of sensory integration as originally developed by Dr. A. Jean Ayres, explains the rationale for developing a trademark specifically linked to these core principles, and identifies the impact that this trademark can have on practice.
As future healthcare practitioners, kinesiology students must become expert learners who choose
strategies resulting in deep and durable learning. Metacognitive instruction goes beyond the use of study skills as it focuses on student reflection and evaluation of their learning success, and ultimately
establishes effective learning skills, a requirement for professional practice. To examine if an intervention
in a kinesiology course affected metacognitive awareness and use of metacognitive strategies, a quasiexperimental research design utilized a convenience sample of 89 upper division undergraduate
occupational therapy students and masterâs level athletic training students enrolled in kinesiology
courses.
TWIN girls Joy and Joyce Magsino are craniopagus conjoined twins from the Philippines - meaning they were born with their skulls fused together. At birth, the doctors gave the twins a 10-year life expectancy, but the now 13 year olds are thriving against the odds. Separating Joy and Joyce is a possibility, but an incredibly risky operation that would cost the family $75,000. Their mother Jhomarie has left the country to work abroad, in an attempt to be able to save enough money to afford the operation. She told Truly: "When they were younger they were so difficult to look after, unlike today, they can look after themselves - now they can shower, feed themselves and also use TikTok." The twins love to record videos for social media, and have been slowly seeing their followers increase. "We would like to be famous on social media someday so that we can save up some money for our operation," Joy said.
Communicating with patients and families in their native language in a health setting is important for the delivery of safe and appropriate health care. Increasingly, health organizations provide resources for non-English speaking patients and their families. These resources are discussed, including use of common words or phrases, a telephone interpretation service, a medical interpreter on site, and family members. All of these resources are helpful for non-English speaking individuals needing to explain health symptoms or to understand a medical condition and treatment.
The primary goal of occupational therapy is to enable people to participate in the activities of everyday life. The demand for occupational therapists in Canada is expected to grow sharply at an annual growth rate of 3.2%, compared to 0.7% for all occupations. At the same time, it is believed by occupational therapists in Canada that the Canadian public does not understand the role of occupational therapy. Occupational science is an emerging basic science field that supports the practice of occupational therapy. Given that newspapers are one source the public uses to obtain information and that newspapers are seen to shape public opinions, the purpose of this study is to investigate how âoccupational therapyâ is covered in Canadian newspapers from the termâs first appearance in 1917 until 2016 and how âoccupational scienceâ is covered from the termâs first appearance in 1989 to 2016.Â
These guidelines are designed to provide general information and guidance based on the experience of others. They are not exhaustive and you are strongly recommended to research as much information as possible before re-locating to another country/territory. WFOT updates this document continually however undertakes a major content review every two years. Information that is not updated every two years will not be included in this publication. Working in a different country/territory can be a unique, enriching, professional and personal experience. You should ensure that your personal physical and emotional health is excellent before embarking on your transition to another country/territory. You must be able to withstand changes in climate, nutrition, working hours, conditions and human attitudes to enable you to be an effective occupational therapist in the new country/territory.
The Spinal Cord Injury â Quality of Life (SCI-QOL) measurement system was developed to address the shortage of relevant and psychometrically sound patient reported outcome (PRO) measures available for clinical care and research in spinal cord injury (SCI) rehabilitation.Â
Learn about student suicide through this personal account. Use it to make you a better OT.
How can we take clients out what is sometimes perceived as the negative cycle of disability? Listen and learn more here!!
In the business of OT, we can cross so many boundaries. Here is an example of one. A commercial for musical products.
How do we deal with and work with clients with Covid Long Term Symptoms. Here is a brief overview and depiction of someone following covid.Â
Psychiatric and behavior problems are common among children and young adults, and many go without care or only receive treatment in carceral settings. We examined racial and ethnic disparities in childrenâs and young adultsâ receipt of mental health and substance abuse care using nationally representative data from the 2006â2012 Medical Expenditure Panel Surveys. Blacksâ and Hispanicsâ visit rates (and per capita expenditures) were about half those of non-Hispanic whites for all types and definitions of outpatient mental health services. Disparities were generally larger for young adults than for children. Black and white children had similar psychiatric inpatient and emergency department utilization rates, while Hispanic children had lower hospitalization rates. Multivariate control for mental health impairment, demographics, and insurance status did not attenuate racial/ethnic disparities in outpatient care. We conclude that psychiatric and behavioral problems among minority youth often result in school punishment or incarceration, but rarely mental health care.
Mental Health America (MHA) is committed to promoting mental health as a critical part of overall wellness. We advocate for prevention services for all, early identification and intervention for those at risk, integrated services, care and treatment for those who need them, and recovery as the goal.
We believe that gathering and providing up-to-date data and information about disparities faced by individuals with mental health problems is a tool for change.
Like physical health, positive mental health promotes success in life. As defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), â[m]ental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make healthy choices. Mental health is important at every stage of life, from childhood and adolescence through adulthood.â In schools, we prioritize three critical and interrelated components of mental health: social (how we relate to others), emotional (how we feel), and behavioral (how we act) supports to promoteoverall well-being (Chafouleas, 2020).Â
Stroke rehabilitation in America leaves much to be desired in terms of recovery and quality of life. There is a serious gap between stroke patients being discharged and transitioned to physical recovery programs. In an effort to improve recovery and quality of life, the American Heart Association has urged the healthcare community to prioritize exercise as an essential part of post-stroke care. With the right recovery programs that prioritize exercise for rehabilitation, stroke survivors can ârelearnâ crucial motors skills to regain a higher quality of life. Thanks to a phenomenon known as neuroplasticity, even permanent brain damage doesnât make disability inevitable.
This white paper was created as a companion document to a larger systematic review of evidence-based intervention practices (EBPs) for children and youth on the autism spectrum (see Hume et al, 2020; Steinbrenner et al., 2020; https://go.unc.edu/FPG-NCAEPReport-2020). In that review, three randomized group design studies documented the efficacy of Sensory Integration (SI), which qualified SI as a new EBP. SI and associated treatment terminology have various understandings across the field and is often inadequately defined clinically or in the research literature. Thus, the objectives of this white paper are to: (1) clearly define the Sensory Integration treatment for which we found evidence in our review, and (2) clarify recommendations for educators based on our findings.
Service learning is an active method that combines academic knowledge and hands-on experience while serving a community. Service learning is well established within occupational therapy (OT) and allied health education, as many institutions have organized both domestic and international service learning experiences. Literature supports student benefits of participation in international service learning (ISL), but limited literature exists on the long-term impact of participation in ISL throughout allied health education. Many OT students participate in ISL during their education, but there is limited literature on the impact of an ISL experience on participantsâ careers in OT. I
he purpose of this study was to investigate the perceived factors that occupational and physical therapy graduate students believed led to success in a clinical neuroscience course. A cross-sectional survey design was utilized from a convenience sample of Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) and Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) students. There were 76 (42%) responses collected, comprised of 62 (82%) OTD students and 14 (18%) DPT students. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze all survey results. Results indicated that success in a graduate neuroscience course may be supported with prior science coursework. Success in a graduate neuroscience course may be supported with additional resources such as a tutor, visuals, and other supplementary materials. Occupational therapy programs may consider supporting a neuroscience course with additional resources in order to facilitate student success.
The World Health Organization estimates that 10% of the 35.6 million people worldwide with dementia are aged under 65 years. In an ageing workforce this has implications for employers, employees, and statutory and third sector services. Limited research has been conducted into this emerging global issue.
âAHS Occupational Therapy Process Enabling Safe Participation in Drivingâ was made available to the occupational therapy community in Alberta. The document was part of a larger strategy to increase the capacity of occupational therapists in Alberta to engage in competent, best practice in the area of driving assessments. Research in this area continues to evolve at a rapid rate. The AHS Occupational Therapy Driving Working Group identified the need to update the original document to reflect the new information. This document is intended for occupational therapists with the purpose of guiding the practice of driving/clinical assessments and interventions in Alberta. The information and resources provided in this document are intended to promote consistent practice throughout the province. The information, resources and forms included are designed to reflect best practice and increase efficiencies. Documentation templates are included in the appendixes. These can be modified to reflect practice within sites across the province.Â
Check out this personal view on disability. It just may open your eyes to a new perspective.Â
Its getting close to the holidays and the food is plentiful!! Let's make sure we all exercise. This music is for all!! Let's GO!!
Learn a little today!! Check out this family focus video on "Understanding Oppositional Defiant Disorder"
Let's move!! Check out The Effects of Exercise on Mental illness.Â
Healthy Mind = Healthy Body
Test your OT knowledge with todays question from our OT video study guide that prepares you for the NBCOT Board Exam.Â
Smart homes can be one of the greatest benefits to one with a disability. Check this out.
Here are some rare diagnosis you need to know when working with all clients. Learn a bit more today!
This is where family education plays a major part in the support of our clients. Sometimes the family need more teaching than the actual patient/client/student!!
Here is an opportunity for a great OT discussion. Learn more about this diagnosis and brainstorm with your colleagues to see what treatment methods you would implement, if any.Â
As OT's, the mind is just as important as the body. Here is a look at teen mental health.Â