After watching a TedTalk by Mileha Soneji, Simple hacks for life with Parkinson's,
I felt refreshed by her sweet simplicity and ingenuity. After her uncle was diagnosed with
Parkinson's, she wanted to help him feel independent and enjoy simple pleasures of his life from
before. She designed a coffee cup that would allow him to drink without spilling, due to tremors.
He had stopped drinking in public due to fear of embarrassment. The coffee cup was not only
usable for those with Parkinson's, but could be used by everyone. Universal design.
She also designed a way for him to walk on flat ground with the same smoothness he had
when he walked up and down stairs. Constant motion gave him smoothness that he did not have
in normal walking with his walker. So, she designed an illusion.
A rug like pathway that can go from room to room throughout the house that gives the illusion
of walking on stairs. When he walked this illusion, his walking was smooth and fluent.
She mentioned that her vision was to take complex problems and break them down.
She could have went much more high-tech and advanced in her
designs, but instead she kept them simplistic and basic in technology, purposively.
I love seeing how life-changing assistive technology design can be.
I also loved that this was something un-intimidating
and feasible for just about anyone.
Universal, simple, effective, encouraging, empowering.
Soneji, Mileha. (2015, February). Simple hacks for life with Parkinson's. [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.ted.com/talks/mileha_soneji_simple_hacks_for_life_with_parkinson_s#t-404440
Thursday, May 4, 2017
Blog Challenge #7: Culture
Culture. What is it? Why does it matter?
Culture encompasses values, beliefs, spirituality, language, traditions, and behaviors. We encounter culture everyday, and we need to be reflective in how we perceive it and in how we receive it. We need to be open to new ideas and willing to learn. Being open to and educated on another's belief, does not mean you adopt their way of thinking. It means that you respect their point of view and way of life. We can all learn so much from each other and our life experiences. Culture plays a huge role in molding who we are.
As occupational therapists, our attitude towards cultural differences can effect the therapeutic relationship with our clients, and can even affect their treatment and recovery. It matters. Be reflective and honest with yourself about biases, prejudices, and stereotypes. Try to refine your behavior and conversation to one of respect, empathy, and understanding.
Blog Challenge #6: Aging in Place
Aging in place and home modification is an emerging area of practice, according to AOTA. I think this is really interesting and incredibly needed by our growing population of "baby boomers", and for generations beyond. I have a strong interest in pediatrics and school system occupational therapy, but I also have a heart and love for geriatric service.
My grandmother had to move out of and sell our beautiful and, to me magical, family home when I was in middle school. My grandfather had passed away, and the house was too big for her to keep up on her own. At the time, none of her children lived close enough to be consistent help. It was heartbreaking seeing her have to leave her home and move into an apartment.
Even more recently, I have had this passion for seeing my husband's grandfather be more active and increase his quality of life. He is living with my husband's aunt with his wife, Grace, who is suffering from the last stages of dementia of the Alzheimer's type. He stays by her bed in a chair, day in and day out. He doesn't want to leave her, but he rarely gets out and does anything. It is a beautiful love and faithfulness to see, but unfortunately, by the severe inactivity he has had in the last few years, his health has declined rapidly, as well. He can not walk well, he has back problems, and he is not engaged or involved. I would love to help him find quality of life and purpose in this stage of his life. I would love to see him get stronger and be able to go out and do things with his family, even make new friends.
Aging in place is so interesting to me because it allows people to stay in their home, which most have worked for and nurtured most of their life. A home is a special place. I know I would not want to leave mine after a lifetime of memories, work, and love. It encourages people to find meaning, purpose, and activity. To feel involved, included, and capable, in the place that means so much to them, their home.
Tuesday, May 2, 2017
Emerging Areas - A Broader Scope in Schools
AOTA has created their Vision 2025, and it states:
Occupational therapy maximizes health, well-being, and quality of life for all people, populations, and communities through effective solutions that facilitate participation in everyday living.
AOTA also lists several emerging areas of practice within occupational therapy. I chose to learn more about A Broader Scope in Schools. Within this area of practice, therapists are encouraged to use scientific-based research to address learning disorders and needs within the school population as a whole. The practitioner may be advocating and working within different areas of school life such as: safety, mental health, and social justice. There is so much opportunity and possibility in the school system and that excites me!
This area of practice relates directly to the Vision 2025. In the school system, every therapist should be seeking to serve in the "health, well being, and quality of life for" everyone in the school: high functioning, low functioning, and in between. Every student is important and has potential to make a difference. I think it is important to bridge the gap between the general population of students and the students who are different and unique, those with various disabilities. I think the school should be a community where all students, work together and learn to value and appreciate the gifts, the challenges, and the abilities of each other.
I would love to work in the school system and be a part of encouraging, influencing, and seeking potential and talents within students that they may not yet see. I would love to be a part of finding ways to include everyone and lessen the divisions that are sometimes created.
Occupational therapy maximizes health, well-being, and quality of life for all people, populations, and communities through effective solutions that facilitate participation in everyday living.
AOTA also lists several emerging areas of practice within occupational therapy. I chose to learn more about A Broader Scope in Schools. Within this area of practice, therapists are encouraged to use scientific-based research to address learning disorders and needs within the school population as a whole. The practitioner may be advocating and working within different areas of school life such as: safety, mental health, and social justice. There is so much opportunity and possibility in the school system and that excites me!
This area of practice relates directly to the Vision 2025. In the school system, every therapist should be seeking to serve in the "health, well being, and quality of life for" everyone in the school: high functioning, low functioning, and in between. Every student is important and has potential to make a difference. I think it is important to bridge the gap between the general population of students and the students who are different and unique, those with various disabilities. I think the school should be a community where all students, work together and learn to value and appreciate the gifts, the challenges, and the abilities of each other.
I would love to work in the school system and be a part of encouraging, influencing, and seeking potential and talents within students that they may not yet see. I would love to be a part of finding ways to include everyone and lessen the divisions that are sometimes created.
Monday, May 1, 2017
NeuroCaseStudy #2: Michael J. Fox
Michael J. Fox is a a father, son, husband, actor, producer, author, and activist. He is founder of the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Disease. His passion for this cause comes from his personal battle with Parkinson's Disease. He is working hard to stay independent and he is using his drive and motivation to not only help himself, but to help others. His talents and platform have given him an incredible opportunity to make a difference and be a voice for the millions of people who are facing this challenge.
Sunday, April 30, 2017
Blog Challenge #5: Strawberries, Chocolate, Coffee, Twister, & Tie-Dye
Last week, we had a class session devoted to activities. We were placed into groups. We each came up with our own activity analysis, and we completed them with our small group of 4 or 5 people. I was a little nervous about it at first, but when we got started that morning, I realized how great occupational therapy is, and how much fun this profession can be! I had nothing to fear.
In my group, we completed the activities of playing twister, making french press coffee, tie-dye shirts, strawberry smoothies, and chocolate covered strawberries. It was fun, delicious, and it was a great way to start seeing the pieces of our classwork, knowledge, and love for this profession come together and start making sense. We were able to see the potential for even the simplest activities to become a part of someone's journey through therapy, using occupation as an means or as an end.
In my group, we completed the activities of playing twister, making french press coffee, tie-dye shirts, strawberry smoothies, and chocolate covered strawberries. It was fun, delicious, and it was a great way to start seeing the pieces of our classwork, knowledge, and love for this profession come together and start making sense. We were able to see the potential for even the simplest activities to become a part of someone's journey through therapy, using occupation as an means or as an end.
Wednesday, April 26, 2017
Blog Challenge #4: The Golden Rule
In class this week, we have been learning about the AOTA Code of Ethics. This is to be used for guidance and clarity to practitioners. This code is also meant to ensure integrity and accountability on behalf of the therapists that practice and also as a way to educate the public on who we are as occupational therapists and what we stand for.
Beneficence, Non-maleficence, Autonomy, Social Justice &Procedural Justice, Veracity, and Fidelity.
Generally, these principles are simply the golden rule explained in detail and broken down. The bottom line is that we should do unto others as we would have done to us. Our purpose is to serve, empower, encourage, and advocate. We must treat our patients well, protect them, give them freedom and confidence that is their right, treat them fairly, honestly, and be faithful in our integrity to our profession and to those we serve.
Beneficence, Non-maleficence, Autonomy, Social Justice &Procedural Justice, Veracity, and Fidelity.
Generally, these principles are simply the golden rule explained in detail and broken down. The bottom line is that we should do unto others as we would have done to us. Our purpose is to serve, empower, encourage, and advocate. We must treat our patients well, protect them, give them freedom and confidence that is their right, treat them fairly, honestly, and be faithful in our integrity to our profession and to those we serve.
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