I asked Ravi to write a piece for my blog as I thought it would be interesting, considering his historical perspective of OT. We've been corresponding since I first started this blog in 2007. Thank you, Ravi, for taking the time to write this. :) My background with Occupational Therapy is rather idiosyncratic. Although born with spina bifida and requiring crutches and leg braces to ambulate, I had no surgeries after age 11. Raised by a mother who was a paediatrician and a father who was an engineer, we did not spend much time in hospitals or medical clinics in my childhood. And so when I…
Occupational Therapy
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Most Topular Stories
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OT and Disability Rights
(B)e(LO)n(G), OT16 May 2012 | 1:22 am -
Occupational therapy blogs you must read.
ABC Therapeutics Occupational Therapy Weblog28 Apr 2012 | 3:56 pmThis weekend I participated in a presentation with four OT colleagues at the AOTA National Conference in Indianapolis. Conference can be a little stodgy at times- but not with this group!I want to publicly acknowledge the OT Social Media Awesomeness of this group of people who obviously know how to have fun and be awesome/inspirational/educational at the same time:Cheryl Morris: http://otnotes.blogspot.comWhen I saw Cheryl's level of extreme organization and skill in managing multiple information sources and easily coordinating a cascade of incoming information I was just amazed. … -
Living well with persistent pain – a problem solving model
HealthSkills Weblog10 May 2012 | 4:05 pmRegions of the cerebral cortex associated with pain. (Photo credit: Wikipedia) Chronic pain is abnormal. Living well with chronic pain seems a myth, a bit of an impossibility. After all, chronic pain starts with the kind of pain that most people would expect to go away – acute pain. Acute pain is normal and most of us will experience some painful episode today. Acute pain goes away – either by itself, or because we’ve done something to remove the stimulus that triggered the cascade of neurological events that eventually reached the brain that produced the experience of… -
Carly's Voice
The Recycling Occupational Therapist8 May 2012 | 5:42 amI have read many books written by people who have autism. In fact, I recently wrote a review of Temple Grandin's new book "Different...Not less"- which is a collection of autobiographical essays describing the challenges and successes in the lives of people on the spectrum. When I went to Temple Grandin's conference a few weeks ago- she highly recommended the book Carly's Voice. Now its my turn to recommend it! This is an exceptionally well written description of how disability impacts the whole family-told from her father, Arthur Fleischmann's… -
Home care agency opens new location - Delmarva Now
"occupational therapy" - Google News16 May 2012 | 3:48 amHome care agency opens new locationDelmarva NowServices include skilled nursing care, physical therapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy, medical social workers, personal care home health aides, hospice and more. Service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Personal-Touch will coordinate and more »
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"occupational therapy" - Google News
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Home care agency opens new location - Delmarva Now
16 May 2012 | 3:48 amHome care agency opens new locationDelmarva NowServices include skilled nursing care, physical therapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy, medical social workers, personal care home health aides, hospice and more. Service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Personal-Touch will coordinate and more » -
Responding to therapy - This is Lincolnshire
16 May 2012 | 1:19 amResponding to therapyThis is LincolnshireShe said: "A small number said that occupational therapy did not make a difference to them. "However, there were a significant number of positive comments. "Many patients reported that occupational therapy gave them more confidence to return home. -
AAIHR Fosters International Solutions to US Worker Shortages - MarketWatch (press release)
15 May 2012 | 1:52 pmAAIHR Fosters International Solutions to US Worker ShortagesMarketWatch (press release)WASHINGTON, May 15, 2012 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Despite media and special interest reports to the contrary, certain healthcare occupations, such as physical AND occupational therapy, face chronic and expanding shortages of qualified US workers.and more » -
Samaritan Medical Center to host educational sessions of joint replacement - WatertownDailyTimes.com
15 May 2012 | 4:12 amSamaritan Medical Center to host educational sessions of joint replacementWatertownDailyTimes.comAccording to the hospital's website, members of Samaritan's surgical, nursing and physical and occupational therapy teams, along with North Country Orthopaedic Group providers, will present information on surgery preparation, what to expect during -
Wrists overworked? Take regular breaks — and ice the pain - Kansas.com
15 May 2012 | 12:01 amKansas.comWrists overworked? Take regular breaks — and ice the painKansas.comSo when there's swelling around the tendons, it fills up the space and causes pressure,” says Debbie Amini, an occupational therapist and member of the American Occupational Therapy Association in Bethesda, Md. “And that puts pressure on the median and more »
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Search for ""occupational therapy""
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This day in history
16 May 2012 | 5:26 amThe 75-metre submersible arrived to an official welcoming committee hosted by Mayor William Morrison, a military band and even a show of planes in the sky from the Hamilton Aero Club. -
Dad and Daughter Need Wheelchair-Accessible Van-and You Can Help
16 May 2012 | 5:11 amImagine helping a Gibsonia dad and his daughter get a 2012 custom wheelchair-accessible vehicle valued at about $40,000-and all you have to do is vote online.A Gary Guerino is racking up votes in an online contest sponsored by the National Mobility Equipment Dealers Association , aA nonprofit trade association, in which the prizes are free ... (more) -
In Business: Blake gives commencement at SCSU
16 May 2012 | 2:00 amKathy Blake, a mathematics instructor retiring after 21 years at Central Lakes College, gave the commencement address to Staples campus graduates. -
Sheriff awards Westminster grad
16 May 2012 | 2:00 amChief Deputy Hilman Popillion, left, of the St. Landry Parish Sheriff's Department presents the Louisiana Sheriff's Association Scholarship Award to Brooke Thompson, a graduating senior from Westminster Christian Academy. -
Making_an_impact_beyond_the_game0_1337142230.jpg
16 May 2012 | 12:48 amThe impact from the Lincoln Memorial University men's soccer team will reverberate throughout the country as three seniors from this past season's squad are on the path to becoming exemplary models of the NCAA slogan that "just about all of us are going pro in something other than sports". Robbie Curtis, Peter Fraser and Michael Watkins will be ... (more)
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Rehabilitation / Physical Therapy News From Medical News Today
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Quadriplegic Patient Has Some Hand Function Restored By Surgeons
16 May 2012 | 3:00 amSurgeons at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have restored some hand function in a quadriplegic patient with a spinal cord injury at the C7 vertebra, the lowest bone in the neck. Instead of operating on the spine itself, the surgeons rerouted working nerves in the upper arms. These nerves still "talk" to the brain because they attach to the spine above the injury... -
Reaching Out To Patients With Cerebral Palsy
14 May 2012 | 2:00 amWith the aid of multiple force sensors and a digital dinosaur, a team of Rice University seniors known as Helping Hands hopes to restore strength and flexibility to the hands and wrists of children with cerebral palsy. "These kids have a real problem with their hands," said Jenna Desmarais, a senior at Rice majoring in mechanical engineering... -
Designing Better Prosthetic Limbs
10 May 2012 | 3:00 amPeople walking normally, women tottering in high heels and ostriches strutting all exert the same forces on the ground despite very differently-shaped feet, according to research funded by the Wellcome Trust and the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council... -
The Positive Effects Of Heart Rehabilitation Programs
7 May 2012 | 2:00 amResearch conducted at the University of Granada has demonstrated the efficiency of a heart rehabilitation program aimed at patients suffering from heart disease. The authors of this study affirm that it is essential that heart rehabilitation programs aimed at cardiac patients are established... -
Wheelchair Breakdowns Becoming More Common, Reports AJPM&R
4 May 2012 | 3:00 amWheelchair users with spinal cord injury (SCI) report very high rates of wheelchair breakdowns - and the problem is getting worse, suggests a study in American Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation (AJPM&R), the official journal of the Association of Academic Physiatrists, AJPM&R is published by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, a part of Wolters Kluwer Health...
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The Public Occupational Therapy Journal
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Logopädie - ein Beruf mit Zukunft - Wochenanzeiger München
15 May 2012 | 7:00 pmNews von: Google News "Ergotherapie"Logopädie - ein Beruf mit ZukunftWochenanzeiger MünchenPhysiotherapie, Ergotherapie und Logopädie sind Ausbildungsberufe mit Zukunft. Neben der klassischen Berufsfachschulausbildung können angehende Physiotherapeuten und Ergotherapeuten auch den Weg eines berufs- und ausbildungsbegleitenden ... -
Nach der Trennung: Rat und Lebenshilfe aus einem Ex-zurück-Forum - ptext.net (Pressemitteilung)
15 May 2012 | 7:00 pmNews von: Google News "Ergotherapie"ptext.net (Pressemitteilung)Nach der Trennung: Rat und Lebenshilfe aus einem Ex-zurück-Forumptext.net (Pressemitteilung)Theresa König: Ergotherapeutin, Paartherapeutin, Psychotherapeutin HPG, Gestaltungstherapeutin nach DAGTP. Leitete mehrere Jahre eine Praxis für Ergotherapie und Psychotherapie. Co-Autorin mehrerer Lebenshilfe- Ratgeber und Herz und Seele des ...und weitere » -
Lernen auf der Landesgartenschau mit den Ergotherapie-Schülern des DEB Bamberg - Der Neue Wiesentbote
15 May 2012 | 7:00 pmNews von: Google News "Ergotherapie"Der Neue WiesentboteLernen auf der Landesgartenschau mit den Ergotherapie-Schülern des DEB BambergDer Neue WiesentboteAm vergangenen Donnerstag verlegten die angehenden Ergotherapeuten des DEB Bamberg das Klassenzimmer auf das Gelände der Landesgartenschau. Zwischen Pyramidenwiese und ERBA-Turm begrüßten die Auszubildenden bei strah-lendem Sonnenschein 22 Schüler der ... -
Krankenhaus der Hoffnung - nachrichten.at
15 May 2012 | 7:00 pmNews von: Google News "Ergotherapie"Krankenhaus der Hoffnungnachrichten.atMehr als 500 Stunden Psychotherapie und jeweils mehr als 150 Stunden Logopädie und Ergotherapie tragen dazu bei, die Buben und Mädchen wieder gesund zu machen. All das dauert jedoch lange und bedarf regelmäßigen und zuverlässigen Engagements: ... -
Assisting people with disabilities to actively improve their collaborative physical activities with Nintendo Wii Balance Boards by controlling environmental stimulation.
15 May 2012 | 11:00 amNews by: PubMed "Occupational Therapy"[MeSH]Author(s): Shih CH, Chen LC, Shih CTSource: Res Dev Disabil. 2012 Jan-Feb;33(1):39-44Abstract The latest researches have adopted software technology to modify the Nintendo Wii Balance Board functionality and used it to enable two people with developmental disabilities to actively perform physical activities. This study extended the latest research of the Wii Balance Board application to assess ...
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University of Salford Occupational Therapy Education Blog
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Free Webinar.......
14 May 2012 | 7:23 amAs you know here at Salford we run a fully online internationally oriented MSc in Advanced Occupational Therapy. This programme attracts SHA funding for NHS Northwest staff (UK) and is delivered entirely in the evenings (UK time). Our next intake is September 2012 and we would like to invite you to an online webinar to find out more about the programme and to experience a virtual classroom. -
Books Galore..........
20 Feb 2012 | 1:30 pmHello, just wanted to capture this briefly before I am able to think more clearly what to do with it (ideas of virtual book club currently spinning through my mind!) Following a PBL session with a group of our first years, I was asked if I could recommend any reading that wasn't text book stuff, but had resonance with the programme and with the profession. I put a call out on our FaceBook page -
How Much have we Changed?..........
3 Jan 2012 | 11:48 amA Happy New Year to all our readers and followers. Here's to 2012 and to a year when occupational therapy continues to develop and progress and occupational therapists continue to link together across the world. There are a number of ways to link and promote what you do as an OT - see Karen Jacobs' Global Day of Service and of course OT4OT who will hopefully begin to plan what we are doing for -
NHS campaigns on the “funny side” of incorrect usage of A&E
17 Nov 2011 | 4:04 amSpreading the Choose Well message 7th November marks the beginning of National Ask Your Pharmacy Week. On that date, NHS North West will be launching a series of humourous viral videos featuring real-world examples of some of the most frivolous reasons why people visit A&E departments.Focussing on patients in the waiting rooms, the viewer is unsure until the end of the films whether they’re -
"Who am I anyway? Am I my resume? " (A Chorus Line)
29 Sep 2011 | 6:52 amI was reminded of this line in the title from A Chorus Line whilst reading a really useful article by Kimberley Ramirez (2011) on ePortfolios, and it got me thinking! Sarah and I are about to start a series of Masterclass sessions with a small group of our undergraduate students to facilitate their use of online social media for professional development. Our intention is to help them create and
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(B)e(LO)n(G), OT
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OT and Disability Rights
16 May 2012 | 1:22 amI asked Ravi to write a piece for my blog as I thought it would be interesting, considering his historical perspective of OT. We've been corresponding since I first started this blog in 2007. Thank you, Ravi, for taking the time to write this. :) My background with Occupational Therapy is rather idiosyncratic. Although born with spina bifida and requiring crutches and leg braces to ambulate, I had no surgeries after age 11. Raised by a mother who was a paediatrician and a father who was an engineer, we did not spend much time in hospitals or medical clinics in my childhood. And so when I… -
Miss Karen is NOT an alligator. In case you needed clarification.
13 May 2012 | 9:50 pmI have this one child with autism who once introduced me as "This is Miss Karen, and she is NOT an alligator." Well, I thought that was a great introduction. Very clarifying. AHAHAHA loved it. Anyway, sometimes when he sees me now he'll say "Hi Miss Karen, are you an alligator?" His aide confirmed he asks no one else this question, just me. Not sure where that link came from but I love it. I don't have an alligator hat, but I think this hat is pretty awesome (it belongs to my mom)....maybe I can switch him over to a shark or monster or whatever this hat is. Karen Dobyns,… -
Typing skills for children in OT
13 May 2012 | 9:24 pmThis is one of my lovely (and few) girls. Her mother granted me written permission to use her hands in this video (waves at my boss). This was an occupational therapy session where we focused first on origami (note a piece of it in the corner under the computer) and then on typing. The origami was a visual-motor challenge for both of us.... ;) I wrote in washable non-toxic marker on her fingers ASDF and then JKL; so that she didn't have to lift her fingers to find the right key; we played a free typing game on the Internet focusing on beginning, home row only, ie words like sad. -
Conference Flashback...Me, Erik Johnson aka Army OT Guy + Virtual OT Anita Hamilton...
13 May 2012 | 3:08 pmSo I needed to dump my photos onto the computer from my iPhone so I can take pictures today, so then I got into a quick photo spree of Picasa to Blogger....but now it's time for me to join my mummy. We're headed to lunch, then dessert at Fruitlandia for pico de gallo (a fruit salad), then travel Scrabble, then TWO different Mother's Day walks in a row. Yep, that's love. All her choices. So gotta go. But wanted to say bye for now, many many many many more pictures to come! Plus many posts!!! And product reviews! And etc etc etc etc!!! -
Preparing to write about AOTA conference stuff
13 May 2012 | 3:04 pmA picture is worth a thousand words, eh? I seriously have about twenty saved posts in Blogger with titles of stuff I want to write about from conference.
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ABC Therapeutics Occupational Therapy Weblog
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Is NY State taking steps toward a paraprofessional delivery model for their Early Intervention Program???
10 May 2012 | 11:51 amNew York State has an electronic information management system for the Early Intervention Program that involves a mechanism for billing and reporting services to the municipalities and state. This system is called the New York Early Intervention System and is generally referred to as NYEIS. I received email today regarding use of procedure codes in the NYEIS system and I want other practitioners to be aware of some issues.The email describes the difference between Level I and Level II HCPCS codes. In quick summary, Level I codes are also referred to as CPT codes and are… -
Speech to occupational therapy students and parents: Ways You Will Be Paid.
6 May 2012 | 5:48 amI was invited to speak at a PTE induction ceremony. Here is the text of my speech. Please excuse the vernacular and form; it was written for oral delivery:__________________________________________________ Hi everyone and thank you for inviting me to speak to this group. It is an honor to be invited and I want to congratulate all of the students for their excellent efforts and performance, I want to congratulate the parents and family members for all that they did to lay the foundation that made this excellence possible, and I want to congratulate the faculty for all of… -
Occupational therapy blogs you must read.
28 Apr 2012 | 3:56 pmThis weekend I participated in a presentation with four OT colleagues at the AOTA National Conference in Indianapolis. Conference can be a little stodgy at times- but not with this group!I want to publicly acknowledge the OT Social Media Awesomeness of this group of people who obviously know how to have fun and be awesome/inspirational/educational at the same time:Cheryl Morris: http://otnotes.blogspot.comWhen I saw Cheryl's level of extreme organization and skill in managing multiple information sources and easily coordinating a cascade of incoming information I was just amazed. … -
On tin foil hats and sensory integration
27 Apr 2012 | 11:47 pmThere was an open forum at the AOTA conference in Indianapolis so I took the opportunity to raise a question about the profession's advocacy regarding research on sensory integration. My comments were: I appreciate the advocacy offered by AOTA regarding the situation in North Dakota where a coordinated letter writing campaign contributed to a BCBS intermediary indefinitely holding a decision that would label sensory integration as 'investigational.' However, it is true that Cigna, Aetna, United Healthcare, and nearly every other BCBS intermediary labels sensory integration as an… -
How CPSE to CSE transitions are being handled in some districts.
19 Apr 2012 | 3:48 pmI just saw a flyer from a local advocacy and educational center about a seminar they are offering for parents about the transition process between CPSE and CSE. This is a very good group and they provide valuable services to parents, but I was wondering if they would describe the transition process in terms of how it SHOULD be or how it ACTUALLY IS.Here is a review of how it ACTUALLY IS for many parents who are unlucky enough to live in certain school districts. In February a school asks all the related services people providing OT, PT, Speech, etc. to give their opinions on whether or not a…
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HealthSkills Weblog
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Trust, teamwork and transparency
15 May 2012 | 7:21 pmTeams are a feature of healthcare, and nowhere more so than in pain management. This is because, at least for chronic pain, no single profession can claim to have all the answers. Many of us know we need to rely on one another to address patient/client concerns and to provide a consistent approach for the person to have some confidence in. However (you knew this was coming!), teamwork isn’t easy and some groups of professionals appear to have a good deal of difficulty overcoming implicit attitudes and assumptions about other disciplines. Now before I’m annihilated, I… -
Living well with persistent pain – a problem solving model
10 May 2012 | 4:05 pmRegions of the cerebral cortex associated with pain. (Photo credit: Wikipedia) Chronic pain is abnormal. Living well with chronic pain seems a myth, a bit of an impossibility. After all, chronic pain starts with the kind of pain that most people would expect to go away – acute pain. Acute pain is normal and most of us will experience some painful episode today. Acute pain goes away – either by itself, or because we’ve done something to remove the stimulus that triggered the cascade of neurological events that eventually reached the brain that produced the experience of… -
Nerdy, Sciency Stuff
8 May 2012 | 3:33 pmThe past three weeks have been a swirl of joyous, passionate neuro-nerdy stuff! And yes, it’s absolutely possible to call neuroscience joyous and passionate (just ask David Butler and the NOI crew). What have I learned? Let’s begin with the obvious: pain is an output of the brain. What does that mean? It means that unless the parts of the brain involved in deciding what we need to know about decide we need to know about a threat – we won’t experience that unpleasant sensory and emotional experience we call pain. Pain is a complete biopsychosocial phenomenon. … -
The Graded Motor Imagery Handbook – a review
1 May 2012 | 2:25 pmI love getting presents, and I love books, so what could be better than getting a book to review as a present! Graded motor imagery (GMI) has become incredibly popular in pain management, especially for people with unilateral pain. It’s a treatment that is intensive for patients/participants, but is non-invasive, means the person with pain develops self management skills, and has level B1 evidence. For those who don’t know – level B1 evidence means there are several RCT’s, and at least one meta-analysis showing support for this approach. Back to the book. Like… -
Lorimer Moseley throws the gauntlet down!
29 Apr 2012 | 10:39 pmThis week I’ve been at the NOI Conference 2012 – a real blast! A week of neuroscience-backed biopsychosocial practice, and nerdy passions. My brain is nourished, in fact, it’s replete. And now to digest. Why the headline? Well, throughout the conference, over and over again I heard about physiotherapy and psychology – and nary a murmer about occupational therapy’s contribution (from the profession’s inception) to the biopsychosocial model of practice. It’s like the profession simply does not exist. One very brave young occupational therapist voiced…
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OT Tools for Public Schools
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Knots and Tying Shoelaces
14 May 2012 | 10:32 am6:15 AM at my house, "Would you please go out to the shed and cut off some 2 1/2 foot lengths of rope for me to use this morning?" "What diameter rope?" "Oh, about 1/2" thick." "How many pieces?" "2--no make that 3." "Okay." My DH (dear husband) doesn't even ask why anymore. This is rope my DH uses to make halters for the horses. It's very soft to the touch and keeps its shape. You have to burn the cut ends to keep it from unraveling but the ends were not scratchy. It's great for students to use when they practice making… -
Unexpected Perks of Working in Schools
12 May 2012 | 3:12 pmTeacher Appreciation Week! Yesterday I walked into a teachers' lounge and was delighted to discover that the PTA moms had showered the staff with "snacks." My kind of snacks--chocolate, Twizzlers, homemade cookies, a little trailmix to make you think you were eating healthy...great way to end the work week! -
Great Article in OT PRACTICE
11 May 2012 | 12:17 pmHope this link works for you:Fun (and Inexpensive) Ideas for Multidisciplinary TherapyThe article presents many ideas for "Therapy Day" themes. Students love to take part in creating props and scenery and many of these activities can be assembled by students of all levels over several days prior to them experiencing the final product during the big "Therapy Day." -
Jane Case-Smith Presents on Handwriting
9 May 2012 | 3:52 pmVery interested in listening to Jane Case-Smith's presentation:Handwriting Presentations -
Handwriting Apps for iPad
9 May 2012 | 10:32 amOne of our OTs e-mailed our staff members, asking for recommendations on which apps they thought were helpful for handwriting practice, "to faciliate writing/letter formation for those students who really don't like pencil/paper and have not been successful with a multisensory approach."Two of our more tech-savvy OTs agreed that their favorite is “Letter School” for letter formation and that Write It on the “Dexteria” app is also good for letter formations.For students learning to write their name they recommended, “Write My Name”.A third OT on staff wrote, "Letter…
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ADVANCE Outlook: OT
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The New Generation of 'Old'
29 Apr 2012 | 4:48 pmWith the oldest of the Baby Boomers - age 66 - dancing in the aisles last Thursday night to the music their generation has made immortal, Joseph F. Coughlin, PhD, declared that the era of the aging had begun in America. "Aging is about life tomorrow,"...(read more) -
2012 AOTA/AOTF Award Winners
28 Apr 2012 | 9:10 pmTonight AOTA and AOTF recognized standout leaders, educators and clinicians in its annual award ceremony. AOTA Award Winners AOTA Award of Merit Paula Kramer, PhD, OTR, FAOTA Eleanor Clarke Slagle Lectureship Award Glen Gillen, EdD, OTR, FAOTA Lindy Boggs...(read more) -
Slagle Lecture 2012: Promote OT!
27 Apr 2012 | 7:13 pmOTs, through their interventions, enable their clients to participate in meaningful daily occupations. But have you ever thought about what your occupations are? In this evening's Eleanor Clarke Slagle lecture Karen Jacobs, Boston University educator...(read more) -
Occupational Therapist: 7th Best Job
13 Apr 2012 | 2:17 pmIn a time when job security still seems like a fairy tale, OTs may have more reason than most to start believing again: occupational therapist was ranked no. 7 among the 10 best jobs in the country; 200 jobs were ranked. Released by CareerCast.com, a...(read more) -
Peer Mentoring
23 Mar 2012 | 12:26 pmI remember a discussion in high school English class over word choice and definition, and how we sometimes say things that aren't exactly what we mean. One of the examples was sympathy vs. empathy. When you sympathize with a person, you feel for them,...(read more)
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Occupational Therapy, Inclusion News
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Action for Brain Injury Week 2012
20 Apr 2012 | 7:11 am14-20 May 2012 Caring for someone with a brain injury Brain injury doesn’t just affect individuals; it can transform the lives of entire families. Emotional and behavioural changes in the individual can affect relationships and the dynamic of the family. … -
Doing Sport Differently
20 Apr 2012 | 7:02 am131 days to go until the Paralympics!!! “Doing Sport Differently” is guide written by and for people with lived experience of disability or health conditions and covers the benefits of sport and fitness, how disabled people can get involved – … -
Interested in becoming an associate?
12 Jan 2012 | 2:11 pmAre you interested in becoming an Inclusion associate OT? Are you: An Occupational Therapist with at least 3-5 years post qualification experience Looking to do additional part time work whilst maintaining your current clinical practice? Looking for flexible working—part time … -
Kent Social Services Occupational Therapy Jobs
12 Jan 2012 | 2:00 pmWe’ve been asked to help find some OT’s with social services experience to fill numerous KCC Occupational Therapy posts around various locations in Kent. If you are looking for locum OT work in Kent then get in touch and we … -
Merry Christmas And Happy New Year!
23 Dec 2011 | 1:11 amFinal work day of 2011 for all at Inclusion is finally here…..happy, happy, joy, joy! Hope you all have a fabulously festive Chrimble and an extra happy New Year and see you in 2012. Love all the team Inclusion x…
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TechnOT by VirtualOT
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Compude: Your computer on your keychain.
20 Apr 2012 | 10:49 amCompude: Your computer on your keychain. Compude is a device that fits on your keychain and allows you to have your personal or office PC anywhere you go. By plugging your Compude device into ANY smart phone, tablet or computer, it becomes the PC you have at home or the office. It is “your computer” through any device, anytime, anywhere making whatever device it is plugged into look and operate like your computer. All information is stored securely in the cloud for a low monthly fee. For apple products, it will be an application that is downloaded from the App Store and an adapter for… -
Enhancing digital literacy: A role for occupational therapy
29 Mar 2012 | 6:05 amThis post is one of several that I will post in the coming weeks where I will write about the concept of the digital literacy and discuss why I think occupational therapists have a critical role to play in increasing digital literacy in society. I would like to acknowledge the work of 4 of my wonderful former students in the research of many of these concepts ~ Thanks Nicole Anstey, Erika Bannert, Judy Lin and Sarah Langenhoff. Digital LiteracyDigital literacy is defined as having the ability to access and use information and communication technologies (such as internet connected… -
Technology to work towards improving hand washing in hospitals
21 Mar 2012 | 3:53 pmToday on CBC radio I heard this interview and was so impressed by the research and method I wanted to share it with others interested in talking about how technogy is improving healthcare. Here's what is on the CBC radio site:There’s a new tool for tracking the spread of infections and diseases in hospitals. Developed by the Canadian company Infonaut in collaboration with George Brown College, this tool tracks the movements of health care workers in hospitals, including if they’ve washed their hands or not! Toronto General will be the first hospital in the world to use this technology. -
My OT Path
24 Oct 2011 | 11:41 amThis week we celebrate World Occupational Therapy Day on the 27th October. This is the second time this day has been celebrated and is part of the wider celebration around the globe for OT Month.I have been reflecting recently on why I became an occupational therapist and why I remain so.It all started for me at the age of 15. I was asked by my friend and her mum to help out a camp for children with physical and cognitive impairments with Noah's Ark Toy Library in Melbourne. My friend's mum was employed there as an occupational therapist. At the camp, my eyes were… -
Robot Suit HAL
5 Sep 2011 | 11:39 pmRobot suits have been developed in Japan. They help weak muscles as well as normal muscles of the extremities. So they strengthen the muscles but not the bones. These robots might endanger the osteoporotic bones, particularly the vertebrae. Thank you Judy Gnarpe for alerting me to this wonderful rehabilitation device developed in Japan!
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The Recycling Occupational Therapist
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Carly's Voice
8 May 2012 | 5:42 amI have read many books written by people who have autism. In fact, I recently wrote a review of Temple Grandin's new book "Different...Not less"- which is a collection of autobiographical essays describing the challenges and successes in the lives of people on the spectrum. When I went to Temple Grandin's conference a few weeks ago- she highly recommended the book Carly's Voice. Now its my turn to recommend it! This is an exceptionally well written description of how disability impacts the whole family-told from her father, Arthur Fleischmann's… -
7 May 2012 | 5:52 am
7 May 2012 | 5:52 amAfter dropping my son off in North Adams to spend 2 weeks on the Appalachian Trail, drove to the Museum of Contemporary Art. This museum is inside a former warehouse and has huge rooms filled with unusual large scale art.I have to share these robots seen in the cafe/store located next to the museum. This fish suspended in the museum's children's gallery is made of lots of awesome plastics....Above is an example of a large scale piece in the museum with a texting art lover demonstrating the size scale. I have to admit I don't understand a lot of the art, but I love being surrounded by… -
Hippotherapy Clients using sensory pull toy
3 May 2012 | 5:21 amI described in my last post how I made a sensory pull toy. Today I videotaped a 2 year old using it while waiting for the horse and a 3 year old using it while on the horse. Another 2 year old who I did not catch on tape positioned in leg leg sitting to stretch her hamstrings- reached towards her toes to pull the rings. Another child did this activity while kneeling and another while standing. -
Sensory Pull Toy
27 Apr 2012 | 5:19 amI was pleased to discover that the motor to the Sguiggly Wiggly pen fit perfectly inside the pouring spout of a detergent bottle. This can make an activity vibrate and many children pay better attention given that proprioceptive sensory input. A bottle such as this one can easily be turned into a vibrating shape sorter by cutting 1-3 holes and providing the corresponding shapes that fit through them. For example, cut a square hole and provide blocks. The activity I designed this week… -
No Longer A SECRET
6 Apr 2012 | 11:13 amDoreit Bailer and Lucy Jane Miller’s new book No Longer a SECRET: Unique Common Sense Strategies for Children with Sensory Motor Challenges elaborates on how to help the sensational kids Dr. Miller describes in her book Sensational Kids: Hope and Help for Children with Sensory Processing Disorders. Although a bit more technical, No Longer A SECRET is written by two expert occupational therapists for an audience of parents and educators eager to help children better access the curriculum, make friends and develop self-esteem. I am going to compare the two books because although there…
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Your Therapy Source - www.YourTherapySource.com
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Free Graphing Game
15 May 2012 | 11:41 amHere is another free printable to practice visual perceptual skills, math skills, scissor skills and categorization. You can download the freebie at YourTherapySource. -
Free Printable - Robot Gross Motor Activity
13 May 2012 | 9:19 pmHere is a fun printable activity that is perfect for partners. Take a movement break with this activity that encourages gross motor skills, following directions, body awareness and motor planning.You can download the printable at YourTherapySource - http://www.yourtherapysource.com/freerobot.html -
Wheelchair Breakdowns
10 May 2012 | 8:43 pmWheelchair breakdowns are very disrupting to children and their families. When a specialized wheelchair breaks many children do not have a back up, making it difficult for positioning, comfort and most importantly a mode of transportation. Pediatric therapists are frequently called upon to help with quick fixes of wheelchairs. Recent research in the American Journal of Physical Medicine Rehabilitation found that about 53% of wheelchair users with spinal cord injury experienced a wheelchair breakdown requiring repair per 6 month period. Previously the rate was about 45% from… -
Shaving and Autism
9 May 2012 | 11:07 amI came across this video from RealLookAutism that shows how a young man with autism is learning to tolerate shaving with the help of his occupational therapist and his mother. This is such a wonderful video that really helps to explain how sensory techniques can help some individuals to learn activities of daily living. It also helps to demonstrate that certain skills can take a long time to learn but the goal is achievable. The OT breaks the skill down, offers preparatory activities, slowly introduces the shaving equipment followed by parent education helping this… -
Spray Shapes and Patterns
8 May 2012 | 7:43 pmHere is an old favorite therapeutic activity - spray shapes and patterns. Cut up some fun foam into different shapes or use any foam shapes. Using a spray bottle, squirt some water on a white board or mirror. The fun foam will stick to the surface. You could trace the shapes on a dry area of the board. Once the shapes are damp the child can match them up to the outlines. This activity encourages:hand strengtheningwrist extensionvisual perceptual skillsmath concepts Looking for more activities like this? Check out Play - Move - Develop.
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SACHIN CHOGLE
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Better wound treatment for all I had posted about this in my...
4 May 2012 | 7:53 pmBetter wound treatment for all I had posted about this in my earlier blog (http://bit.ly/KnE1Ow) and now it is one of the IDEAS Global Challenge (MIT) winners who developed low-cost technologies for use in the developing world. A streamlined version of ‘negative-pressure’ wound therapy is put to the test in Haiti — and could have ‘enormous potential’ across the developing world. -
Grow Your Own Organs! The Mayo Clinic is developing a way to...
3 May 2012 | 10:01 pmGrow Your Own Organs! The Mayo Clinic is developing a way to grow organ tissue from adult stem cells. What this means is that in the future you may be able to go to your doctor and deposit a batch of cells, and if you have a stroke or heart attack later in life they’ll be able to use those cells to repair the damage. -
Adaptive Nicole This is amazing video about an Occupational...
20 Apr 2012 | 9:37 pmAdaptive Nicole This is amazing video about an Occupational therapy student who is also a paraplegic. In this video she talks about and demonstrates how she manages driving her adapted car. She also talks about her exercise routine, about her wheelchair and about cushions. The last part of the video discusses about her traveling by air and what all possibilities they have for someone in wheelchair. On reaching her destination - Las Vagas, she shows us how she gets into a taxi with a ramp. As clinicians when we work with different patients with varied diagnosis, It is very important to find… -
Boiler Engineer comes up with a better idea to repair his...
14 Apr 2012 | 8:32 pmBoiler Engineer comes up with a better idea to repair his heart! Tal Golesworthy is a boiler engineer — he knows piping and plumbing. When he needed surgery to repair a life-threatening problem with his aorta, he mixed his engineering skills with his doctors’ medical knowledge to design a better repair job. -
Symbaloo Browsing the web is complicated enough. At least...
25 Mar 2012 | 5:46 pmSymbaloo Browsing the web is complicated enough. At least finding our bookmarks should be easy and fun. When we access bookmarks, most of us click on the tab called bookmarks and then select from a drop down menu. As our baby boomer population grows, we will come across people with visual deficits making it more difficult for them to use the computer. As caregivers, we need to know how we can help solve this issue. Let’s try to solve difficulty with bookmarks! Symbaloo comes to the rescue! It is an amazing visually pleasing website that lets you add bookmarks in different tiles. Not only…
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Mindful Movement Inc Edmonton AB
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Summer Groups 2012
18 Apr 2012 | 6:40 pmPrinting in the Park Ages 5-7 years July 30-August 3, 9:15—10:30 This group is aimed at children coming out of KG/Gr. 1/2 who have already covered the formations but need additional support to enhance their skills. Children in this group will work on pencil grasp, in hand manipulation skills, letter formation (primarily lowercase), kinesthetic printing, shoulder stability and more! A different group of letters will be targeted each day. Each child will start a Handwriting Without Tears workbook in the group and then take it home at the end of the week to complete at home. Group activities… -
Tools For Kids Inc.
18 Apr 2012 | 5:38 pmFor a full line of Occupational Therapy products please visit our Tools For Kids Inc. website. New products are being added all the time. We’d love to hear from you if there is a product you like that we don’t carry. -
How Does Your Engine Run®
18 Apr 2012 | 5:27 pmThe Alert Program® September 6 & 7th, 2012, Fantasyland Hotel, West Edmonton Mall 17700-87 Ave, Edmonton, Alberta, Entrance #51, Rm 6 Complete information and registration for How Does Your Engine Run®
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EmpowerAbility® , LLC
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Feature-Matching Products to your Client’s Needs
30 Apr 2012 | 9:15 amIn the beginning of February I had the opportunity to attend the International Builder Show (IBS) held in Orlando, Florida. If you have ever attended, you will know that the Expo is tremendous and warrants a pair of ‘sensible’ shoes. I always enjoy learning about new products on the market and determining which will best meet my client’s needs. I wrote an article for the NAHB CAPS Connection reviewing some of the new products at the Expo. Click on this link to reach the article to learn more about the Universal Design and Aging-in-Place products! What do you think of… -
Imagine what it would be like to have your first mammogram…while seated in a wheelchair (2012 update)
26 Feb 2012 | 9:48 amAlmost two years ago I wrote a blog regarding the Access Board planning to set standards for medical diagnostic equipment. As of February 9, 2012, these proposed accessibility standards were published for comment in the Federal Register. I am dedicating the re-posting of this blog in an effort to provoke thought about the importance of this issue. From May 11, 2010: For women around the world it is almost like a rite of passage: the baseline mammogram. It is advised to get it done prior to age 40 and I crossed that bridge this year. It is an interesting process that I felt more like a… -
Where the sidewalk ends….
19 Feb 2012 | 7:22 amYesterday was a beautiful Winter day to go outside and take a long family walk with the dog. Our neighborhood was built with sidewalks, but for some reason a few of them abruptly end. They remind of me of the infamous ‘bridge to nowhere’ and are the inspiration to this blog post, and Shel Silverstein reference. I don’t quite understand why the sidewalk stops along the busiest part of our route around the neighborhood. As you can see in the picture, it just ends….but it is met with a path that has been etched in the grass by Bill’s power wheelchair. You can clearly see… -
Water, water everywhere….but only if you can access the faucet!
22 May 2011 | 8:44 amIt sure was a long winter, but out of the “newness” of Spring comes a new blog post to breathe life back into the EmpowerAbility blog! Every Spring Bill and I plant a vegetable garden. It seems only natural to write a blog post about accessible gardening this time of year; I have previously written one myself (see “How does your modified garden grow “). However, I find that most blog posts about accessible gardening (including mine) talk about accessible height planters, the vast array of modified and/or universally designed tools, but leave out one important factor: access to… -
A bump may as well be a mountain to a wheelchair-user
18 Jan 2011 | 7:32 amIt never ceases to amaze me how a “bump” can change your immediate plans. This scenario happened on one “Sunday fun-day”, during the Summer 2010, but is just as relevant to our lives today. It started with Bill and I wanting to use a sale coupon at the mall and then go out to dinner. We hopped into his wheelchair accessible truck and off to the mall we went. We parked in the van accessible designated space and started to deploy the lift. It met Bill at the floor of the truck and he rolled onto the lift, no different from any other day. As the lift gently places Bill onto the…
