Occupational Therapy Student

My favorite show on television right now has a child with cerebral palsy as the main character.   It is called Speechless , and it airs on ABC.   I have thoroughly enjoyed watching this show as it highlights some of the struggles families have with their special needs children in a humorous manner.   J.J., the main character, has spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy and is non-verbal.   The show illustrates some of the struggles he has with speaking and with buildings that are not accessible to him but also highlights some of the ways he struggles like every other teenager in trying to be independent and navigate challenges like dating and school.   While the show is fictional, it illustrates many of the issues children with cerebral palsy have in school and the issues many families have as they try to provide the best life possible for their children.   As an OT student we are starting to learn about neurological conditions such as CVA...

Observing other occupational therapists and being able to watch them treat clients in various settings was a major confirmation to me that I wanted to be an occupational therapist.  I loved watching OTs practice and use occupation as a means and an end in their treatment and tailor their sessions to fit the occupational profile of their clients.  Now that I am in OT school, I am able to reflect on many of the things I saw during my observations and am able to understand some of the theories and processes behind their treatments and interventions.  I spent a significant time observing in an outpatient pediatric clinic and thoroughly enjoyed learning and being in this setting.  As I have progressed through OT school so far I realize that there are some gray areas in what I saw.  One of our main focuses in OT school so far has been focused on becoming evidence-based practitioners.  We want all of our interventions to be based on research and the current best...

Prior to listening to Michael Nesmith’s TED Talk I had never heard of universal design.   Universal design is a concept to construct buildings and public spaces in such a way that everyone, regardless of their disabilities or abilities can access them.   One example is automatic sliding doors.   A person in a wheel chair, a mother with a stroller and kids, and an elderly person with a walker can all access the building without a problem compared to traditional doors.   Universal design is meant to meet everyone’s needs and make sure everyone can access buildings in an easy and universal way.   I loved listening to Michael Nesmith’s talk and hearing his own stories of interacting with others despite being deaf.   Another area of occupational therapy that really excites me is home modification, especially adapting the home environment for seniors to live in place as they age.   My grandparents are getting into their 90s now, so this...