Hi Ron and everybody! Anybody else here besides me that like to read newsgroups? I'd like to direct you to an ongoing discussion at news:uk.people.disability - the subject is called: "Why no qualifications in careing?" Though neither OT nor PT is mentioned, the client centered perspective, life goals etc., certainly is present. Here's an example (cut and pasted, not a whole message):
(SNIP).................................................... "Judith Snow wrote that, whilst working on a new book on her computer, a new care assistant tried to encourage her to make her own cup of tea to 'increase her independence' (which sums-up current socialcare perspective very well I feel). Judith explained that her independence came from selling her books and doing lectures. This enabled her to reach the goals in her life... own flat, social life and relationships, travel, possessions, assistance when she required it, doing something when she wanted in the company she chose; *that's* real independence. Judith failed to see how spending half an hour struggling to make a cup of tea, or an hour dressing herself, or half a day going to the shops herself would help her reach any of those goals. That little story was my very first wake-up call. It contradicted everything that I've been taught by my workplace and college about what it is that disabled people need from specialist services. From what I've seen, more or less everything in social services regarding disability is geared around this false notion that independence means 'doing menial tasks for yourself', and all the important life-goal and social stuff gets overwhelmingly ignored. Current training spews out workers who have the same mindset as Judith's care assistant, who are convinced (and very convincing) that they know what's best for the people they're 'helping'." (SNIP)............................... If the author is right - not knowing the English social system, I can only guess - then it may not so much be a PT/OT question, but more of a political one.... And if so: How much will any social system alow any OT (or PT or others in their bread) to diverge from the current trend in care and training? And when we run into a brick wall - who should we choose as our allied? Regards cybs in denmark - who have quite a few more OT thoughts coming on - just not in English )-: Well, maybe later.. *********��*********** Unsubscribe? Send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] In the message's *body*, put the following text: unsubscribe OTlist ** List messages are archived at: http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected] *********��***********
