Hey Sue: Thanks for writing.
I really don't think that there are a lot of practitioners who practice occupational therapy in a way our profession advertises itself. One of AOTA's greatest slogans is that OT "Teaches skills for the job of living". Personally, I have met very few OT's who address the job of living. By far, most are addressing skills needed to move arms and then leaving it up to clients to figure out how to put their lives back together. You know, I think that as a profession we need to get our ducks lined up. I have been an OT since 1997 and I have never once felt that our professional organization, academicians and clinicians were ever on the same page or even in the same book. I don't think my displeasure with OT is is about being a good or bad therapist. I have met OT's who were good at what they did but what they were doing was NOT OT. A person can be good at something but it doesn't necessarily mean that it is something that they should be good at. Ron ======================================================= On Saturday, February 14, 2004, @ 8:12 AM, you wrote: SHML> Ron, et al, SHML> I always say that occupation is any meaningful activity, that it has to SHML> be something the client wants to do since they are the only ones who can SHML> say what is meaningful to them. I go on to give examples too, but I SHML> don't limit it to self care skills, I talk about hobbies, leaisure, etc. SHML> In the school system I explain that for a child it means learning, play, SHML> being able to get ready for school, being independent in the bathroom SHML> and cafeteria while in school. SHML> As to the idea that the OT profession is fixated on medical model, Ron, SHML> where is your research? or is this anecdotal evidence? : :-) . We are SHML> researched-based practitioners (right, Dr Lehman?:-) As in any SHML> profession there are good practitioners and bad, and it also depends on SHML> the client population, you are mostly seeing geriatric (I think). I have SHML> seen both medical model and occupational-based OT, even in my limited SHML> experience. In my second field work I did vocational rehab/assistive SHML> technology, that was pure OT, getting someone to be able to do a job, SHML> sometimes for the first time in their life. it had nothing to do with SHML> arms either, most of the clients had disorders such as vision SHML> impairments, hearing problems, learning disabilities, one had SHML> arthrogryposis which is not something I could 'fix' but I could find SHML> ways to help him become an architect. In my current job I am seeing a SHML> wide variety of clients, from early intervention, through school system, SHML> to home health. I am working with a young man with dyslexia, no cones SHML> needed there! (BTW, in the school system everyone seems to think OT is SHML> for fine-motor improvement) SHML> So don't give up hope Ron, there are lots of OTs practising Occupational SHML> therapy, but maybe you are just not meeting them ;-( SHML> Sue SHML> Krauss Alice wrote: >>Thank you. Well stated. >> >>-----Original Message----- >>From: Ron Carson [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] >>Sent: Friday, February 13, 2004 4:38 PM >>To: Krauss Alice >>Subject: Re[4]: [OTnow] Response when you explain OT >> >> >>Occupation: "An activity in which one engages" >> >> Source: Webster's Collegiate Dictionary , 10th edition >> >> >> >>Now, I always give examples of occupations such as brushing teeth, bathing, >>etc and tell clients that what matters most to OT's is that they are able to >>perform their occupations in a way that is safe, satisfactory and meaningful >>to them. I really want clients to know that the word occupation has a >>different meaning other than 'vocation' and this is why we call ourselves >>occupational therapists. >> >>Additionally, I sometimes explain to clients that while all occupations have >>personal meaning (by definition), most insurance companies are only >>concerned with a very limited range of occupations. For example, Medicare >>doesn't care if a client can play lawn darts, but the do care if a client >>can't access their bathroom. >> >>I even include the word occupation in my reports to doctors. >> >>Ron >> >>======================================================= >>On Friday, February 13, 2004, @ 1:30 PM, you wrote: >> >>KA> Ron, You stated earlier that you use the dictionary definition. Would >>you >>KA> share exactly which one you have found to be most useful/understandable. >>KA> Thank you. >> >>KA> -----Original Message----- >>KA> From: Ron Carson [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] >>KA> Sent: Friday, February 13, 2004 9:27 AM >>KA> To: David >>KA> Subject: Re[2]: [OTnow] Response when you explain OT >> >> >>KA> I don't know why, but I seem hung up on telling clients about the >>meaning of >>KA> occupation. It just seems that if they have something 'tangible' to >>hang on >>KA> to, like a definition, that they might more easily remember what it is >>that >>KA> OT does. >> >>KA> Additionally, I would really like to see our profession, at all >>levels, >>KA> embrace the word occupation in its advertising and practice. >> >>KA> Thanks >> >>KA> Ron >> >>KA> ======================================================= >>KA> On Thursday, February 12, 2004, @ 3:00 PM, you wrote: >> >> >> >>>>>I say: My job is to help you to do the things you want to be doing. >>>>>For the patients, it is very clear, and different for everyone. Estelle >>>>>breines >>>>> >>>>> >> >> >>D>> Right on, Estelle!....these are exactly the same words I use too; and it >>KA> is >>D>> amazing to see what a difference it makes for the person when they >>KA> realise >>D>> you don't want to just take over and tell them what to do... >>D>> David >> >> >> >>D>> _______________________________________________ >>D>> To unsubscribe, visit: >>D>> http://otnow.com/mailman/listinfo/otlist_otnow.com >> >>D>> The OTnow Mail Archive: >>D>> www.mail-archive.com/[EMAIL PROTECTED] >>D>> =============================================== >> >> >> >>KA> _______________________________________________ >>KA> To unsubscribe, visit: >>KA> http://otnow.com/mailman/listinfo/otlist_otnow.com >> >>KA> The OTnow Mail Archive: >>KA> www.mail-archive.com/[EMAIL PROTECTED] >>KA> =============================================== >> >>KA> _______________________________________________ >>KA> To unsubscribe, visit: >>KA> http://otnow.com/mailman/listinfo/otlist_otnow.com >> >>KA> The OTnow Mail Archive: >>KA> www.mail-archive.com/[EMAIL PROTECTED] >>KA> =============================================== >> >> >> >>_______________________________________________ >>To unsubscribe, visit: http://otnow.com/mailman/listinfo/otlist_otnow.com >> >>The OTnow Mail Archive: >>www.mail-archive.com/[EMAIL PROTECTED] >>=============================================== >> >>_______________________________________________ >>To unsubscribe, visit: http://otnow.com/mailman/listinfo/otlist_otnow.com >> >>The OTnow Mail Archive: >>www.mail-archive.com/[EMAIL PROTECTED] >>=============================================== >> >> >> >> >> SHML> _______________________________________________ SHML> To unsubscribe, visit: SHML> http://otnow.com/mailman/listinfo/otlist_otnow.com SHML> The OTnow Mail Archive: SHML> www.mail-archive.com/[EMAIL PROTECTED] SHML> =============================================== _______________________________________________ To unsubscribe, visit: http://otnow.com/mailman/listinfo/otlist_otnow.com The OTnow Mail Archive: www.mail-archive.com/[EMAIL PROTECTED] ===============================================
