Hi Ron and others- I've been lurking and decided to jump in with the mention of occupational deprivation, and your question Ron about assumptions with persons who cannot indicate they are truly engaging in occupation. This question almost brings occupation to a philosophical level. If occupations are are defined as activities of everyday life, named, organized and given value and meaning by individuals and a culture (Law, Polatajko, &Townsend, 1997, p. 32), then can we really ever know if a person is engaging in occupation if they cannot tell us or somehow indicate the value of the engagement? In my opinion, we cannot, and thats ok. Sometimes the best we can offer our clients who cannot tell us whether or not they value an activity as an occupation is an enjoyable experience that meets some physical or sensory need and supports their overall wellbeing. But I don't think we can call this occupation. According to the OT practice frame work, while occupation is the goal and main modality of the OT, there is also room when appropriate for purposeful actives (ie, sorting silverware) if they enable participation in other aspects of daily life.
Terrianne Occupation is so subjective. Ron Carson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: Man, you write at an advanced level!! I THINK I understand what you are saying but if my response is way off base let me know. Occupational deprivation is a common age-associate malady. I see it everyday in my practice. But, IF a person is unable to verbalize (vocally or non-vocally) the meaning and worth of an engaged activity, are we justified in assuming they are engaged in occupation? I understand about being isolated. I work alone and have for several years. The OTlist is about the only place where I can freely exchange ideas. I wish more subscribers would feel the same! Ron ----- Original Message ----- From: Joan Riches Sent: Monday, September 10, 2007 To: [email protected] Subj: [OTlist] Sorting Silverware? JR> Well - if occupation is what people do and occupation is idiosyncratic to JR> the person, then meaning seems to have many different levels. People at this JR> level certainly have emotions - and those emotions are often mitigated by a JR> sense of doing. Certainly we need the concept of occupational deprivation to JR> comprehend behaviour changes when opportunities 'to do' are provided. JR> Thank you to you. The list has been such a source of professional JR> connection. -- Options? www.otnow.com/mailman/options/otlist_otnow.com Archive? www.mail-archive.com/[email protected] ************************************************************************************** Enroll in Boston University's post-professional Master of Science for OTs Online. Gain the skills and credentials to propel your career. www.otdegree.com/otn ************************************************************************************** --------------------------------- Moody friends. Drama queens. Your life? Nope! - their life, your story. Play Sims Stories at Yahoo! Games. -- Options? www.otnow.com/mailman/options/otlist_otnow.com Archive? www.mail-archive.com/[email protected] ************************************************************************************** Enroll in Boston University's post-professional Master of Science for OTs Online. Gain the skills and credentials to propel your career. www.otdegree.com/otn **************************************************************************************
