Hi Ron and others: Please check out the blog at http://www.RegisteredFunctionalTherapist.blogspot.com we discuss this very issue. In terms of generic, or more generic than OT it's an interesting point. In particular, http://registeredfunctionaltherapist.blogspot.com/2009/06/challenge-lets-get-our-definition-in.html<http://registeredfunctionaltherapist.blogspot.com/2009/06/challenge-lets-get-our-definition-in.html%20>
OT has a unique problem. Occupation does not mean (in the dictionary) what we think it means. I have discussed it with a representative of Webster's Dictionary... OTs definition of Occupation or occupational will not get in there any time soon. It appears we will not succeed in our challenge of the above article. On the other hand Functional means almost exactly what thebest of OT is doing. Functional tasks during treatments to effect functional improvements. I do think we could expand the definition of Function... I also have clearly stated I think there is value in the term Occupation. I believe that we need to be clear with the public on what we can offer, right now we are almost unknown. Even where we are "heard of" we are often misinterpreted. I agree that AOTA should continue their excellent work. I don't think ALOFT has to detract from that. The marketing of OT is important but (pre ALOFT) my experience has been that *a lot of the time* when I do great things with a patient... I mean wonderful, life altering improvements that I think will propel OT to the spotlight... I am spoken of glowingly *as a physical therapist.* The other times it's as a doctor. I don't know what kind of a marketing effort can beat face to face daily contact (during which I clearly state my discipline and refer to it during treatment). With this close attention my efforts often get credited to PT (even among health care professionals). Getting the defintion in the dictionary would be a huge step... the trick to that is real and generalized exposure. We are not even on the list for consideration. Let's try this. Let's give Functional Therapy a shot. It should not detract from the efforts of AOTA or other marketing efforts, if anything it might get people talking and learning about OT. I am passionate about promoting the potential for OT philosophy and treatment to change the world. I think the name (Occupational Therapy) is a huge barrier to promoting it. I ask you to consider what's more important, the process of care (philsophy, mode of thinking, problem solving, treatment approach...) or the title? Respectfully, Ed Kaine, OTR, RFT President of the American League of Functional Therapists www.FunctionalTherapist.org Functional Therapy... the Next Generation of Occupational Therapy! On Wed, Jun 10, 2009 at 4:48 PM, Ron Carson <[email protected]> wrote: > Hey Ed: > > To me, functional therapist is even more generic than an occupational > therapist. > > As we've discussed, OCCUPATION has much more meaning and depth. Of > course, the problem is that people, even OT's, don't understand that. > > I'm for staying with occupational therapist but having AOTA market > occupation and having OT's focus on occupation. For me, this is about > the only thing that makes any real sense. > > Thanks, > > Ron > > ~~~ > Ron Carson MHS, OT > www.OTnow.com > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Ed Kaine <[email protected]> > Sent: Monday, June 08, 2009 > To: [email protected] <[email protected]> > Subj: [OTlist] Welcome to Our Newest Member(s) > > EK> Hi Everyone; > > EK> I would like to introduce a subject which might get a bit of a chain of > EK> feedback going. I am part of a movement to offer an alternative name to > EK> qualifying OTs and OTAs. > > EK> We are a membership organization called the American League of > Functional > EK> Therapists. We have the trademarked the collective marks and membership > EK> marks of: > > EK> 1. Registered Functional Therapist RFT(TM) > EK> 2. Registered Functional Therapy Associate(TM) > > EK> As a membership organization we will ensure that the members qualify > under > EK> the qualifications as written in our bylaws and as presented on our > website > EK> www.FunctionalTherapist.org <http://www.functionaltherapist.org/>. We > also > EK> have been doing well increasing recognition and searchability of our > blog at > EK> www.RegisteredFunctionalTherapist.Blogspot.com< > http://www.registeredfunctionaltherapist.blogspot.com/>. > > > EK> Please take a look at the blog, become a follower of it to see what we > are > EK> talking about. If you have more interest please contact me at > EK> [email protected]. > > EK> The discussions on our Blog look at challenges in using our name, word > EK> origins and implications, projects we are working on and generally what > we > EK> are about. For instance, a PT I have worked with for 9 years (and who > has > EK> worked with OTs for 25+ years) told me she always thought it was to do > with > EK> jobs. That was today after I told her about the effort ALOFT was doing > to > EK> provide an alternative name. She said, "Well, it seemed to make sense, > you > EK> need to have your shoes on before you can go to work.". We work in an > acute > EK> care hospital with many geriatric and retired patients. If someone I > work > EK> shoulder to shoulder with... even doing co-treats occasionally, doesn't > know > EK> what we do how can we expect John Q. Public to? > > EK> So how about you? Are some of the challenges you face due to our > limited > EK> name recognition. Do you think we could get any benefit from being able > to > EK> use an additional and alternative name? Again, we are not trying to > change > EK> the law or have your license say RFT. We are a membership organization > EK> promoting OT services under an alternative name. > > EK> I hope you will check us out. > > EK> Thank you so much for your dedication to OT, > > EK> Ed Kaine, OTR, RFT > EK> President of the American League of Functional Therapists > > EK> Functional Therapy... the Next Generation of Occupational Therapy! > > > > > EK> On Mon, Jun 8, 2009 at 6:43 AM, Ron Carson <[email protected]> wrote: > > >> Welcome to our newest member(s): > >> > >> ##################################### > >> > >> [email protected] > >> > >> [email protected] > >> > >> [email protected] > >> > >> [email protected] > >> > >> [email protected] > >> > >> [email protected] > >> > >> [email protected] > >> > >> [email protected] > >> > >> [email protected] > >> > >> [email protected] > >> > >> [email protected] > >> > >> ##################################### > >> > >> There have been VERY few messages during the past month or so. That > >> seems to be the nature of the OTlist. > >> > >> Ron > >> > >> > >> -- > >> Options? > >> www.otnow.com/mailman/options/otlist_otnow.com > >> > >> Archive? > >> www.mail-archive.com/[email protected] > >> > EK> -- > EK> Options? > EK> www.otnow.com/mailman/options/otlist_otnow.com > > EK> Archive? > EK> www.mail-archive.com/[email protected] > > > -- > Options? > www.otnow.com/mailman/options/otlist_otnow.com > > Archive? > www.mail-archive.com/[email protected] > -- Options? www.otnow.com/mailman/options/otlist_otnow.com Archive? www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]
