# data[].attributes.body
In this TED Talk, Dr. Tyminski talks about how beneficial occupational therapy can be in working with the homeless population. She talks individuals in this population being stuck in a maze with no skills/tools to help themselves get out of the maze. That in society there are many barriers (walls in the maze) even to just meeting basic needs like sleeping, so any other occupations have a hard time being meet or focused on. She mentions the barriers seen in healthcare with this population and how most individual who are homeless have to only focus on health care when it is life threatening rather than preventative care. She also talks about underlying causes of being stuck in the maze with no exit like substance issues, brain injuries, and mental illnesses. Dr. Tyminski discusses that occupational therapists are so vital in this population as we can help to navigate these barriers and provide those skills/tools to help individuals "tackle their mazes." In occupational therapy because occupational justice plays such a huge part in our profession it is an important and large driving force behind her work. While there are many benefits to OT in the homeless population one reason many people don't receive OT is because people don't know about the benefits of OT in this population and a lack of funding for OTs in this area. I would definitely recommend this video to others because not many people know the benefits of OT with this population and she does any amazing job shedding light on the importance her work.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Occupational Therapy for the Homeless | Quinn Tyminski | TEDxStLouisWomen

# data[].attributes.body
In her 2019 TED Talk, third-year OTD student Rebecca Langbein explores the field of OT and highlights how collaboration between OT professionals and engineers can enhance a client-centered approach. Langbein shares real-life examples that illustrate how occupational therapists’ expertise in task analysis and modification creates valuable opportunities for partnership with engineers—ultimately fostering more inclusive and equitable communities. I found this 10-minute video to be a worthwhile watch and a meaningful reminder of how our skills as OTs can make a difference on both individual and community levels through our client-centered approach. I also think this video would be a great resource to share with clients and families as an introduction to the possibilities and impact of OT.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
An Occupational Therapist's Role in Person-Centered Design | Rebecca Langbein | TEDxJeffersonU

# data[].attributes.body
This TED Talk is not explicitly connected to occupational therapy, yet it strongly relates to the work our profession does. Dr. Xavier Amador, a clinical psychologist, draws from both his personal experiences with his older brother and his professional research at Columbia University to better understand anosognosia. He explains that when individuals say things like, “I’m not sick” or “I don’t need help,” it is often not denial in the traditional sense, but rather a lack of awareness caused by their condition which is known as anosognosia. This symptom is common among individuals with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, but it can also occur in those with physical conditions such as stroke or blindness. Dr. Amador emphasizes that a client’s unawareness is a symptom, not a conscious choice, and should be respected and approached with understanding by professionals.

To address this, he introduces the LEAP approach (Listen, Empathize, Agree, and Partner) as an effective way to build trust and help clients receive the care they need. LEAP aligns closely with principles used in occupational therapy, such as Motivational Interviewing and client-centered communication. It emphasizes empathy, collaboration, and respect for the client’s perspective. Beyond supporting clients with anosognosia, this technique could also be valuable for fostering rapport and authentic connections with a wide range of clients. Because anosognosia can affect individuals across many populations, occupational therapists in diverse settings may find the LEAP approach a useful tool to enhance engagement and promote participation in therapy.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
I’m Not Sick, I Don’t Need Help! | Dr. Xavier Amador | TEDxOrientHarbor

# data[].attributes.body
This TED Talk relates to occupational therapy because it highlights how dopamine drives motivation and goal-seeking, which connects directly to how OT helps people engage in meaningful activities. Therapists often work with clients to build motivation while also teaching them to find satisfaction in what they can do right now, not just what they hope to do later.

The ideas in the talk also relate to OT’s focus on mental health, habit formation, and balance. Understanding dopamine helps therapists address challenges like addiction, burnout, or dissatisfaction by designing routines and environments that support healthy motivation and presence in daily life.

Overall, the talk deepens understanding of how the brain influences engagement and well-being. It is worth recommending to peers because it links neuroscience with OT principles of motivation, participation, and mindfulness in everyday occupation.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Dopamine: Driving Your Brain into the Future

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Why are we obsessed with the things we want – and bored when we get them? Why do highly driven people so rarely enjoy the success they’ve earned? The answer is dopamine, a chemical in the brain that has been called “the pleasure molecule.” But is it? Find out why it holds the key to desire, motivation, and sometimes the most disastrous of consequences.

# data[].attributes.headline
OT and Neuroplasticity after brain injuries 

# data[].attributes.subject
OT and Neuroplasticity after brain injuries 

# data[].attributes.body
Dr.Shawn Phipps gives a case example on the use of restoring and improving neuroplasticity following a TBI. He used the CAPE Model ( Challenge, Action, Practice and Evaluation) for this specific patient and was able to use his IADLs as forms of training to return his patient back to or close to his prior level of functioning! His patient had learned a new language while working at a restaurant as the dishwasher and eventually worked his way up through the business to be a manager. Through continuous simulated experiences and overflow of support from his family and peers he was able to slowly regain these skills and return as a manager of the restaurant again. I think this is a great example on meeting patients where they are at and understanding their goals.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Occupational Therapy and Neuroplasticity After Brain Injury | Dr. Shawn Phipps | TEDxAlmansorPark

# data[].attributes.body
Jaclyn Stephens is a cognitive neuroscientist and licensed occupational therapist. Her research involves working with adolescents and young adults with sport-related concussions (SRC) and evaluating the current protocols for athletes' safe return to their meaningful occupation: sports and recreation. In her TEDx Talk, she highlights how athletes typically associate their identity with the sport they play. When athletes are asked to stop after sustaining a serious injury like a concussion, they often feel a loss of identity. She further explains that while it is best practice to remove them from sport, there is a need for objective measures for determining safe return to play because athletes can non-disclose symptoms in hopes of speeding up their return to the occupation that defines them, or there is extrinsic pressure from others to return to play earlier than the athlete is ready for. This dilemma is why "athletes who sustained a recent concussion are 3x more likely to get reinjured during return-to-play," increasing their risk for secondary impact syndrome.

I found this talk interesting because Dr. Stephens discusses how new technology, behavioral measures, and neuroimaging techniques, such as VR and EEG, can be used during the course of treatment. I would recommend my peers to watch this talk as this is a specialized area of rehabilitation that OTs can get involved in.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Returning to “Athlete” after Concussion | Jaclyn Stephens | TEDxCSU

# data[].attributes.headline
Mastering a New Skill in a Matter of Hours

# data[].attributes.subject
Mastering a New Skill in a Matter of Hours

# data[].attributes.body
In her TEDx talk Mastering a New Skill in a Matter of Hours, Helene Platajko highlights how practice does not always make perfect. She also highlights how therapists help people learn new skills, especially when practicing on your own does not yield the results you would like. She also discusses hardware vs. software and programming when looking at children with disabilities struggling to participate in their occupations. Sometimes we focus on fixing the body and the hardware, but this does not always work. Instead, she used a cognitive approach to work on children's thinking through problems. This worked with multiple different populations.

I would recommend this as it was engaging and clear. It is also applicable across different settings such as pediatrics, neuro, acute care, etc. It is also different, which shows that learning all must be slow and repetitive.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Mastering a new a skill in a matter of hours | Helene Polatajko | TEDxToronto

# data[].attributes.body
Jenny Okolo is a lead psychiatric occupational therapist working in UK prisons. In her talk, she shares stories from her work with clients and challenges the audience to rethink the limits of their empathy, especially toward people who are often judged or misunderstood, such as those in the criminal justice system or living with mental health and neurodiversity challenges. She explores what it means to “see more” in others by looking beyond labels and actions. Her message encourages listeners to reflect on their own boundaries of compassion and consider how extending empathy can lead to deeper understanding and meaningful change. Overall, I would recommend this to my peers.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
How far can your empathy go? | Jenny Okolo | TEDxNHS

# data[].attributes.body
Quinn Tyminsky first gives her pitch of occupational therapy, saying "I'm going to explain [occupational therapy] by asking what you did before you came here - how many of you brushed your teeth, took a shower, parented a child, went to work? All of those are things we work on." I loved this description! She went on to describe homelessness as a maze with tricky avenues and restricting walls. Quinn speaks about one of her clients, a woman who was experiencing homelessness and how she worked with Quinn, her OT, on skills she was concerned she would not have after being homeless for 3 years. Quinn speaks about the occupations that homelessness creates barriers to and how a high percentage of people experiencing homeless have traumatic brain injuries, making it challenging to perform executive functioning tasks and memory. The speaker ties in occupational justice, intersectionality, and the prevalence of comorbidities and healthcare access. I recommend my peers watch this TED Talk.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Occupational Therapy for the Homeless | Quinn Tyminski | TEDxStLouisWomen

# data[].attributes.headline
Occupational Therapy and Neuroplasticity After Brain Injury

# data[].attributes.subject
Occupational Therapy and Neuroplasticity After Brain Injury

# data[].attributes.body
This TedTalk follows the story about a man who learned Hebrew throughout his experience working at a restaurant to continue to build relationships with those he works with. However, this man was involved in a car accident that resulted in a TBI. He was very agitated during hospitalization and was unable to recognize all important figures in his life. Every lobe in his brain was impacted by the TBI, and Shawn Phipps (his OT) was motivated to help the man return to work. Phipps worked to simulate all aspects of restaurant management, including grocery shopping, taking orders, etc to best prepare the man to return to restaurant management. He made a successful recovery and remained trilingual despite everything he had previously lost. I recommend that others listen to this study, as it shows how impactful OT can be in creating personalized and meaningful recovery plans for their patients.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Occupational Therapy and Neuroplasticity After Brain Injury | Dr. Shawn Phipps | TEDxAlmansorPark

# data[].attributes.body
In this TEDx Talk, Dr. Denise Rotert thoroughly describes what an occupation is. Dr. Rotert uses definitions of occupation from the American Occupational Therapy Association to breach the topic. She then describes how, at its core, occupation refers to an activity. Furthermore, activities can be broken down into four categories, including work, play, rest, and sleep. Dr. Rotert explains that in order to achieve good health and wellness, a person must first achieve occupational balance between these four categories. Moreover, a person must seek purposeful and personally meaningful occupations to engage in (within these categories) that bring about personal satisfaction. Overall, I would recommend this TEDx Talk to my peers as it serves as a good reminder of what we actually mean when we use the term "occupation." I found that this talk has also given me good strategies for how to explain what an occupation is to a person unfamiliar with OT. Being able to explain what an occupation is to a lay audience will help push our effort as a profession to achieve wider recognition of what OT is and what we do.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Occupational Therapy: It isn't all work: Dr. Denise Rotert at TEDxSiouxriver

# data[].attributes.body
In this TED Talk, occupational therapist Rebecca Langbein highlights how OT can engaged in person-centered design. She talks about the intersection of OT, engineering, psychology, and design. She argues that OTs can help design environments, tools and technologies that support meaningful participation. She uses her experiences to demonstrating how thinking beyond traditional therapy settings can focusing on design and broaden the impact of OT. She emphasizes the social model of disability, where instead of adapting individuals to fit the environment, we should adapt the environment and systems to fit people's needs and enable them to participate in occupations. I would recommend that my peers watch this TED Talk.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
An Occupational Therapist’s Role in Person-Centered Design

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Learn about Occupational Therapy and the intersection of engineering, psychology, and healthcare.

# data[].attributes.headline
Your Sensory Health Matters. Here's Why.

# data[].attributes.subject
Your Sensory Health Matters. Here's Why.

# data[].attributes.body
In this TED Talk, occupational therapist Virginia Spielmann discusses the importance of discovering and addressing your sensory needs and preferences. She discusses examples of three differing cases where the individuals were experiencing difficulties processing different sensations, highlighting the overarching idea that "we are all sensory creatures" and have our own individualized ways of experiencing the world around us. She emphasizes the importance of considering the sensory differences that someone may have before simply labeling them and keeping in mind that each individual's sensory experience is uniquely their own. In order to flourish and promote health and happiness for ourselves and the clients that we serve, it is essential to consider each individual's sensory needs. I would definitely recommend this video to my peers, as it provides a valuable reminder of the importance of taking a client-centered approach, tailoring and adapting environments and approaches to meet the unique needs of each person.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Your sensory health matters. Here's why | Virginia Spielmann | TEDxMileHigh

# data[].attributes.body
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZzPXVLqjlA&list=PLTkeZn8Dib6JhIlY6V3Gkf8oyTEJ7Cuif&index=32

This TED Talk is presented by Grace Branjerdporn, an occupational therapist and researcher. She spoke of her research, which showed that the bond between a pregnant mother and her unborn child can significantly influence a child's development, including temperament, behavior, and early sensorimotor skills. She emphasizes that this relationship begins before birth and that strong prenatal attachment is associated with better developmental outcomes compared to those who lack that attachment. More specifically, she discusses sensory processing and how it is shaped while in the womb, as a child begins to receive, integrate, and respond to sensory information. She explained that mothers who had a negative bond with their unborn child were more likely to have children who were more irritated and distracted by all of the sensory information after birth. I found this topic interesting because it focused on how sensory processing begins even before birth. Overall, I recommend this TED Talk, as it provides insights into prenatal development and sensory processing.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Pre-natal power | Grace Branjerdporn | TEDxUQ

# data[].attributes.body
https://www.ted.com/talks/jacqui_barfoot_the_seesaw_effect_building_children_s_resilience_with_auslan

This TedTalk by Jacqui Barfoot discusses the idea that children struggle when their "emotional world" and "thinking world" are out of balance. This lack of balance is what Barfoot calls the seesaw effect. When intense emotions increase, thinking and regulation decrease. She emphasizes that a child's resilience and development depends on others helping them regulate their feelings and emotions, as a child's brain is not ready for that on their own. Main themes from this TedTalk include the idea that emotional regulation is a foundation (and necessary step) for participation in occupation, and coregulation is a necessary part of this for children. Our job as OTs is to help children balance the seesaw, and have equal amount of emotion and engagement. This is a necessity, as it needs to be done in order for children to use their higher level cognitive skills for other necessary tasks (fine motor skills, socialization, learning). I would definitely suggest this to any of my peers who will be working in pediatrics. It's extremely important for us all to understand that a child cannot learn adequately when they are dysregulated, and we play a big role in ensuring this regulation happens.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
The seesaw effect: building children’s resilience (with Auslan)

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
This talk includes sign language interpretation in Auslan by Kahli Bennett. Are you ok? Despite being a common question, it can be difficult to answer. Expressing feelings is something most people struggle with, but learning to verbalise themis the key to regulating your emotions.

# data[].attributes.body
Dr. Quinn Tyminski did a TedTalk on providing OT for the homeless. She used a metaphor of a maze to describe the complex and exhausting challenges of homeless individuals, with each "wall" in the maze representing barriers like poor sleep, limited access to hygiene and healthcare, trauma they had experienced, mental illness, and more. These barriers make it difficult to participate in daily activities and have any semblance of stability. She told the story of Mary, a woman who was homeless for three years, and how OT helped provide her with practical tools like developing a routine, learning skills, and managing health conditions to help people find housing and maintain it. Dr. Tyminski emphasizes the idea of occupational justice, and spreads awareness of the critical role of OT in addressing homelessness. I would recommend watching this TedTalk to gain more perspective in how OT can help this vulnerable and often overlooked population.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Occupational therapy (OT) is a healthcare service designed to help individuals increase independent living skills and improve wellbeing. OT alone cannot solve the homelessness crisis but you cannot solve the homelessness crisis without OT.

# data[].attributes.body
One TED Talk I watched was presented by Dr. Shawn Phipps (OTR) titled "Occupational Therapy and Neuroplasticity After Brain Injury". In this talk, he discusses a case study of a client he worked with who endured a severe TBI following a MVA. He describes a recovery model used throughout his treatment of this patient called CAPE, which highlights that in order to take advantage of the immense neuroplasticity potential of the brain following an injury such as this, interventions need to incorporate challenge, action, practice, and evaluation in repetitive, intentional ways so that new pathways can form in the nervous system. Dr. Phipps also emphasizes the importance of OT in this brain recovery process, because situating the formation of new neural pathways within the context of meaningful occupation (which in the case of this client, involved performing activities that prepared him to return to his job managing a restaurant) can be even more impactful in facilitating brain recovery than tasks without such intrinsic relevance. I would definitely recommend watching this talk to gain some new perspectives on the power of neuro rehabilitation, along with hearing examples of how to apply the same practice construct across a variety of settings/concepts.

Tedx Talks. (2019, May 29). TEDxAlmansorPark - Dr. Shawn Phipps - Occupational therapy and neuroplasticity after brain injury. [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/AEzsxKQ3Gfc?si=FwQ1BiAzJqpfdmsC

# data[].attributes.body
One of the TedTalks I came across is “surfing—infinite possibilities to heal” by Cary Rogers. She is an ocean lifeguard, occupational therapist, and surfer who uses surfing as a medium to heal. She talks about the healing aspects that can be found within the ocean itself. She spoke also on how she discovered OT as she began working with kids with disabilities as she developed a desire to get them surfing so they can feel the excitement and healing that comes with it. She speaks on OTs values of intrinsic motivation and getting clients back to what makes them, them. After she discovered this, she helped to create a program for therapeutic surfing and how she uses OT to do so. I highly recommend this brief ted talk that really shows the diversity of OT and the amazing things it can do!!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Surfing -- infinite possibilities to heal | Carly Rogers | TEDxUCLA

# data[].attributes.body
https://youtu.be/HD6PdW5vHkQ?si=IpQCah5DsL08saPX

This TED talk talks about how occupational therapist can play a role in person center design. These design principles mirror Concepts found in the PEO model and universal design for learning. This TED talk explores potential avenues for OT’s outside of traditional hospital settings.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
An Occupational Therapist's Role in Person-Centered Design | Rebecca Langbein | TEDxJeffersonU

# data[].attributes.headline
Trauma & Play Therapy: Holding Hard Stories

# data[].attributes.subject
Trauma & Play Therapy: Holding Hard Stories

# data[].attributes.body
This is a Ted Talk given by a play therapist who reframes play therapy through a trauma-informed care lens. She opens by stating that play is a huge communication for children, stating that "play is their talk, and toys are their words." As adults, discussing trauma can be incredibly difficult, and opening up about trauma is especially difficult for children who have limited vocabulary and understanding of their trauma. However, children can often communicate the unspeakable through play. She provides examples on how play can actually help mitigate the trauma according to how our brains work. I would recommend this Ted Talk, especially to those of you interested in pediatrics, as it can be helpful to take a step back and reflect on what underlying messages we may be missing in behaviors if we are not considering a trauma-informed care perspective.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Trauma & Play Therapy: Holding Hard Stories | Paris Goodyear-Brown, MSSW, LCSW, RPTS | TEDxNashville

# data[].attributes.body
This ted talk is about the different activities people do in their daily lives. She breaks down occupations into the doing, being, becoming framework. She discusses the links between these three terms and how losing the ability to "do" can lead to effects in being and becoming. She then discusses how occupational therapists can intervene and facilitate "doing". I would recommend listening to this ted talk to hear about how the occupations we take part in lead to wider impacts on our lives and the world.

Sarah Dehnel

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Doing, being, becoming: Rayya Ghul at TEDxRussellSquare