# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
For Occupational Therapists

First I want to take a moment to welcome you...and to thank all the OTs and other Healthcare Professionals who supported me, and this project. Like many of you, I was introduced to this profession because someone I love was in need of Occupational Therapy. My mission is to raise awareness to our profession, while helping my audience reach their long term goals. I will do so with the same compassion and patience I offer to my clients, but every step of the way pointing them toward the science - that which that strengthens our position as experts on the subject of Occupations and Activities of Daily Living.

A Little About Me, And How I Was Introduced To OT

My son was only months old when he began to miss major milestones. And what began as a nagging concern turned into heartbreak and a wave of confusion and frustration. I was also facing lots of personal turmoil and trying to find meaning in my life after so many years. I was unhealthy, confused and still trying to keep it all together for the sake of my family. It wasn't until my son's OT entered our life, that I found a path for my life as well. I'm blessed and lucky to be able to say my son is doing much better these days.

In a search for answers for my own child, I learned how Occupational Therapy benefits patients throughout a lifespan. I learned how to better advocate for all my children, how to better prepare my parents if they wanted to age in place, and how to take better care of myself. Occupational Therapy helped me examine my own health issues and find new ways to approach problems. In short, this profession has given me so much more than I could have imagined. I want to show my gratitude by lending advocacy - with the help of this platform.

LifeStyle & Wellness as it Relates to Health Promotion

Worldwide, the focus on lifestyle and wellness is stronger than ever. This includes everything from Exercise to the benefits of Self Care and Rest. And while many will market products and services as wellness, some do so with little science to back up their claims. The willingness to spend on "wellness" is alive and well, but savvy consumers are starting to demand more than just empty promises...they are starting to ask for evidence.

Many of the themes of Wellness and Lifestyle are similar to the constructs of Health Promotion and IADLs, respectively. It's an opportunity to bridge over and build awareness to our profession, with the very people that make these spending decisions (all of the categories in the Main Menu are derivatives of Occupations, as they relate to our domain). For my readers, I hope they will be able to make informed decisions about their lifestyle and wellbeing while also learning more about who we are.

If Occupational Therapy is Your Profession, I Want To Know Your Story Too

Soon, I would love to be able to incorporate your stories into DLJ and bring all of our specialties into the spotlight. My hope is that Occupational Therapy will become a concept that people can understand well before they ever need it. I hope that by doing so it will motivate clients and their families to ask for Occupational Therapy, with a clear understanding of that they stand to gain from it. Please feel free to drop me a line at ot@dailylivingjournal.com if you would like to share your story.

Sending You My Love,

Reference:

American Occupational Therapy Association. (2014). Occupational therapy practice framework: Domain and process. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 68(Suppl. 1), S1-S48. http://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2014.682006

For Occupational Therapists

First I want to take a moment to welcome you...and to thank all the OTs and other Healthcare Professionals who supported me, and this project. Like many of you, I was introduced to this profession because someone I love was in need of Occupational Therapy. My mission is to raise awareness to our profession, while helping my audience reach their long term goals. I will do so with the same compassion and patience I offer to my clients, but every step of the way pointing them toward the science - that which that strengthens our position as experts on the subject of Occupations and Activities of Daily Living.

A Little About Me, And How I Was Introduced To OT

My son was only months old when he began to miss major milestones. And what began as a nagging concern turned into heartbreak and a wave of confusion and frustration. I was also facing lots of personal turmoil and trying to find meaning in my life after so many years. I was unhealthy, confused and still trying to keep it all together for the sake of my family. It wasn't until my son's OT entered our life, that I found a path for my life as well. I'm blessed and lucky to be able to say my son is doing much better these days.

In a search for answers for my own child, I learned how Occupational Therapy benefits patients throughout a lifespan. I learned how to better advocate for all my children, how to better prepare my parents if they wanted to age in place, and how to take better care of myself. Occupational Therapy helped me examine my own health issues and find new ways to approach problems. In short, this profession has given me so much more than I could have imagined. I want to show my gratitude by lending advocacy - with the help of this platform.

LifeStyle & Wellness as it Relates to Health Promotion

Worldwide, the focus on lifestyle and wellness is stronger than ever. This includes everything from Exercise to the benefits of Self Care and Rest. And while many will market products and services as wellness, some do so with little science to back up their claims. The willingness to spend on "wellness" is alive and well, but savvy consumers are starting to demand more than just empty promises...they are starting to ask for evidence.

Many of the themes of Wellness and Lifestyle are similar to the constructs of Health Promotion and IADLs, respectively. It's an opportunity to bridge over and build awareness to our profession, with the very people that make these spending decisions (all of the categories in the Main Menu are derivatives of Occupations, as they relate to our domain). For my readers, I hope they will be able to make informed decisions about their lifestyle and wellbeing while also learning more about who we are.

If Occupational Therapy is Your Profession, I Want To Know Your Story Too

Soon, I would love to be able to incorporate your stories into DLJ and bring all of our specialties into the spotlight. My hope is that Occupational Therapy will become a concept that people can understand well before they ever need it. I hope that by doing so it will motivate clients and their families to ask for Occupational Therapy, with a clear understanding of that they stand to gain from it. Please feel free to drop me a line at ot@dailylivingjournal.com if you would like to share your story.

Sending You My Love,

Reference:

American Occupational Therapy Association. (2014). Occupational therapy practice framework: Domain and process. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 68(Suppl. 1), S1-S48. http://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2014.682006

Visit Our Patient Page at DailyLivingOT.com

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Dear Occupational Therapy: A Thank You Letter to My Profession -

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
First I want to take a moment to welcome you...and to thank all the OTs and other Healthcare Professionals who supported me, and this project. Like many of you, I was introduced to this profession because someone I love was in need of Occupational Therapy.

# data[].attributes.headline
How OT helps with End-of-life Care -- (Evidence-Based)

# data[].attributes.subject
How OT helps with End-of-life Care -- (Evidence-Based)

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Measuring the Efficacy of Occupational Therapy in End-of-Life Care: A Scoping Review | American Journal of Occupational Therapy

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
April is OT Month, and it's the perfect time to promote our profession. With social media and the Internet, promoting occupational therapy has never been easier. Whether you're a social media junkie or a newbie, our top 10 ideas will give you the information you need to start promoting OT online this month (and throughout the year). Because we know you're busy, we've sorted the ideas by the estimated time commitment for each-from as little as 5 minutes to a couple of hours.

1. Share information about occupational therapy on social media sites (5 minutes)

2. Use the hashtag #OTMonth (5-10 minutes)

3. Answer questions on Q&A sites such as Quora (15 minutes)

4. Contact your legislators on Facebook (15 minutes)

5. Start pinning on Pinterest (20 minutes)

6. Take and share pictures of OT in action (time commitment varies)

7. Write a blog post about OT (30 minutes)

8. Relate a story about OT on Storify (45 minutes)

9. Record a podcast (1 hour)

10. Create a video (A couple of hours)

1. Share information about occupational therapy on social media sites (5 minutes)
Sharing is simple on the Internet, and during OT Month you can use your Facebook wall, your Twitter stream, or even e-mail to share Tip Sheets, Fact Sheets, news articles, and other resources about the profession. Consider your audience (friends? other health care professionals? clients?) and choose information that directly applies to them. For friends or new clients who may not know much about the profession, select information from AOTA's consumer section. For other health care professionals, you can share AOTA's Fact Sheets, which give more detailed information about occupational therapy's role with a variety of conditions and in different settings. Also, you can find news articles that feature occupational therapy in the OT in the News section of AOTA's Web site. Before sharing other types of articles be sure you have permission to do so. You can find more information to share on AOTA's Facebook page, Twitter stream, Youtube page, and Pinterest page.

Twitter users can use hashtags in their tweets by putting a pound sign in front of a keyword that will categorize the message and allow other users to click or search for tweets by that keyword on search.twitter.com. During OT Month, when you tweet information about the profession use the hashtag #OTMonth. The more people who use a hashtag, the better chance it has at becoming a "trending topic," and gaining the interest of others. Help make #OTMonth a top hashtag by tweeting it throughout April. You can also use the #OTMonth hashtag on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest.

3. Answer questions on Q&A sites such as Quora (15 minutes)
If you've ever typed a question into a search engine, you've probably seen answers from question and answer sites such as Yahoo! Answers and Quora. Web users can submit a question and anyone on the Web can answer it. Check out the question and answer sites to see if there are any questions you can answer using your occupational therapy expertise. Perhaps an adult child is asking a question about caregiving options for an aging parent, or a parent is looking for ways to help a child do better in school. Start answering questions and link to occupational therapy resources so people can learn more about our profession.

4. Contact your legislators on Facebook (15 minutes)
An important part of promoting our profession is advocacy. Did you know that most senators and representatives are on Facebook and Twitter? Find your legislators and contact them, write on their wall, or tweet at them during OT Month. Visit AOTA's Legislative Action Center to learn about the issues AOTA is advocating on the Hill, and get ideas about what to write.

5. Start pinning on Pinterest (20 minutes)
Pinterest is a great place to promote occupational therapy. (Don't know about Pinterest? Read our article on how to get started here). Create a pin board about occupational therapy and start pinning ideas, posts, and photos. Get specific with your board (e.g., if you work with children, you could create a board of fine motor activities for kids) and pin items to it throughout the month. Make sure to include information in the pin's description about occupational therapy and how the profession can help people live life to its fullest.

6. Take and share pictures of OT in action (time commitment varies)
It's one thing to tell people about our profession, but imagine if you could show them occupational therapy in action. You don't need a professional camera to take and share pictures on the Web, so break out your point and shoot (or even your phone) and start snapping photos of your work. If you are taking pictures of clients, be sure to get their consent in writing. Post your pictures on Facebook, Instagram, Flickr, OT Connections, or any other photo sharing site. Remember to write captions for the photos that describe occupational therapy and what you are doing. If you post your photo on Instagram use the #OTMonth hashtag and tag AOTA (@AOTAinc) so we can see it.

7. Write a blog post about OT (Approximately 30 minutes)
Already have a blog? Take this month to do a special series on occupational therapy. Even if your readers are mostly friends and family, a blog post is still a great way to promote the profession. You could write about many different topics, but here are a few ideas to help you get started: a day in your life as an occupational therapy practitioner; occupational therapy's role with a topic that you're passionate about; a review of your favorite smartphone app that clients can use; or a top 10 list about the ways occupational therapy can help clients.

8. Relate a story about OT on Storify* (45 minutes)
Storify allows users to create social stories using tweets, images, links, video, and more. Users curate content from social networks to create a narrative with different media elements. Tell your own occupational therapy story on Storify. Select a topic that you'd like to feature and use Storify's search to find related content from Twitter, YouTube, Flickr, and more. You can drag, drop, and rearrange elements to create a story and write your own text. Once you've created the story, share it! You can embed Storify on your Web site and blog and share it on social media.
* Make sure you have permission to use content in Storify - refer to the Storify terms of use for more information.
9. Record a podcast (1 hour)
A podcast is typically a short recorded audio session. If you have a microphone on your computer or a smartphone, you can record a podcast. During your podcast you can talk about occupational therapy, interview a colleague or client, or describe the ways occupational therapy can help a person with a certain condition, such as traumatic brain injury. You can use a free service such as talkshoe.com to record podcasts. Remember to share the podcast with your friends via Facebook and other social media sites.

10. Create a video (A couple of hours)
Video is a very powerful medium for promoting occupational therapy. This will be the most time intensive, but the results can be well worth the effort. Online videos are best when they are shorter than 5 minutes, have attention grabbing graphics and visuals, and tell a good story. Grab a video camera (many point and shoot cameras come with video capabilities) and start filming. Don't forget that video editing software usually allows you to put photographs and text in your video in addition to the footage you film. Remember to include a transcript or closed captioning to make your video accessible to more viewers. Once again, if you film clients or other people in a private or medical setting make sure you have their permission in writing. Upload your video to YouTube or Vimeo and share.

Are you planning on using any of these top 10 ideas? We want to see what you create. Tell us about how you promoted occupational therapy online on AOTA CommunOT.

Want more ideas and resources for promoting occupational therapy during OT Month? Check out our OT Month page and shop online for Promote OT products.

Stephanie Yamkovenko is AOTA's web editor.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Top 10 Ways To Promote Occupational Therapy Online

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
April is OT Month, and it's the perfect time to promote our profession. With social media and the Internet, promoting occupational therapy has never been easier. Whether you're a social media junkie or a newbie, our top 10 ideas will give you the information you need to start promoting OT online this month (and throughout the year).

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Returning to Practice during covid-19 – Rachel Anning, occupational therapist

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
If you found my notes and videos to be valuable, please consider making a contribution to help keep content free. Every little bit counts and your support will ensure all students have access to the resources they need to succeed, regardless of ability to pay. Thank you so much for your support.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
6 Tips to Prevent Therapy Burnout - OT Miri

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
If you found my notes and videos to be valuable, please consider making a contribution to help keep content free. Every little bit counts and your support will ensure all students have access to the resources they need to succeed, regardless of ability to pay. Thank you so much for your support.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Proposed Benefit of Increased Occupational Therapy Utilization to Decrease Hospital Readmissions of U.S. Veterans | American Journal of Occupational Therapy

# data[].attributes.body
Just a reminder why OT is such a special profession

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Patients are placed on isolation precautions to prevent the spread of infection to other patients and healthcare workers. Working with adults in occupational therapy, even during "normal" times, you'll likely work with patients on isolation precautions for various diagnoses, including, but not limited to, MRSA, C-diff, tuberculosis, and now, Covid-19. This added difficulty can require OTs to bring some extra creativity to the treatment. This is why I'm really excited to share this guest post from inpatient rehab occupational therapist Stephanie Wade, OTR/L. She shares some creative OT treatment ideas for your patients on isolation based on her experience working on an isolation unit during Covid-19. These interventions will work with any patients who are on isolation precautions in both hospital or rehab settings. When a patient is on isolation precautions, they will typically have to remain in their rooms with limited equipment available for you to use during your OT treatment times.
_______________

Covid-19 has taken our inpatient rehab unit through many waves of "new and unexpected." At the beginning, the gym was closed, and the unit was nearly empty while we cleaned and strategized.

Then our unit filled up, but we completed all patient care in individual patient rooms. Ultimately, the first wave of Covid-19 patients made their way to us via the ICU, then from acute care units, so we established an isolated hallway on our acute rehab unit for their treatment.

You may find yourself, as I did, struggling to find creative ways to appropriately fill 5 hours of therapy time a day with patients who are newly ambulatory and regaining strength, but are stuck in their rooms on isolation precautions.

On days when they're already bathed and dressed, and you've exhausted edge of bed dynamic reaching and Theraband activities, what else can you do with 8 square feet of floor space?

Here are some isolation treatment ideas I've found using only items that can be easily carried and sanitized, are disposable, or can be found in your unit's supply closet. These interventions can work for your patients in acute care, inpatient rehab, or in skilled nursing facilities.

Fine Motor Treatment Ideas

Many of our patients recovering from Covid-19 have experienced poor perfusion and hyper-coagulation over the past weeks, often resulting in decreased sensation and dexterity in their distal extremities.

In other cases, your patient may have co-morbidities including diabetic neuropathy, recent neurological damage, or other conditions impacting their fine motor skills. Your favorite go-to activities will, more than likely, not be coming with you to an isolation unit. I hope these activity ideas will give you a creative boost to add versatility to your treatment sessions!

Surgical Tape Tearing

Starting with my all-time favorite, tearing tape has been a surprisingly versatile treatment activity. With the option to complete seated at the bedside table or standing at the wall, the patient can create a design or pattern as they feel compelled.

The act of tearing and peeling tape can build intrinsic digital strength and fine motor coordination. If your patient is able to tolerate standing, it can be a great way to build standing tolerance and dynamic balance as well.

Tic Tac Toe

A package of Pony Beads can go a long way for improving pincer grasp, but moving beads from one bowl to another can quickly become monotonous. A way I like to mix things up is to play a modified version of tic-tac-toe using medicine cups.

Each cup serves as a space on the "board" and each person chooses a color. Place your color bead in the cup as your "X" or "O". The hunt for the right color in the bowl of beads can also serve as a sensory challenge for those with decreased sensation. This activity could be modified to use a spoon for lifting and placing beads to improve accuracy in self-feeding.

Cup Stacking

For a real challenge, use the same medicine cups to make a pyramid. Requiring a high degree of frustration tolerance to build the larger pyramids, this activity aims to build complex fine motor control and coordination.

Twisting Strength

While you may have grown accustomed to a collection of food containers in your rehab gym to develop opening skills, there are often many things in patient rooms that can serve the same purpose. Common items may include Ensure bottles, toothpaste, mouthwash, and soap containers.

Another favorite of mine is the pill crusher, as it typically has tabs allowing for an easier twist for lower-level patients.

Classic Card Games

Playing cards are a tried and true fine motor and in-hand manipulation leisure activity, however, they might not come to mind as an option for a isolation unit, as they cannot be sanitized. An easy solution is to buy 2-for-1 packs of cards at the Dollar Store and distribute them to appropriate patients to keep in their rooms for use during therapy or free time.

Standing and Balance Treatment Ideas

Decreased endurance and standing tolerance are benchmark deficits seen in survivors of Covid-19 as well as other patients undergoing a prolonged hospitalization. This is often accompanied by poor postural support and decreased upper extremity strength. These activities are great ways to address those deficits even when a patient is on isolation.

Balloon Volleyball

A common activity in the rehab gym with the help of an aid, balloon volleyball may seem unrealistic in a small patient room. I've found that having the patient hit the balloon against the wall continuously creates an opportunity to participate in dynamic reach to a variable target, leaving the therapist free to provide contact guard assist.

Depending on the configuration of the room, this activity may be completed sitting at the edge of the bed, in a chair, or in standing depending on the patient's functional level.

Dancing

Standing and dancing (with an assistive device, if needed) to music from the patient's phone, has been one of the most fun ways to build balance and endurance. I always let patients choose their preferred genre and songs, however, the Cupid Shuffle, or similar line dances, can be great to encourage specific challenging movements for higher-level patients.

Dancing can be a great way to bring some brightness and fun to an often heavy and lonely part of the hospital.

Cone Obstacle Course

Bringing a set of colorful plastic cones to a patient's room can help provide structure for dynamic standing balance activities including high forward and lateral steps, as well as reaching to the floor. They can also be used to mark stations for an in-room circuit workout.

Tub Transfers

Without access to our standard practice tub, simulating a tub transfer took some creativity. My most successful method was to turn the patient's trash can upside down (with the trash removed, of course!) and use the wall for support for a lateral step over the "tub wall." A Theraband tied between the bed and a chair can serve the same purpose.

Chair Yoga

There are lots of great resources available for chair yoga routines. I find this type of activity to be a great way to incorporate breathing techniques with focused postural support. I often use the opportunity to discuss mindful breathing and movements. Another added bonus is that these routines can be practiced in a small amount of floor space.

IADL Treatment Ideas

Instrumental Activities of Daily Living, or IADL, tasks are crucial for a safe and independent discharge home, but are very difficult to simulate without access to a kitchen or laundry room. These activities may require more preparation on the therapist's part, but are invaluable for the higher-level patient.

Folding Laundry

Given that safely washing clothes from patients on isolation precautions is no small ordeal, I always try to coordinate bringing the clean clothes back during a treatment session, so the patient can practice standing to fold their own laundry.

Cooking

I'll admit, cooking is quite an undertaking on an isolation unit. For the right patient (high level, plans to return home without assistance, plans to return to cooking), though, I believe it's worth the effort to be as true to this occupation as possible.

In this case, I purchased a cutting board, knife, and bowl from the dollar store and pre-washed all ingredients. My patient stood at a towel-covered bedside table to prepare chicken salad, chopping and mixing all ingredients.

I recommend scheduling a cooking session close to meal time, as there likely will not be a refrigerator available for leftovers.

Recipe Math

When preparing an actual meal is not an option, you can always bring in a printed recipe and ask your patient to double it and/or write a grocery list to address functional cognitive skills.

Medication Management

While this activity may work best as a kit designated for isolation patients, it could all be sanitized and used elsewhere if need be. Remove labels from old pill bottles and fill with Pony beads. Create a new label with instructions for frequency and timing of taking medication. Ask your patient to fill pill sorter according to label instructions.

_______________

We hope these OT interventions for your patients on isolation spur your own creativity for working toward your patient's goals in a way that is purposeful and occupation-based.
This post contains affiliate links of products that I recommend and use myself. If you purchase these products through my link, I may receive a small commission at no cost to you. You can read more in my affiliate disclosure here.
If you have any other favorite isolation treatment ideas that you've picked up along the way, please share them in the comments below!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
OT Interventions for Patients on Isolation Precautions | myotspot.com

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Patients are placed on isolation precautions to prevent the spread of infection to other patients and healthcare workers. Working with adults in occupational therapy, even during "normal" times, you'll likely work with patients on isolation precautions for various diagnoses, including, but not limited to, MRSA, C-diff, tuberculosis, and now, Covid-19.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Don't Let This Opportunity Pass You By
April is National Occupational Therapy Month-an excellent opportunity to showcase the new branding platform, "Occupational Therapy: Living Life To Its Fullest™" as well as your skills, program, or business. If you already have an OT Month plan on the drawing board, that's great! We encourage you to be creative and consider these ideas if you want to supplement what you've already planned.

If you've not thought about OT Month yet, we hope you'll find these activities easy, affordable and effective.

1. Use Social Media

Describe how occupational therapy helps people live life to its fullest on Facebook, Twitter, blogs, and other social media forums. Include a link to the Times Square video on YouTube.

2. Look for Opportunities to Interact with Public Audiences

Prepare a talk about how OT helps individuals of all ages live life to its fullest, and offer to deliver an informal speech to community service organizations (i.e., Kiwanis, Rotary Clubs, etc.) or the local PTA. Contact senior centers and offer to make a presentation on topics such as driver safety, managing daily tasks while coping with arthritis, gadgets for ease and safety in the kitchen, or time and energy saving tips. Distribute appropriate handouts, such as AOTA's consumer tip sheets.

3. Share Your Activities

Let others know how you are promoting the profession by posting on CommunOT. Be sure to include photos!
4. Provide a Public Service
Become involved with community service activities like Rebuilding Together or a backpack education event, and use the opportunity to promote the unique role that OT can play.
5. Throw an OT Month Party
Invite former clients for a celebration of their achievements and how they are living life to its fullest during OT Month. Ask them to bring friends and family. Invite local government officials, including your senator or member of Congress. Serve refreshments, offer a tour, and take lots of pictures. Prepare an article for your in-house publication, and send a press release to your local media outlets. Don't forget to upload your pictures to CommunOT!
6. Hold a Contest
Invite pediatric clients and their siblings to complete a coloring sheet depicting aspects of OT. Display the entries and draw the names of several winners. Take photos of the winners and send them with a story to your facility's newsletter, or even the local media.

Alternatively, for older clients, invite them to write short stories about or take photos of what "living life to its fullest" means to them and how OT is helping them or did help them achieve it. Again, display the entries and draw names of several winners. Take photos of the winners and send them with a story to your facility's newsletter, or even the local media.
7. Confer Special Honors
Recognize an outstanding administrator, name an employee of the year, or honor a person or client who's living life to its fullest. Arrange a ceremony or event to present the honor. Produce a certificate. Take photos and send them with a short description to your local media outlets.
8. Inform Coworkers
Set up your clinic with free coffee and donuts early in the morning or have a brown bag lunch one day each week during the month of April. Inform others in your work setting through cafeteria tent cards, fliers, e-mail, social media, or bulletin board notices. Have staff on hand to chat and inform people about how OT helps individuals of all ages live life to its fullest. This is particularly important in areas such as home health agencies where there is a need to expand awareness about OT. Visit www.promoteot.com/ for promotional give-away ideas.
9. Make House Calls
Put together an information packet, including an "Occupational Therapy: Living Life To Its Fullest™" one-pager, a fact sheet about your particular program or business, sample fact sheets, and your business card. Stop by physicians' offices and local businesses. Introduce yourself to receptionists, and leave your package for owners and managers to review. Make follow-up calls a week later to offer additional information.
10. Visit PromoteOT.com for OT Month Products
Each year AOTA introduces a new line of OT Month products, featuring clothing, gifts and other items to give share with clients, referrers, and colleagues. Also available this year are "Occupational Therapy: Living Life To Its Fullest R" items. Visit www.promoteot.com/ for more information.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Ten Things You Can Do To Celebrate Occupational Therapy Month

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Don't Let This Opportunity Pass You By April is National Occupational Therapy Month-an excellent opportunity to showcase the new branding platform, "Occupational Therapy: Living Life To Its Fullest™" as well as your skills, program, or business. If you already have an OT Month plan on the drawing board, that's great!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Students share what attracted them to the OT profession

Finding "a perfect fit" in health care

Melanie Barber, Occupational Therapy Student
Columbia University, New York, New York

When I was 16, my grandfather suffered a severe stroke and was sent to a rehabilitation center. At that time I had never heard of a profession called occupational therapy. Upon visiting my grandfather, I witnessed several health care professionals working to rehabilitate him. I have always wanted to pursue a profession in which I could help people, and I thought physical therapy would best complement my natural abilities. But then I met the occupational therapist. To this day I don't remember her name, but as I watched her work with my grandfather I realized that I had found what I was looking for.

What I found was that occupational therapy addressed the vital importance of people's psychological and emotional well-being, as well as their physical needs. I was a psychology major in college, and I wanted to continue to use this knowledge. I wanted to be in a health care profession where I could spend quality time with my patients, and help them to improve their quality of life in all aspects. Occupational therapy was a perfect fit. I have found that occupational therapy is one of the most holistic health care professions, and I am proud to have chosen this as my career path. It is a profession that requires sensitivity, understanding, and compassion; all of the characteristics that I value tremendously. Occupational therapy is a career that is certain to contribute much to society and bring enormous self-fulfillment. A quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson expresses this perfectly: "To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived; this is to have succeeded."

Brandi Buchanan, Occupational Therapy Student
University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California

Although my first desired occupation was to become a librarian, I was quite young when I changed my mind and realized that I really wanted to be a teacher. And with a mother working in the medical field, I was also fascinated by medicine and opportunities to help others achieve optimum health. So through my mom, who was familiar with the profession of occupational therapy, I found a career that bridged education with medicine; a profession that could teach and educate others about the body as well as how to achieve health and wellness. While completing several hundred volunteer hours in a variety of occupational therapy settings, including a leprosy hospital in South America, I came to the realization that becoming an occupational therapist was my calling.

Now, while nearing the completion of my clinical occupational therapy doctorate (OTD) in public policy and advocacy, and also working in a private pediatric clinic, the most difficult part of becoming a practicing occupational therapist is deciding which of the many avenues of occupational therapy that I want to pursue. I have already found the profession of occupational therapy to be fascinating, rewarding, and challenging, and filled with countless opportunities to serve one's community, one's country, and one's world.

Finding a path to a career along a friend's path to recovery

Erin Cokeh, Occupational Therapy Student
University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California

It seemed like any other regular day. I had come home from my part-time job as a physical therapist aide, and my teenage sister, Evadne, just came home from school. The phone rang, and I answered it. "Hello?" I said. The voice on the other side seemed to be a mixture of emotions-frightened, scared, disturbed. It was our next door neighbor, who went to the same high school as my sister. "Jennifer was hit by a car after school. We don't know if she's even alive. I just saw it happen and the ambulance took her away." Jennifer was Evadne's best friend, and a girl that I had been mentoring throughout her high school years. They were just about to finish their junior year. Because I am 5 years older than them, they often came to me for advice for just about everything. And now, Jennifer's life was held by just a string of hope.

Jennifer had been an honors student, pushed hard by her parents who wanted only the best for her. She was also a talented dancer who had taken classes since she was very young, and in high school, she was teaching younger children at a local dance studio. As I looked at her from the window of the intensive care unit, it was hard to believe that it was the same girl, now fighting for her life. Jennifer was in a very deep coma, and no one knew if she would ever come out of it. Her parents, relatives, and friends took turns around the clock, keeping watch over her in case she woke up. It was a miracle that she survived the accident at all; she had been walking across the street after school when a car did not stop for her at the crosswalk. At the impact Jennifer bounced off the windshield head first, but instead of landing on her head she landed on her backpack, which helped cushion her fall. Her hit to the head was from the secondary impact. Her parents had always wanted her to go to a good college and get a good job. Now, all they wanted for her was to survive and, if possible, have a normal life.

As an answer to many prayers, Jennifer woke up. She could barely talk or move because of an upper motor neuron injury as a result of her hitting her head against the pavement. Due to her brain surgery, the surgeons had to shave a portion of her long hair. What really impressed me was her family's determination for Jennifer to have as normal a life as possible, even if it meant bringing her trendy clothes for her to wear in the hospital, fixing her hair to make it look as though it was not shaved, and painting her fingernails, things that she would typically do before her accident.

I visited Jennifer often at the Children's Hospital in Los Angeles, and watched as the occupational therapist worked with her. They did such fun things to help her regain her motor skills, such as baking cookies, trying to walk her dog, who came to visit her at the hospital one day-things that she enjoyed. Working as a physical therapist's aide, I noticed a vast difference in motivation between the patients who had only physical therapy, who rarely did their exercises when told, and Jennifer, who enjoyed the activities that the occupational therapist planned for her. And Jennifer got better. Slowly, she regained her ability to walk and move in a functional way-initially not as well as she used to, but she was able to get around.

At this point in time, I had to be out of the country for 6 months, and when I came back Jennifer was walking normally again, and had started her senior year of high school. Despite all of this she was able to get into the University of California, Irvine, and is currently a fulltime college student there. Her occupational therapist still guides her in activities that she keeps active in, and dancing, an occupation that she had before she was injured, was a major part of her therapy and rehabilitation. It was something that she was motivated to do, and it helped her look forward to experimenting with different ways that she could move.

Seeing Jennifer go through this whole process, as painful as it was for herself and her family, made me more aware of how the role of an occupational therapist could be so important in one's life. Yes, Jennifer could not have survived the accident without the help of brain surgeons and good doctors, but it was the occupational therapist who helped her have a higher quality of life than anyone ever hoped for-one that is meaningful to her. This inspires me to know that I can make a difference in the lives of others, simply by caring for my patients and being aware of their needs and what is meaningful for them in their own lives.

Creativity, imagination, and "puzzle solving"

Stacy Landau, Occupational Therapy Student
Ithaca College, Ithaca, New York

I always knew that I wanted to have a career in a health-related profession, because I was extremely interested in medicine and I wanted to work in a profession that would enable me to work with other people on a daily basis. I decided to become an occupational therapist because I wanted to help people, and that is exactly what occupational therapists do: they assist people in becoming independent.

The profession of occupational therapy appealed to me because occupational therapists can work with clients of all ages and they can work in numerous settings, such as hospitals, schools, or private clinics. Occupational therapy also interested me because occupational therapists have the opportunity to be creative and imaginative in catering their therapeutic interventions to specific clients. I like to think of occupational therapists as puzzle solvers, because they assist clients in solving how to complete tasks that they may or may not have been able to do in the past.

My experiences in the field of occupational therapy, which include my education, fieldwork, and being an active member of the American Occupational Therapy Association, have been extremely rewarding, challenging, and enlightening, and I would definitely recommend the profession to anyone.

Direct involvement offers many rewards

Chrisha McGann, Occupational Therapy Student
University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

I have always been attracted to the field of occupational therapy by the wide range of opportunities it encompasses. Through my work experience with adults with developmental disabilities, I have seen that occupational therapists can improve an individual's standard of living and allow one a greater level of independence and self worth. I have also seen and been a part of occupational therapists working with children with developmental disabilities by improving strength and functioning to achieve developmental milestones and their ability to just be kids. At the same time, the therapists are teaching parents ways to enhance their child's development and supporting them in their child's occupations. Occupational therapy can also teach a person ways of adapting and being as independent as possible after a stroke, spinal cord injury, or traumatic brain injury, to name a few medical problems. In addition, I have seen persons with mental health issues and ineffective coping skills find the help they need through occupational therapy. Occupational therapy is a field that will allow me to help others learn how to help themselves through meaningful work and activity.

I like the direct involvement occupational therapists have with their clients, and I know that occupational therapy will offer me challenging and fulfilling work on a daily basis and throughout my career.

Therapy (and a career) with a difference

Lisa Griggs-Stapleton, Occupational Therapy Student
University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico

While investigating careers in health care, I asked to observe an occupational therapy session. I was sold. I left the clinic thinking, "People get to have fun in therapy?!" The session wasn't like any other health care I had seen. I was used to the idea that most people don't like going to the therapist, but occupational therapy was different. People, especially children, enjoy the sessions and sometimes don't want to leave. Occupational therapists have the privilege of helping people learn or relearn how to connect with their environment and we get to have fun while we do it. I am grateful to be part of such a wonderful profession.

Family caregiving leads to professional inspiration

Jacquelyn Nichols, Occupational Therapy Assistant Student
Erie Community College, Williamsville, New York

Major inspiration for my becoming an occupational therapy assistant came from the interaction with many health care professionals. While caregiving for my dad, until his death, the networking of health care for daddy would leave my mouth hanging open at times. Having the knowledge of being able to affect the physical and mental well-being of a person, whether elderly or young, is truly special.

I made the choice that I wanted to have numerous opportunities to help people regain wellness and continue with a healthy and purposeful life. Occupational therapy treats the whole person and engages him or her in work, self-care, and play so that the deficit or disability can be at the best level possible. I have always liked the position of supporting and helping. The interaction of all the health care professionals that my father needed was absolutely special, and I want to be part of that network.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Finding "a perfect fit" in health care When I was 16, my grandfather suffered a severe stroke and was sent to a rehabilitation center. At that time I had never heard of a profession called occupational therapy. Upon visiting my grandfather, I witnessed several health care professionals working to rehabilitate him.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Defining the Benefits of Occupational Therapy for Users of Multiarticulating Prosthetic Hands | American Journal of Occupational Therapy

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.authors[].name
Royal College of Occupational Therapists

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Occupational therapy and brain injury -- Helen's story

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.authors[].name
The American Occupational Therapy Association

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
What Can Occupational Therapy Do For You?