Occupational Therapy Love

Hello everyone. Currently I'm an occupational therapy student and I thought it would be great to have a place to reblog and post information related to OT in one place. I also would like this to be a blog where other OTs, COTAs, or OTS could give and receive things about the field that interest them. Feel free to submit or send in any information you think would be great to know.

[weareteachers]

[rosslynpaladin]

Sooooo if you’re autistic, you probably have one or more of these going on. 

If you are otherwise more or less neurotypical but have a bunch of these traits to a point where it really disables you, you can probably safely self-dx with these. See a doctor if you can,or a school counselor for at least help academically, and take specific examples of these troubles and this chart with you because a real dx means life can be made accessible for you at school. It’s worth it trust me.

I’ve been dyscalculic my entire life without anyone knowing, including me, and it effed me up through middle and high school. big time. I wasn’t dxed then for autism but if even ONE educator knew dyscalculia existed they could have saved me so much grief and stopped punishing me for my neurology.

Show this to every teacher you know.

[joshsundquist]

[i-need-that-seat]

For structures that have no entry steps, ConvertaStep also makes ramps of three sizes that come in a manual as well as automatic version.

(via ConvertaStep | Wheelchair Accessibility | Ramps | Convertastep - Freedom In Mobility)

[i-need-that-seat]

This welcome mat converts into a fully accessible wheelchair ramp. Beautiful and functional design. I want it.

[otl1fe]

Stumbled across this gem while searching for some information for fieldwork.  Terrific list of PDF downloadable rehab resources for occupational therapists, PTs, and SLPS. 

All this and more:

Occupational Therapy Home Management Education Ascending/Descending Stairs in a Wheelchair Concepts of Energy Saving Energy Conservation Tips Grooming Dressing Tips

Home Assessment – Basic

Home Assessment – Advance Home Safety Caregivers Homemaking for Wheelchair Patient Homemaking for Incoordination of UE Homemaking for Suggestions for Hemiplegic Make Your Home Tumble Free Positioning While Lying Supine Ramp Specifications Running Man Position Scar Tissue Mobilization Shoulder Home Routine Walker Safety Home Exercise Programs Active Hand Exercises Active ROM Exercises, pg 1. Active ROM Exercises, pg.2 Active Wrist Exercises Exercises for Parkinsons Hand Home Program HEP with Weights Keys to Understanding Arthritis PROM Sitting PROM Supine Shoulder Exercises for Rotator Cuff Repair Shoulder Exercises for Total Shoulder Shoulder Exercises with Ball Straightening of Fingers Stretching Palm Stretching Wrist and Forearm Theraband Theraputty Thumb Exercises Towel and Dowel Home Exercises Upper Extremity Exercises Wrist Finger Flexion Extension

[theslaybymic]

The future of prosthetics is incredibly stylish 

It used to be that prosthetic limbs and style had little to do with one another. Prosthetic limbs have typically had as much style as orthopedic shoes, sheathed in beige fabric to cover the metal and plastic parts within. They lacked originality, they lacked flair and they certainly didn’t reflect the wearer’s personality. Now, that couldn’t further from the truth.

Follow stylemic

[interferonalpha]

@probablynotasquirrel!!!

[occupationaltherapylove]

Hey there everyone. I know I'm not very active, work keeps my pretty busy. I just got a nice message from the owner of this blog. If you like follow for my occupational therapy info.

[otstudent]

When I was in grad school, we totally joked about getting an OT on the Ellen show…  It’s not one of my classmates..but it FEELS LIKE ONE OF US !!!!!!!!

[zionangel]

You should check out TherapyShoppe.com!

I found this really great website the other day!  It has all kinds of stuff that’s designed to help kids and adults with autism, sensory issues, motor skill issues, developmental disabilities, all kinds of stuff!  Even if you’re just looking for something to fidget with or something to chew on instead of you pencils, they’ve got great stuff.  They’re all very reasonably priced and shipping is decent.

They have lots of fidget toys, stress balls, and putty to keep your fingers busy

Lots of handwriting helpers and various pencil grips

THESE SUPER DUPER AWESOME READING HELPERS !!!!!1!

Stuff to strengthen fine motor skills

Lots of stuff for sensory needs, from earmuffs to weighted lap pads and blankets (they don’t have adult sized blankets and they’re kinda expensive, but hey) to stuff you can nom on

They also have lots of kits that are basically a grab bag of different things based on needs

Basically, if you’ve ever said to yourself “God, I wish I could find something to help with ___” you should check this place out.

Also, I have absolutely no idea how to tag this so people who need it can find it, so if you do the rebagel, add some helpful tags, pls.

[sizvideos]

A man has built Ogo, a hands-free wheelchair for his paraplegic friend (video)

[faircatch]

How Independence Day Clothing Is Reinventing the Way Children With Autism Get Dressed

Fashion and technology converge for all the right reasons.

[faircatch]

Clothing that can be worn backwards, frontwards, inside out…  It is an alternative for Autistic youths - it has no tags or seams and won’t cause issues because it will be on correctly, no matter how they are put on. Spread the word! http://www.independencedayclothing.com/#!shop/c1ylq

[bonesandblood-sunandmoon]

holdingthebowl

[ayellowbirds]

And they’re doing adult sizes, yessssss.

[felthry]

This sounds like a thing I will like. I need to look at this.

[karsx-deactivated20170112]

It’s really important to point out that this company allow people to put discreet GPS trackers in their clothes so people who order these clothes can track the wearer at all times. Extremely creepy and worrying.

[blackfashion]

That’s amazing for parents with Autistic kids or autistic adults. I don’t know how many times my little cousin walked out of school and if it wasn’t for his find my iPhone app. 😩

[realsocialskills]

Social skills: noticing when repetition is communication

So there’s this dynamic:

Autistic person: The door is open!

Other person: I *know* that. It’s hot in here.

Autistic person: The door is open!

Other person: I already explained to you that it’s hot in here!

Autistic person: The door is open!

Other person: Why do you have to repeat things all the time?!

Often when this happens, what’s really going on is that the autistic person is trying to communicate something, and they’re not being understood. The other person things that they are understanding and responding, and that the autistic person is just repeating the same thing over and over either for no reason or because they are being stubborn and inflexible and obnoxious and pushy.

When what’s really happening is that the autistic person is not being understood, and they are communicating using the words they have. There’s a NT social expectation that if people aren’t being understood, they should change their words and explain things differently. Sometimes autistic people aren’t capable of doing this without help.

So, if this is happening, assume it’s communication and try to figure out what’s being communicated. If you’re the one with more words, and you want the communication to happen in words, then you have to provide words that make communication possible. For example:

Other person: Do you want the door to be closed, or are you saying something else?

Autistic person: Something else

Other person: Do you want to show me something outside, or something else?

Autistic person: Something else

Other person: Are you worried about something that might happen, or something else?

Autistic person: Worried

Other person: Are you worried that something will come in, or that something will go out?

Autistic person: Baby

Other person: She’s in her crib, and the baby gate is up. Is that ok, or is there still a problem?

Autistic person: ok

[poisondartwolf-deactivated20150]

Holy fuck.

This changes everything.

[jollysunflora]

*leaves for reference*

[byenyewhy-deactivated20181016]

I babysat an autistic kid for a few years, it’s hard to understand how their brain works sometimes but when you click, everything pays off. patience and love, my friends.

[studentot-blog]

Definition of an OT

Calling all occupational therapists. When I tell people that I’m going to study occupational therapy they tend to pull a face and say ‘eh, what’s that?’ I find it difficult to formulate an answer that does the profession justice. If you’re an OT or an OT student I would love to hear how you define what you do :)

[occupationaltherapylove]

I got a fanmail with this question, but I think it might be easier to just reblog it with my answer. I will say this though, that each OT you ask is going to have a different answer. It's not because OT is this ambiguous job where people wing it and hope for the best, but rather because the practice is continually evolving and growing and can extend to all different individuals that makes a clear common answer seem almost like doing the very nature of occupational therapy injustice. I'm sure, if someone was to ask in a couple of years, my answer will probably be different.  

For me, I usually define it as this. Occupational therapist focus on function and individuals. We go beyond, stroke patient, to the implications of the person who had a stroke and how it affects them. We help individuals return to every day occupations (which, no, occupations does not just mean jobs) ranging from self care to interacting with their community/environment and beyond. Occupational therapist help individuals overcome barriers and increase quality of life with use of evidence based practice and functional activities. We are able treat a variety of individuals in all stages of life with wide range of services.

The American Occupational Therapy Association puts it in a way similar that I like, stating, "Occupational therapy practitioners ask, "What matters to you?" not, "What's the matter with you?"'

It's great that you're going into this profession. It's one that I love. And by the time you graduate, you'll know enough to have your own spiel memorized. You'll certainly be asked enough times to perfect it. Best of luck to you!

[hotboysofficial]

the future is now

[cartel]

are people that lazy to need this

[earliestest]

While I’m sure there are people too lazy to spin a fork, keep in mind people like this person who may be suffering from arthritis or a neurological disease or nerve damage or a thousand other conditions that might impair their ability to do things as simple as spin a fork to eat spaghetti. 

These are used with people who can’t grip well: 

This is for Parkinsons’s: 

For people who can’t even bend their joints: 

Here’s a product that guides your hand from your plate to your mouth 

This one holds a sandwich 

Like I get it. I used to see things like the fork and think “that’s fuckin’ lazy” or that product that holds a gallon and you just tip it and pour. But then I started working around the disabled and impaired and found out that these products aren’t meant for lazy people, they’re meant for people who need help. 

So maybe next time you see something, instead of thinking “Wow, are people that lazy?” just be grateful that you’re able to do the things you do every day and take for granted, like being able to feed yourself and wipe your own ass because you have enough coordination and bendy joints to do it. 

[lunaatmidnight]

Adaptive equipment is incredibly important and shouldn’t be used to call people lazy. They aren’t a magic fix but an aide to help those who otherwise not be able to perform those tasks. Independence can help individuals improve their quality of life and self esteem. Tools like these help with that.

[i-need-that-seat]

For structures that have no entry steps, ConvertaStep also makes ramps of three sizes that come in a manual as well as automatic version.

(via ConvertaStep | Wheelchair Accessibility | Ramps | Convertastep - Freedom In Mobility)

[i-need-that-seat]

This welcome mat converts into a fully accessible wheelchair ramp. Beautiful and functional design. I want it.

[pseudosoph-deactivated20160308]

Some more info, for people who are interested.

[i-need-that-seat]

First of all, I can’t believe this has almost 3,000 notes. I’m so glad that people are sharing this - both as a cool design, and also as an important accessibility feature.

Thanks to pseudosoph for linking to additional info (above) regarding weight limits, lift height, and product background — the creator is a wheelchair user himself! Very cool stuff. Keep sharing!

[prettysickart]

(via Toy Like Me Facebook campaign sparks Makies into making dolls with disabilities range | Metro News)

>

yessssssssssssss!

[rampyourvoice]

Heart… be still!!

OMG… if I could get a little black doll in a wheelchair & that wears hearing aids, my life would be complete.  

Why am I, at 29, so emotional seeing these dolls?  Representation matters, y’all.

[gifak-net]

[lostmoonchild-deactivated201601]

Lol savage

[universaldelusion]

I no longer believe in the human race.

[negus-q]

This is the laziest shit ever

[gabrielleamaris]

How lazy can humans get?

[slayngstonhughes]

Have you never met white ppl?

[mcride]

yh but if you look outside your own personal reasons for using this, laziness, it actually looks a really great and practical way to put on your socks if you have a disability that hinders you from otherwise being able so without someone there to help you 

[studiousmedic]

you do realise that there are people out there who literally have to travel door to door helping elderly people, disabled people and people with chronic illnesses to put on their socks? people are paid to help put on pressure socks to help with oedema? don’t you realise that if these people could have one of these tools, these caregivers could be doing something else and that this therefore is an incredible tool designed to cater for some of the most healthcare dependent people in our society? do you guys even realise there are other people living other lives?

[commander-ledi]

i really wish i had this when my spine was broken and i had to wear a medical metal corset which made bending down impossible. i had to ask my mom to help me with socks and it was kinda humiliating.

[bargests-archive-deactivated201]

My dad spends an hour in the morning getting dressed because he has no one to help him to get his socks on because his ankle is fused. If he had this it would literally save him an hour.

“Oh but people are so lazy!”

fuck off you ableist pieces of shit

[procrastinista]

Honestly I don’t even get how you could look at this and think “lazy”. This looks like more work for an otherwise able-bodied person than just putting their sock on the regular way. It’s pretty obvious this is meant for people who have trouble bending over, like come on.

[rubyvroom]

You know how people go straight to “lazy” on this? Because we’re trained to think of most accessibility modifications as lazy. The disabled = lazy message is deeply embedded in our culture.

[tashabilities]

I did a li’l bolding.

[spoonmeb]

where was this when my sciatica was acting up! Dude had to fucking put my socks on for me.

[occupationaltherapylove]

This is an occupational therapy tool. Many people can't bend because of hip or back reasons. To some people the simple act of getting dressed or putting on their socks is a big milestone and independence factor. It brings meaning to their lives to not have to have a caretaker do it for them. This sock aide is actually really nice because the ones I've worked with require pulling up with rope when dropped down in order to slip the sock on. This would be nice if someone had enough strength or movement in their legs to push. They could pick it up with a reacher.

[otl1fe]

Stumbled across this gem while searching for some information for fieldwork.  Terrific list of PDF downloadable rehab resources for occupational therapists, PTs, and SLPS. 

All this and more:

Occupational Therapy Home Management Education Ascending/Descending Stairs in a Wheelchair Concepts of Energy Saving Energy Conservation Tips Grooming Dressing Tips

Home Assessment – Basic

Home Assessment – Advance Home Safety Caregivers Homemaking for Wheelchair Patient Homemaking for Incoordination of UE Homemaking for Suggestions for Hemiplegic Make Your Home Tumble Free Positioning While Lying Supine Ramp Specifications Running Man Position Scar Tissue Mobilization Shoulder Home Routine Walker Safety Home Exercise Programs Active Hand Exercises Active ROM Exercises, pg 1. Active ROM Exercises, pg.2 Active Wrist Exercises Exercises for Parkinsons Hand Home Program HEP with Weights Keys to Understanding Arthritis PROM Sitting PROM Supine Shoulder Exercises for Rotator Cuff Repair Shoulder Exercises for Total Shoulder Shoulder Exercises with Ball Straightening of Fingers Stretching Palm Stretching Wrist and Forearm Theraband Theraputty Thumb Exercises Towel and Dowel Home Exercises Upper Extremity Exercises Wrist Finger Flexion Extension