• Maintain or rebuild their inde- pendence • Participate in daily activities that they need or want to do. Each year in April, occupational therapists, occupational therapy assistants, and students in practice, education, research, and science host a month long celebration show- casing the importance of OT. OT helps people regain, develop and build skills that are important for independent living, health and happiness. Through the remedia- tion of one's performance limita- tions and the incorporation of com- pensatory strategies and assistive technology, OT enables individuals to engage in the skills for the job of living. If one has trouble performing daily activities because of limitations Occupational Therapy (OT) en- ables people of all ages live life to its fullest by helping them promote health, prevent—or live better with—injury, illness, or disability. It is a practice deeply rooted in sci- ence and is evidence-based, mean- ing that the plan designed for each individual is supported by data, experience, and “best practices” that have been developed and proven over time. Occupational therapists and OT assistants focus on “doing” what- ever occupations or activities are meaningful to the individual. It is OT’s purpose to get beyond prob- lems to the solutions that assure living life to its fullest. These solu- tions may be adaptations for how to do a task, changes to the sur- roundings, or helping individuals to alter their own behaviors. When working with an OT practi- tioner, strategies and modifications are customized for each individual to resolve problems, improve func- tion, and support everyday living activities. The goal is to maximize potential. Through these therapeu- tic approaches, OT helps individu- als design their lives, develop needed skills, adjust their environ- ments (e,g., home, school, or work) and build health-promoting habits and routines that will allow them to thrive. By taking the full picture into account—a person’s psychological, physical, emotional, and social makeup as well as their environ- ment—OT assists clients to do the following: • Achieve goals • Function at the highest possi- ble level • Concentrate on what matters most to them in areas such as arm and hand use, thinking, or seeing, OT may be able to help. Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) are tasks a person performs everyday to maintain their independence. These include: bathing, personal groom- ing, toileting, dressing, feeding, transfers, mobility and leisure activi- ties, and functional communication (writing, typing, using the phone). Other ADLs one might not con- sider, but which are important parts of life nonetheless, include home management and parenting. Many disabilities can affect how someone performs these skills. Oc- cupational therapists often work with individuals on any or all of these activities so that they obtain or regain greater independence. Assistive technology, adaptive de- vices and compensatory strategies can be evaluated and utilized to assist one in reaching this goal. Occupational therapists also work with individuals to assist them in regaining or obtaining greater inde- pendence in managing their home. Assistive technology and adaptive equipment can be incorporated to reach this goal. Utilization of com- pensation strategies may be benefi- cial in helping a person achieve greater independence. Everyday activities are affected by how well we see. If vision is im- DIVISION OF DEVE LO PMENT A L DISABILITIES SERVICES Volume 2, Issue 6 April 27, 2009 A Publication of the Office of Training and Professional Development The Learning Curve “Enhancing the Knowledge of DDDS Professionals” Did you know that... • Nearly on third of people em- ployed in the profession of occupational therapy work with children. • The U.S. Bureau of Labor Sta- tistics calls OT one of today’s fastest growing careers. • Nationwide, there are 324 college or University-base educational programs. • Occupational therapists have at least a four-year bachelor’s degree. • Approximately 117,000 occu- pational therapists and assis- tants are licensed to practice. American Occupational Therapy Association, Inc. 4720 Montgomery Lane PO Box 31220 Bethesda, MD 20824-1220 Phone: 301-652-2682 TDD: 800-377-8555 Fax: 301-652-7711 http://www.aota.org .. Occupational Therapy Helps Individuals Live Life to its Fullest Delaware Occupational Therapy Association http://www.dotaonline.org/ paired, then these daily activities may become more difficult. Often visual problems are only thought of as visual loss or blindness. There are additional visual components that may effect everyday tasks. These include such things as: • Acuity (ability to see clearly) • Scanning / Pursuits (ability to move eyes side to side, up and down) • Depth Perception • Contrast Sensitivity • Double Vision (ability to see singular items verses seeing double) • Peripheral Vision • Ability of the eyes to work together • Visual Field (ability to see things all around) • Color Perception (ability to see colors) If required, occupational therapists may work in collaboration with behavioral optometrists in the assessment and treatment of visual impairments. They provide visual training exercises as well as suggest alternative solutions or techniques for areas of difficulty. There are potential adaptations that can be used to promote improvements in visual abilities and allow the person to become more independent. Occupational therapists may also make suggestions for changes in the environment which increase safety and independence. Transportation Safety Tips (University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute) In April 2000, the US standard, WC-19 Wheelchairs Used as Seats in Motor Vehicles, was approved by the American National Standards Institute / Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America (ANSI/RESNA (http://www.ansi.org/ http:// www.resna.org). This voluntary industry standard was approved more than 9 years ago but there is a lot more work to do to get the word out about it. Read the Ride Safe Brochure and learn more about how to travel safely when sitting in a wheelchair on a bus or van. Look at the up-to-date list of WC19-compliant wheelchairs and seating systems. Additional Transportation Tips: . Read and follow all manufacturers' instructions. . It is best to ride with the wheelchair backrest positioned at an angle of 30 degrees or less to the vertical. If a greater recline angle is needed, the shoulder belt anchor point should be moved rearward along the vehicle sidewall so the belt maintains contact with the rider's shoulder and chest. . Maximize the clear space around the rider to reduce the possibility of contact with vehicle components and other passengers in a crash. Cover components that are close to the rider with dense padding. . Check the wheelchair tie down and occupant-restraint system (WTORS) equipment regularly and replace worn or broken com ponents. Keep the anchorage track free of debris. . If a WTORS and wheelchair have been involved in a vehicle crash, check with the manufacturers to determine if the equipment needs to be repaired or replaced. . Remove hard trays to reduce the chance of rider injury. . A properly positioned headrest can help protect the neck in a rear impact. . If it is necessary, use a head and neck support during travel. Secure medical and other equipment to the wheelchair or vehicle to prevent it from breaking loose and causing injuries in a crash. Bed/Positioning Safety Tips Since most people spend about a third of their lives in bed, it is important to ensure that the time spent there is comfortable. Comfort and sleeping well are essential, because for some people, this may mean the difference between their being able or unable to carry out activities independently. For those with disabilities, the simple task of getting out of bed or transferring from a bed to a wheelchair can be challenging. Because each individual is unique, they have different needs. Therefore, an occupational therapist or physio therapist may assign a specific method for positioning a person in bed or transferring that individual from a bed to a wheelchair. There are also several different types of equipment available that can be used to assist in transfers which require instruction and practice. Devices range from mechanical lifts to a transfer board. For people having difficulty getting into or out of bed, there is specially designed equipment which can be of assistance, such as: bed raisers, grab handles, leg lifters and lifting poles. Some of this equipment can be can be used independently; other items require the assistance of a second person or caregiver. Still other types of equipment are available to increase safety while in bed. For example, side rails can prevent people from rolling out of bed accidentally, and there is padding for rails and head and foot boards to reduce the risk of injury on hard metal frames. There are several web resources with illustrations on proper techniques with regard to moving patients. (see the list below) However, one must be aware that the number one health concern among nurses is back pain and injury due to moving patients. So, before embarking on client transfers please consult an OT or any one of a number of approved guides on the subject. Resources Rehabilitation Engineering & Assistive Technology Society of North America 1700 N. Moore St, Suite 1540 Arlington, VA 22209-1903 tel: (703) 524-6686 | fax: (703) 524-6630 Brochures are available from: Univ. of Michigan Transp. Research Institute Email: www.umtridoc@umich.edu Phone: (734) 764-2171 http://www.travelsafer.org/RideSafe_Web.pdf Bed Positioning / Transferring Book: The Comfort of Home: An Illustrated Step-by-Step Guide for Caregivers, by Maria M. Meyer with Paula Derr, RN, Care Trust Pub., LLC, 2002. http://www.als-mda.org/publications/ everydaylifeals/ch7/ http://wishard.kramesonline.com/ HealthSheets/3,S,82598