Hope Springs Eternal with Occupational Therapy!

Hope, positive change and happiness has to be the replacement for the  shock, anger and disappointment I continue to feel.  A seemingly simple a two inch step in shower with a grab bar is making my plan come to a screeching halt. Yes, thelack of an accessible shower in a hotel, has prevented my attendeance and participation in a nationally recognized Missing Persons Conference, caused the cancellation of an important physical therapy assessment and prevented me from touring and scouting places to live in Charlotte, NC! 

When States decide that barebone government is what they want… and the business community follows suit, Everybody loses. This is a major reason why South Carolina places at the bottom of the rankings on so many important issues! 

If we extrapolate it out to the personal level, we find the casualties everywhere along with system failures! 

Is it a good business decision to try to provide even one more option for accessibility to the ‘bare bones minimum' such that states teeter on the edge of fines and other punishments?

Yes, absolutely, when:  

A whopping 53% of adults with disabilities report staying in a hotel or motel within the past two years.

****And the bad news? Nearly 46% of these travelers say they have faced major accessibility obstacles during their stay.  - (July 2024)

Purchasing power - Disabled travelers currently contribute 50 Billion (with a B) which rises to 100 Billion if accompanied by companions! 

One very learned PhD Occupational therapy professor I know recently  stated the situation like this- 

“ADA accessibility standards are often a bare minimum without consideration of the nuances of differing abilities. In trying to accommodate the widest range of abilities, the design sometimes becomes more limiting for specific needs.”

Definition- Universal design is the practice of designing products and environments so that they can be used by people of all abilities, ages, sizes, and disabilities. The goal is to make things accessible without the need for specialized design or adaptation.  

Had Universal Design had been incorporated into the hotel industry years ago, this would not be happening!

How ironic that- nationally and internationally recognized architect,

Ronald L. Mace conceptualized and championed  universal design. See his story at this link -

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/design-pioneer-visionary-universal-remembering-ron-mace-duncan/

The principles of universal design were formalized and published by the Center for Universal Design at North Carolina State University in 1997.

The Center was  underfunded and closed down. HOWEVER, the College of Design at NC State has partnered with Steven Winter Associates, Inc. (SWA) to form the Alliance for Inclusive Design Practice and Research, which will focus on advancing equity in the built environment.I contacted them and they declined to help.

Occupational Therapy- Is a healthcare profession helping children and adults  with a variety of disabilities  to reach their highest level of independence.  Occupational therapists evaluate and treat people who have injuries, illnesses, or disabilities. Such as stroke , brain injuries, developmental disabilities such as cerebral palsy, MS etc…  

They help clients meet goals to develop, recover, improve, and maintain skills such as dressing, bathing, all tasks needed for daily living and working. 

They often work in collaboration as a team  with speech-language pathologists and physical therapists . There is often some overlap in the skills performed in these three areas of expertise.  ***I was a speech -language pathologist working in many different settings with OT and PT colleagues for many years.

Core Skills:

• Assessment and Evaluation:
  Occupational therapists conduct thorough assessments to understand a client's needs, strengths, and limitations. 

• Treatment Planning:
  They develop individualized treatment plans that address specific goals and challenges. 

• Intervention and Therapy:
  They implement various interventions, including exercises, activities, and adaptive strategies, to improve function. 

• Communication:
  Effective communication is crucial for building rapport with clients, collaborating with other healthcare professionals, and educating clients and families. 

• Problem-Solving:
  Occupational therapists use problem-solving skills to identify challenges and develop creative solutions. 

• Collaboration:
  They work collaboratively with other healthcare professionals, clients, and families to achieve optimal outcomes. 

• Empathy and Patience:
  Occupational therapists demonstrate empathy and patience when working with individuals facing various challenges. 

• Adaptability and Flexibility:
  They adapt to changing circumstances and client needs, demonstrating flexibility in their approach. 

Specific Areas of Focus:

• Motor Skills:
  Improving fine and gross motor skills through targeted exercises and activities. 

• Cognitive Skills:
  Addressing cognitive impairments, such as memory, attention, and problem-solving, through cognitive rehabilitation techniques. 

• Sensory Processing:
  Assisting individuals with sensory processing difficulties through strategies and interventions. 

• Adaptive Equipment:
  Recommending and training clients on the use of assistive devices and adaptive equipment to enhance independence. 

• Environmental Modifications:
  Making recommendations for home and work modifications to improve accessibility and safety. 

• Feeding and Swallowing:
  Addressing feeding and swallowing difficulties through specialized interventions. 

  Mental Health:
Providing occupational therapy interventions for individuals with mental health conditions to improve their daily living skills and well-being. 

A Ray of Hope

Recently, I had the good fortune to be introduced to a second  enthusiastic, bright and inspiring Occupational Therapy Professor, Dr. Melissa Sweetman of Wingate University. 

She  always wanted to be in healthcare  since the age of 5, parading around in a nurses costume… But, her true calling came to her after her Grandfather needed occupational therapy services following a Cerebral Vascular Accident- CVA- Commonly known as a “Stroke’, of which there are several kinds..

From her Biography- Wingate University 

“Our goal is to keep people living independently in their preferred communities,” Sweetman says. “So, get them out of hospitals, get them out of nursing homes, get them out of places that require funding to keep them. Let’s give them quality of life, satisfaction and independence as much as they can in their own context.”

Dr. Sweetman built her program in the Spring of 2023,  by envisioning the typical Wingate OTD graduate. What does she look like? What is she known for? What skills does she possess? (The use of the feminine pronoun is especially apt; nationwide, over 90 percent of OTs are female.)

She wants them to be leaders. “We will have leadership spread throughout – servant leadership especially,” says Sweetman, who has a Ph.D. in leadership, in addition to a doctorate in OT. “It fits in perfectly with the school. It also fits in perfectly with the fact that we’re a serving profession. That’s how we view ourselves, as in service to our clients that we treat.”

She also wants her students to be strong scholars and writers, which is why Wingate’s OTD program will be one of the few in the country with a scholarly-writing course built into the curriculum.” 

As we corresponded, I learned that-

“…Their program is designed with a curricular thread of occupational justice and as such, this concept is woven throughout the entire program. We place strong emphasis on working to remove barriers that prevent individuals from completing their preferred occupations, whether they be physical barriers, psychosocial barriers, or even access/legislative/reimbursement barriers. “

Three specific courses were mentioned  to me that may directly relate, including a Technology related course using adaptive equipment, a geriatrics course and an OT program development for community based practice.

Melissa and her colleague are interested in partnering with me to meet the critical needs and address  my goals for the future! 

I am awaiting their next steps and look forward to working with them! 

Although I feel wounded and punished by these circumstances,  I chose to again and again take the path of survivor versus victim, as difficult as it may be!  

If you are interested in a future career in Occupational therapy- 

Refer to this link - 

https://www.wingate.edu/academics/graduate/occupational-therapy

Thanks for reading, commenting and sharing! 

Donna

Please visit others blogs such as this one -

https://donnagore.com/blog/safety-first-the-price-of-liberation-amp-mobility-for-those-wnbspdisabilities-in-senior-settings

And you can hire me as a consultant! https://donnagore.com/store/consulting