Thank you very much for your feedback! I am still waiting to hear back from the
newspaper!
It hasn't been published yet.
Thanks again,
Alayna
--- On Sun, 4/26/09, susanne <susa...@rehabmail.com> wrote:
From: susanne <susa...@rehabmail.com>
Subject: Re: [OTlist] promoting OT
To: OTlist@OTnow.com
Date: Sunday, April 26, 2009, 5:46 PM
---- Original Message ----
From: "Alayna Adams" <powrpufgurl_...@yahoo.com>
Sent: Monday, April 20, 2009 3:51 AM
> Hi everyone,I am going to write a letter to the editor of my local
> newspaper to promote OT for OT month. I would appreciate any
> feedback.
Hi Alayna!
Kudos for that initiative - I feel much inspired! I also am grateful
for the chance to give feedback and so here are a few things that
caught my eye while reading. But please note that I'm a Danish OT, so
how I see OT may not apply where you are!
>Sorry about the format being off.
No problem - I take it the text begins here:
To celebrate
> Occupational Therapy (OT) month, I would like to inform our
> community on what OT is and how it benefits residents. OT is a type
> of rehabilitation that aims to help people with a physical,
> developmental, or cognitive disability....
*I'm not sure about OT being limited to treating people with
disabilities? People with, say, more temporary conditions may not
identify with this...
.....increase independence with
> everyday occupations including but not limited to dressing,
> cooking, bathing and leisure.
*I'd like to see a bit more included here - at least work, interests
and caregiving (of children and other family members). Maybe the place
to mention something about fulfilling one's roles?
Occupational therapists work in
> hospitals, nursing homes, schools, rehabilitation facilities,
> mental health facilities and a variety of other settings with
> people of all ages and abilities.
*The very important part of working with the patient/client in their
own home, workplace and community I'd like to see mentioned here.
OT benefits patients and family
> members by improving their ability to take care of themselves and
> live more independently. OT treatment consists of adapting the
> environment and recommending equipment such as tub benches,
> reachers and magnifiers to enable a person to complete activities
> of daily living.
*This looks like an exclusive statement to me? Maybe: One part of OT
treatment may consist of......
OT will work with patients to improve mobility,
> cognition, and activity tolerance to regain function in order to
> live as independently as possible
*(I would add here:) "... and/or be able to do what is especially
meaningful for them." (This because to me living 'as independently as
possible' is not always the primary goal - think OT in hospice, or
with someone still needing 24/7 care or supervision.)
. Many of our elderly community
> members have received OT and are able to return home without
> services or significant help from family or caregivers.
*Maybe elaborate a bit here: Home from where, after what? Also, I'd
say: "... without NEEDING services..." - otherwise it sounds kind of
scary:-)
> Occupational Therapists can complete home evaluations and recommend
> adaptations as necessary.
*I wonder if "home evaluations" may sound scary if you don't know
what
it is. Like, is someone going to judge my home unsuitable...? Maybe
explain how a hospital OT may go along with you for a home visit
before you are discharged, and help you find out how to cope at home,
if adaptations and equipment could help etc. Maybe give an example?
OT will train and educate caregivers to
> enable them to help their loved ones live a life with dignity and
> independence. Infants and children are able to reach developmental
> milestones and perform better in school with the skilled treatment
> of OT.....
*(I'd love to see home and playground included here.)
.....People with a mental illness can learn new habits and roles
> to enable them to contribute to society. A teenager with a spinal
> cord injury could learn of adaptations to allow them to go to
> college and
> complete self care. Many people are unaware of what occupational
> therapy is because of the title. Occupation is what we do everyday
> of our lives, what makes our life meaningful to us. Occupational
> Therapy is a profession that can help people regain function to
> live life to the fullest.
I especially liked this last paragraph, how you mentioned dignity,
contributing to society, and how you linked occupation and OT in the
end. In this context 'living life to the fullest' suddenly makes more
sense to me! I also liked how you built your letter to get around
different OT stuff to get to this point.
Best of luck with your letter,
warmly
Susanne, Denmark
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