President ’ s Address
In July I attended a two-day institute at Temple University ( TU ) in Philadelphia . Maybe some of you saw my post on Facebook . The institute highlighted the research being done at the TU Collaborative on Community Inclusion which explores options for community inclusion for people with psychiatric disabilities . The research and institute were all funded by NIDILRR ( formally NIDRR ). I love the work being done at the TU Collaborative . The research could easily be used by occupational therapy to support efforts toward participation for people with disabilities . There is research on supported education , job participation , community living , parenting , leisure participation , using different forms of transportation , etc . I enjoyed two days of presentations , the peer story , the poetry slam , and also enjoyed watching the graphic recording artist work to video record the presentations ( picture included ). I could go on about the work they were doing but that isn ’ t why I am bringing this up . The thing is , there is only one occupational therapy practitioner in the collaborative . Most collaborative presenters were from therapeutic recreation , social work and clinical psychology .
At the end of the last presentation I started to pack up my things to go . A woman approached me and introduced herself as the project manager from NIDILRR . She told me she had met with a group of occupational therapy practitioners recently and that she was struck by the fact that none of them could tell her what occupational therapy practitioners did that was different from other professions . She told me they tried but they “ just couldn ’ t do it .” I was a bit taken back but said that we do have a distinct approach . So she challenged me to come up with one . For 20 years I have framed my practice using the Model of Human Occupation so I tapped into the theory to say that we go a step further than what I saw in those two days of the institute . I said we consider not just the roles of student or worker or parent , but really
Lisa Mahaffey , PhD ( c ), OTR / L , FAOTA
look at all the many daily tasks that must be done to successfully participate in those roles . I said we look at the fit between the demands of the tasks , the capacity of the person and the environmental obstacles and then support people as they find ways to overcome the barriers , complete the tasks and begin to form habits and routines . I also said that that we believe that once people establish satisfying roles and routines , they have a sense of efficacy and role identity . Her response was a somewhat underwhelming comment of “ well that ’ s the first time I have ever heard anything distinct .”
I fear that if we cannot articulate clearly how we are different from other professions then we will give up opportunities to be at the table . I think the work being done by the folks at the TU Collaborative was excellent and exciting and will make a big impact for people with psychiatric disabilities . But I can ’ t understand why there are not more occupational therapy practitioners in the collaborative . What an excellent way to contribute to participation for those with psychiatric disability . The collaborative would be a great opportunity to reflect on our “ part ” – how we contribute to helping that is distinct … Not to mention demonstrating to the project manager of a major research funding organization that occupational therapy has distinct value .
I will be talking about this at conference this year . Please come and join me and be a part of the conversation . Look for my presentation on the Power of Why ! Oh , and maybe we can find a graphic recorder to come and join us !
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