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I will always want to work to support individuals with learning disabilities , difficulties and / or Asperger ’ s and autism … my dream is to have my own practice that integrates mindfulness with theatre to support health and wellbeing .”
and healthcare assistants , can use it to support their knowledge around collaborating with individuals on the autism spectrum .’
Madeleine clearly also hopes that people will relate to her experiences and reach out for further discussions on the issues .
Can we do more ?
When it comes to the issue of whether there is enough support is available for people with developmental disorders and conditions , such as Asperger ’ s , in the NHS and private sector , she adds : ‘ While I think there is certainly more support available than there was when I was younger , I think we can and must do more .
‘ I would like to see mandatory training for professionals across the board , such as teachers and healthcare professionals – anyone who works in a public facing role – as you never know when you may meet someone who is on the spectrum .
‘ I would also like to see occupational therapists in every school and university in the country to support early diagnosis and to enable students to gain mental health support quickly , as and when needed .
Looking to the future
And what about the future as a newly-qualified occupational therapist – where does Madeleine see herself working ? She says : ‘ If I am honest , each placement I went on made me change my mind about what area of practice I wanted to work in .
‘ Initially , I wanted to work in hand therapy , as I enjoyed my first-year placement immensely . I then thought that I wanted to work in a contemporary environment after my second-year placement at the Belgrade Theatre in Coventry .
‘ I still believe this is where I will end up , as I would like to be one of the first occupational therapists that I am aware of working in a theatre company . I believe that I can use both my passions for theatre and health and wellbeing to support the public . Theatre helps improve empathy and communication skills , while occupational therapists can empower people to manage their own health and wellbeing in a positive way .’
She adds : ‘ My final year placement was in a forensic learning disability setting . I will always want to work to support individuals with learning disabilities , difficulties and / or Asperger ’ s and autism .
‘ My dream is to have my own practice that integrates mindfulness with theatre to support health and wellbeing .’
In the meantime , Madeleine is currently looking towards finding the right business model for the theatre company , exploring options for developing a podcast on issues surrounding Asperger ’ s and autism , and having her book in audiobook format , to make it more accessible for disabled audiences .
Not one to rest on her laurels , Madeleine is also ‘ playing with a couple of ideas ’ to write more books – one on Asperger ’ s in employment and another on how to recognise signs of abuse when you are on the spectrum – in addition to her ambitions to get her most recent production performed .
She concludes : ‘… the more awareness there is about the condition , the better it will be for those living with it , as the public will hopefully become more understanding . Right now though , I am working on getting my dissertation article published and applying for Health and Care Professions Council registration .
‘ I am very excited to begin my career as an occupational therapist and I will eagerly await to see where this opportunity leads me next .’
Words MADELEINE LEVY , student occupational therapist , Coventry University . For more information about any of Madeline ’ s projects get in touch at madeleine . levy21 @ gmail . com
© Yana Iskayeva via Getty Images
36 OTnews February 2022