There will be an ongoing demand to provide opportunities for the Ukrainian people to integrate into the local community , while dealing with the additional complexity of a different language , different culture and the effects of trauma .
Above : Team members from Romania , UK and Medequip
Both occupational therapy assessment and ongoing therapy has been provided by visiting occupational therapists , including accompanying student occupational therapists .
By providing this support we have been able to encourage the documentation or evidencing of improvement in , for example , a disabled child ’ s development , or a young disabled adult ’ s capacity to assist others in the group .
By providing remote supervision it is has been possible to help with grading of activity and especially during the restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic , observe that the team has provided one-on-one interactions to maintain crucial contact with the families and reduce functional losses .
Additional challenges
The recent and continuing influx of Ukrainian refugees into the local area , particularly those with a disabled family member , poses an additional challenge for the local team , whose capacity is already stretched .
Whilst Belief in Action has been able to transport unprecedented amounts of equipment to the loan scheme , there has been difficulty in getting this dispersed to meet an ever-increasing demand . This is due to the restrictions associated with the pandemic , lack of resources and a more urgent need to address the basic requirements of the refugees for accommodation , food and clothing .
Our group trip in April 2022 was occupied with helping to assess those arriving from Ukraine and providing equipment that they either had never had before , or which they had been required to leave behind in Ukraine .
Fortunately , by having the loan scheme already in place , along with a tried and tested transportation process ( post Brexit ), it enabled an immediate response and ability to scale up provision of aid and equipment .
Encouraging self-sustainability
One of the key strategies for the development of the equipment loan scheme in Romania is to encourage self-sustainability and reduce reliance on the UK . This presents many challenges , not just financially and organisationally , but because the development of knowledge and skills , particularly at a professional level , lags behind that of the UK significantly .
Nevertheless , with a highly dedicated team in Romania , and the ongoing willingness of many occupational therapists , physiotherapists , special needs teachers and any others who wish to volunteer from the UK , progress can and is being made .
Amy Ogborne , occupational therapist and volunteer says : ‘ Going to Romania was an eyeopening experience that enabled you to use a range of skills within a challenging environment . There ’ s limited healthcare provision , however it was humbling to see how supportive the community was of one another .’
Ramona Iuga , a therapy assistant in Săcele adds : ‘ We love to learn from the therapists how to find the right equipment and how to find activities for new goals set with the children .’
Our focus now is on identifying more formal research opportunities to measure effectiveness and outcomes and guide any future direction and involvement .
Nagy L ( 2022 ) Finding a better pathway for used disability equipment , OTnews , 30 ( 1 ): 36-37 .
Baum C , Christiansen C , Bass J ( 2015 ) Person- Environment-Occupation-Performance ( PEOP ) Model . In Christiansen C , Baum C , Bass J , Occupational therapy : performance , participation , wellbeing ( 4th ed .) Thorofare , NJ : Slack .
Words SUSANNA ROBINSON , occupational therapist , PAT EYRES , Associate Lecturer in Occupational Therapy at University of Plymouth , and ELKE SMALL , Team Manager for Occupational Therapy , Adult Social Care in Bristol . For more information , or to discuss volunteering su @ beliefin-action . co . uk
38 OTnews June 2022