Brylie to me:
Hi Emily,
I found this post very interesting. I had no idea switches
could be so expensive! Also, it is amazing how much is achievable through the
use of switches. Are these available for a regular Joe Blogs to purchase, or do
they have to be bought through an occupational therapist?
Brylie
Me to Brylie:
Hi Brylie,
yes, anyone can get these switches. Here is a really good link to
a web page that sells them
http://www.iltsource.com/Adaptive_Devices_s/28.htm
Cheers,
Emily.
Wednesday 16 May 2012
Saturday 12 May 2012
Assertive technology
To define assertive technology:
`assertive technology device' means any item, piece of equipment, or product system, whether acquired commercially off the shelf, modified, or customised, that is used to increase, maintain, or improve functional capabilities of a person with a disability (IDEA, 2012).
From this I understand assertive technology is anything that can aid a person that is disabled id some way to help them to function as normally as possible.
Over the last year and a half i have had the fortune of seeing abit of this technology in action. The piece of equipment that sticks out in my mind as being one of the most helpful switches, specifically ones for kids that have trouble with upper limb co ordination. A switch for a child can range anywhere from $150 upwards. These devices allow the individual to do anything from play with a toy to playing a game on there computer or surfing the net. This has increased occupational engagement ten fold as now the individual can do what they could not do before! We have had the pleasure of a gent (we won't name names) coming to talk to us at the school of OT because he works with children as an OT and deals with alot of this adaptive equipment. Now to show you what I am rambling on about........
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yKS1I2uUlCE
This just show you how useful switches can be! This wee guy is now able to communicate what he wants to the adults around him!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&NR=1&v=CsTcd0j8pwA
Again this wee girl now is able to communicate easily with the people round her because of the use of a pre recording switch which will be super useful for toileting and when she may get tired.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=afKfSPvYQ3M
These guys are amazing look what they can do!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fAdEOXD9Tvk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z_g6SnwG3nI
This gives people the chance to do what otherwise they couldn't do. No longer are the disabled occupational deprived but they have transitioned and now have the same occupational justice as everyone else!
References
IDEA. (13/5/12). Building the legacy of IDEA. Retrieved from:http://idea.ed.gov/explore/view/p/,root,statute,I,A,602,1, (14/5/12).
www.youtube.com
`assertive technology device' means any item, piece of equipment, or product system, whether acquired commercially off the shelf, modified, or customised, that is used to increase, maintain, or improve functional capabilities of a person with a disability (IDEA, 2012).
From this I understand assertive technology is anything that can aid a person that is disabled id some way to help them to function as normally as possible.
Over the last year and a half i have had the fortune of seeing abit of this technology in action. The piece of equipment that sticks out in my mind as being one of the most helpful switches, specifically ones for kids that have trouble with upper limb co ordination. A switch for a child can range anywhere from $150 upwards. These devices allow the individual to do anything from play with a toy to playing a game on there computer or surfing the net. This has increased occupational engagement ten fold as now the individual can do what they could not do before! We have had the pleasure of a gent (we won't name names) coming to talk to us at the school of OT because he works with children as an OT and deals with alot of this adaptive equipment. Now to show you what I am rambling on about........
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yKS1I2uUlCE
This just show you how useful switches can be! This wee guy is now able to communicate what he wants to the adults around him!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&NR=1&v=CsTcd0j8pwA
Again this wee girl now is able to communicate easily with the people round her because of the use of a pre recording switch which will be super useful for toileting and when she may get tired.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=afKfSPvYQ3M
These guys are amazing look what they can do!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fAdEOXD9Tvk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z_g6SnwG3nI
This gives people the chance to do what otherwise they couldn't do. No longer are the disabled occupational deprived but they have transitioned and now have the same occupational justice as everyone else!
References
IDEA. (13/5/12). Building the legacy of IDEA. Retrieved from:http://idea.ed.gov/explore/view/p/,root,statute,I,A,602,1, (14/5/12).
www.youtube.com
The internet and online communities
Tut 6: The Internet and online communities
For this post I am going to carry on with the theme from my
last post as I really have a passion for the topic of art therapy. For this
post I am required to discuss the idea of internet and online communities. There
are many communities on the net at present but here are three of the ones that
I think are some of the best.
The Art therapy blog-
This site was created for people that are qualified art
therapist but I have found it really interesting as an OT in training and have
got many ideas from the web page. The site in very interactive because of the
nature of it! Art therapy is all about getting in there and having ago and so
is this webpage. By subscribing to the pages news feeds you can be kept up to
date with the different ideas etc. that pop up on the page. Anybody can comment
on the content but name and email etc. must be given at the time. People share
ideas for different techniques that can be used within art therapy and things
that their clients have created also.
Facebook- Art therapy blog-
This is another version of the same blog from above but that
different people are connected to on the Facebook network. Many people find
that Facebook is easier to use than a blog page simply because everything is
always that same on Facebook were as with blogs the formats etc. can be different.
People are free to comment on what ever they like on this page and the page can
be “liked” so that there logo is present on your own private Facebook page.
Twitter art therapy-
This is again by the same people as the above to but in a different
manner. This is more a quick fire comment site that lets other people you are
connected with exactly what you are thinking or doing at that point in time.
It is very interactive as there is always something being said or a video being
posted. People must be a twitter member to join this group and from there
anyone can comment on this account.
I believe that people choose to post comments or pictures on
such websites as Twitter or Facebook because of a need to share knowledge with
others. People seek knowledge as the need to learn is intrinsic as Knowles
stated in his theory on adult learners (Wong, Graham and Hosking, 2008). In
terms of occupation deprivation I think that these blogs are relevant in two
ways. One that not all people that need to get information about art therapy
may have the internet and therefore are deprived of the subject. Secondly, that
some of the people that can benefit from art therapy are physical be unable to
express themselves through art. Occupational disruption on the other hand is
very much a part of blogging as computers and the internet cannot always be
trusted or relied upon (as I just found out the hard way!).
However, many issues arise with the concept of blogging and
online communities simply because any one can post anything they want to. In
some cases posts may be removed but at the end of the day does the person who
posted that comment get punished? No, they do not. Accountability of actions is
totally different in the real world as to what it is in cyber space. What’s the
worst that’s going to happen if you write “such n such is a dirty rotten #*%@!”
you get blocked from the page and there is really no love lost there. Another
example of issues surrounding online communities is that of identity. It was
only last week that on the Australian based telly series “Neighbours” (cringe)
that an older gentleman decided that he would make up a fake profile on Facebook
just to get someone into trouble. That’s the issue! Anyone can say they are you
or someone that you know when in reality they are sitting in the office on the other
side of the world thinking “aw yup I’ve got this girl”. SCARY! Although there
are a few negative issues around internet communities I must say that to be
able to communicate with another human on the other side of the world in seconds
is amazing. Now we as students of occupational therapy can openly communicate
with our sister school in Hamilton regarding stresses about exams etc. I have no
idea who these people are but I know they are going through the same things as I
am. This is all because on an internet community called Facebook.
References
Wong, B., Graham, L, & Hoskyn, M. (2008). The ABCs of Learning Disabilities. Elsevier
Acedemic Press: USA.
http://www.facebook.com/ArtTherapyBlog
https://twitter.com/#!/arttherapy
http://www.arttherapyblog.com/
Video Production sessions
Video Production sessions
A topic that I found of interest from my fieldwork two
placement was the concept of using art for rehabilitation purposes. Cole (2012)
suggests that OT evaluations within art as a form of therapy is about seeing
how the client perceives themselves in terms of the self-image, emotions and
relationship with others. Art therapy has really opened my eyes to the other
methods or rehabilitation other than just your standard, every day run of the
mill, rehab exercise. Within my placement setting I witnessed the joy, triumph and
improvement for clients that had both physical and intellectual disabilities.
For me watching on I saw a “level playing field” if you will. These people that
have been perceived by society as not being the same as everyone else can now,
by way of art, just be the same as everyone else. This is empowering those with
disabilities at its finest.
Here are some you tube clips to show what I am talking about above to illustrate what an awesome thing this is!
Cole, M. (2012). Group
dynamics in occupational therapy. Slack Corp: USA.
Thursday 26 April 2012
Occupational engagement, doing, being, belonging and becoming.
I have created a photo presentation in the for of a slide show. The topic I have chosen is game play and I have chosen this because of my participation in a day hospital rehab setting of one of my placements last year. While on placement I notices that game play was a pivital part of rehabilitation for some stroke patients. The idea of hand eye coordination and building strength in the effected side was very prominent and I believe that this was a very effective tool in the recovery of these patients. Furthermore, while there was individual work done with these patients there was also alot of group work which built a strong sense of belonging in these patients. By getting the patients to engage with the games and with each other it helps to aid the recovery process which can be long and hard for server stroke patients. The slides illustrate the idea of doing, being, becoming and belonging.
So here it is!!
http://www.slideshare.net/emilyh1989
So here it is!!
http://www.slideshare.net/emilyh1989
Sunday 15 April 2012
Short film description
What an extremely funny experience making this film was! Brought us together as a small group and help us all get to know each other just that little bit better!
Our short films topic was "Occupational deprivation". For the time being I shall call it "Occupational deprivation of a poor student" (to be revised when the girls get back to me haha).We have shown this in our film by good use of the lead actress (she who will not be named haha) being deprived of different aspects of student life. Occupational deprivation is defined as not all people are afforded equal opportunies to participate in occupations having individual, fimiliaral and cultural meaning" (Christiansen & Townsend, p.305, 2010)From this definition I as an individual understand that occupational deprivation is not being able to preform or be included in different activities because of events that are out of ones control.
As a group we brain stormed ideas about occupational deprivation and how that topic may be linked to the notion of being a student. We decided on the idea that as students we don't always have alot of money and because of this we may miss out on activities that others don't because of lack on money. Throughout the short film we show different ideas including our actress no begining able to get into the movies because she has not paid for her ticket and her looking longingly at a sausage roll that again she cannot afford. Also at they beginning of our film our actress is, how shall I put this, well covered and keen for fun. At the end because she has no money, she has studied hard and lost ALOT of weight. All in all, I think the girls and I did a great job of displaying what it means to be occupational deprived as a poor student!
References
Christainsen, C. & Townsend, E. (2010). Introduction to occupation. The art and science of living. (2nd ed). Pearsons: London.
Our short films topic was "Occupational deprivation". For the time being I shall call it "Occupational deprivation of a poor student" (to be revised when the girls get back to me haha).We have shown this in our film by good use of the lead actress (she who will not be named haha) being deprived of different aspects of student life. Occupational deprivation is defined as not all people are afforded equal opportunies to participate in occupations having individual, fimiliaral and cultural meaning" (Christiansen & Townsend, p.305, 2010)From this definition I as an individual understand that occupational deprivation is not being able to preform or be included in different activities because of events that are out of ones control.
As a group we brain stormed ideas about occupational deprivation and how that topic may be linked to the notion of being a student. We decided on the idea that as students we don't always have alot of money and because of this we may miss out on activities that others don't because of lack on money. Throughout the short film we show different ideas including our actress no begining able to get into the movies because she has not paid for her ticket and her looking longingly at a sausage roll that again she cannot afford. Also at they beginning of our film our actress is, how shall I put this, well covered and keen for fun. At the end because she has no money, she has studied hard and lost ALOT of weight. All in all, I think the girls and I did a great job of displaying what it means to be occupational deprived as a poor student!
References
Christainsen, C. & Townsend, E. (2010). Introduction to occupation. The art and science of living. (2nd ed). Pearsons: London.
Thursday 29 March 2012
Tuesday 20 March 2012
Information technology and ethical issues
To begin this post I want to define to topic I shall define both information and technology from Collins English dictionary
"Information- knowledge of facts" and
"Technology- is the application of practical or mechanical sciences to industry or commerce; scientific methods used in a particular field." (2009, pgs 304 and 596).
To put this into my own words:
knowing how to use different methods of putting information out to the world in a practical manner.
"Technology has made it possible for people to move to keep in touch with each other" as stated by Hendry (2008, pg 282). Hendry by in this quote has stated that technology is such common place now because of our human need to keep in touch with one another. A general example of this is facebook ( I have added a link her to facebook if you wish to make a profile www.facebook.com). This was created as a free means of people keeping in touch with one another. It is so easy to create a profile and find your friends, all you need is an Internet connection!
As a student I feel compelled to be totally familiar with the use of computers, however there are many things I can do on computers but not everything. In the big scheme of things I think that what I know doesn't even scratch the surface of what is possible with a PC or Mac. I am uncomfortable using the new types of digital cameras. For example, I was at my cousins wedding and I had her brand new $2000 camera to take photos of her on her wedding day........nek minit no battery! So no photos for the bride because to a technological issue. Now on the other hand, if I had a regular good old camera in which the photos had to be developed this would not have happened because they don't take batteries!
Now Occupational Therapists are using IT in practise. In many ways this has helped make the job of an OT that much easier. A great example of this is the use of computer games for treatment and rehabilitation for strengthening grip, teaching self care and improving motivation (Michele and Ryan, 2008). The idea that you can reach the idea of video games, find the right one and plan a session around this for a client rather than having to physically design and build something is fantastic because of the time saved. As great as these advances in technology are they can still fail. For example, a scratch on a game CD that will not read in the player. This would completely through a "spanner in the works" for this OT's session with their client. However, because we are OT's we are practical and will get around this issue (toot toot blowing the OT horn here). I have added a link here of a therapist using a digital game to help rehabilitate her client http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ofm-dyjOu1s
If we as OT students can learn to embrace IT as we finish our studies and go out into the work force we will be making our own working lives that much easier. Also we can offer our clients a different range of rehabilitation techniques with technology.
Ethical implications regarding such things as photos, others comments, opinions and general information can be tricky because of the nature of the information itself. For example if I was to take a photo out of a text book and say that I had taken this picture myself that is plain and simple plagiarism. However, if I type "cat " into the google search engine hundreds of pictures of cats appear and they can be copied and pasted into a word document that I can claim as my own photo and as long as I referenced this as my own photo nobody would be any the wiser! Not so black and white eh (no pun intended).
References
Collins (2009). Collins english dictionary. Glasgow:Williams Collins & Co.
Facebook (2012). Home login page. Retrieved from: http://www.facebook.com
Hendry, J. (2008). An introduction to social anthropology: sharing our worlds.(2nd ed.). Hampshire: Palgrave Macmillian
Youtube (2012). Brain injury rehabilitation using wii. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ofm-dyjOu1s
"Information- knowledge of facts" and
"Technology- is the application of practical or mechanical sciences to industry or commerce; scientific methods used in a particular field." (2009, pgs 304 and 596).
To put this into my own words:
knowing how to use different methods of putting information out to the world in a practical manner.
"Technology has made it possible for people to move to keep in touch with each other" as stated by Hendry (2008, pg 282). Hendry by in this quote has stated that technology is such common place now because of our human need to keep in touch with one another. A general example of this is facebook ( I have added a link her to facebook if you wish to make a profile www.facebook.com). This was created as a free means of people keeping in touch with one another. It is so easy to create a profile and find your friends, all you need is an Internet connection!
As a student I feel compelled to be totally familiar with the use of computers, however there are many things I can do on computers but not everything. In the big scheme of things I think that what I know doesn't even scratch the surface of what is possible with a PC or Mac. I am uncomfortable using the new types of digital cameras. For example, I was at my cousins wedding and I had her brand new $2000 camera to take photos of her on her wedding day........nek minit no battery! So no photos for the bride because to a technological issue. Now on the other hand, if I had a regular good old camera in which the photos had to be developed this would not have happened because they don't take batteries!
Now Occupational Therapists are using IT in practise. In many ways this has helped make the job of an OT that much easier. A great example of this is the use of computer games for treatment and rehabilitation for strengthening grip, teaching self care and improving motivation (Michele and Ryan, 2008). The idea that you can reach the idea of video games, find the right one and plan a session around this for a client rather than having to physically design and build something is fantastic because of the time saved. As great as these advances in technology are they can still fail. For example, a scratch on a game CD that will not read in the player. This would completely through a "spanner in the works" for this OT's session with their client. However, because we are OT's we are practical and will get around this issue (toot toot blowing the OT horn here). I have added a link here of a therapist using a digital game to help rehabilitate her client http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ofm-dyjOu1s
If we as OT students can learn to embrace IT as we finish our studies and go out into the work force we will be making our own working lives that much easier. Also we can offer our clients a different range of rehabilitation techniques with technology.
Ethical implications regarding such things as photos, others comments, opinions and general information can be tricky because of the nature of the information itself. For example if I was to take a photo out of a text book and say that I had taken this picture myself that is plain and simple plagiarism. However, if I type "cat " into the google search engine hundreds of pictures of cats appear and they can be copied and pasted into a word document that I can claim as my own photo and as long as I referenced this as my own photo nobody would be any the wiser! Not so black and white eh (no pun intended).
References
Collins (2009). Collins english dictionary. Glasgow:Williams Collins & Co.
Facebook (2012). Home login page. Retrieved from: http://www.facebook.com
Hendry, J. (2008). An introduction to social anthropology: sharing our worlds.(2nd ed.). Hampshire: Palgrave Macmillian
Youtube (2012). Brain injury rehabilitation using wii. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ofm-dyjOu1s
What my blog is all about
This blog is deigned for my participation in occupation for my second year Occupational Therapy studieds in 2012. My blog is based around the technology in relation to Occupational Therapy. The postings will discuss information technonlogy and ethics, digital imaging, video production internet and online communities and assertive technology. I hope you find the information useful and feel free to post a comment.
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