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.
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