How did we get to December?! This year, time simultaneously stood still and moved at warp speed at the same time. I think we are all looking forward to the end of this month and the start of 2021!
This was an interesting week for occupational therapy news. From what I read, the energy for the profession remains strong. I also came across some stories that clearly shows that occupational therapy practitioners have niche practice areas where we thrive and it so great to see the gratitude from our clients. I also saw that as occupational therapy practitioners, we also appreciate our clients. So, it truly is a symbiotic relationship. That was a very long-winded way of saying it feels good to be an OT!
Occupational Therapy
CAN WE STILL DO IT..? A Refection on the Challenges of COVID-19 from an Occupational Therapist’s Perspective – Autism Parenting Magazine This article is an inspiration. This is the second article in as many weeks that shines a spotlight on occupational therapy, and it was wonderful to read. This article is a true reflection of the changes to service delivery during COVID-19 with autistic pediatric clients and how occupational therapy practitioners have reimaged intervention.
CMS Finalizes Proposed Cuts to Medicare Part B Therapy Services for 2021, Expands Telehealth Coverage – Skilled Nursing News Being a glass half full type of person, I see the portion that states that there is expansion of telehealth coverage. This coverage is for rural individuals receiving occupational therapy. However, this is a step in the right direction for telehealth coverage! Related: Therapy Associations Call on Congress to Address Medicare Payment Cuts – AOTA Advocate to stop Medicare payment cuts. Write to Congress to support: HR 8702 Holding Providers Harmless during Medicare Cuts During COVID19 Act of 2020 by writing letters to Congress using this template from AOTA: AOTA Legislative Center
Is gaming finally becoming accessible to disabled players? | Financial Times (ft.com) There was the Super Bowl ad that kind of changed the game, no pun intended. This article takes a deeper look at how accessibility to video games is changing to allow individuals with disabilities more opportunities to engage in the occupation of ‘gamer’.
Understanding Childhood Trauma: Be Your Own Sunshine I found this blog a few weeks ago and find her posts extremely well done with many supporting visuals. It honestly feels like you are talking to someone you have known forever, a very down to earth person. This post was particularly well-done AND timely with all that is going on in the world right now. Concrete occupational therapy-based interventions are provided and just the right amount of science for the background. Trauma-informed care is one model that is referenced quite a bit today. This post is a great starting point to learn to provide occupational therapy services to children that have experienced trauma.
Research
What is the role of occupational therapy with climate change? Honestly, this research was kind of a surprise. I have never thought of the direct role of occupational therapy in this area. Yet, these articles, especially the scoping review, provide a clear picture of our role with this ever-present topic. When I continued to do some more research, I found that this was not a new topic. There were earlier articles. As we move forward and choose niches to impact positive outcomes, it is good to see that occupational therapy can also have a role in climate change.
Occupational Therapy and Environmental Sustainability: A Scoping Review (healio.com)
Related to the research above, I found this blog post, Education Research Report: Air pollution spikes linked to lower test scores, which points to research that looks at the impact of pollution on test scores which truly shows the importance of addressing climate change with our population.
COTAD Book+ Club | cotad: Occupation, injustice, and anti-Black racism in the United States of America by Dr. Ryan Lavalley & Dr. Khalilah Robinson Johnson. It is always a special treat to have a conversation with research authors about their work, but to have the authors lead a discussion about their work cannot be missed.
British Journal of Occupational Therapy – Volume 83, Number 12, Dec 01, 2020 (sagepub.com) Am I the only one that gets excited when a new issue of a research journal becomes available?!
Post-COVID-19: Issues and challenges for occupational therapy and the need for clinical trials – Avril Drummond, Natasha A Lannin, 2020 (sagepub.com) This editorial sums up what needs to happen with COVID-19 research going forward: “…occupational therapists must lead the way in pushing forward their research agenda. Necessity due to COVID-19 really has been the mother of invention for many therapists, but these changes must now be examined critically and prompt a greater emphasis on developing high quality research evidence for the profession.”
Potpourri
The Search for the Coziest Clothes – The New York Times (nytimes.com) We need to embrace the fact that our wardrobe staples have changed drastically. Why fight it? Research your options!
Exercise 11 Minutes a Day for a Longer Life – The New York Times (nytimes.com) An 11 minute walk is a little less than 1 mile, which is better than being stationary for 11 minutes.
7 common causes of forgetfulness – Harvard Health Blog – Harvard Health Publishing Just a reminder that changes in memory can signal many health issues.
Has Listening Become a Lost Art? | Literary Hub (lithub.com) Listening is definitely an art. Where are your listening skills and how can you improve them?
I hope you enjoyed reading! Have a great weekend!
OT Research Corner 