May appears to be the month for many observances. May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, Mental Health Awareness Month, National Stroke Awareness Month, contains Teachers’ Appreciation Week, and so much more. In addition to observances, there are also celebrations with Mother’s Day being celebrated this Sunday. I hope everyone is able to take part in some of the many observances this month, in addition to celebrating Mother’s Day in a way that is special to you and your family.
Here are some of the stories that helped my week end on a positive note:
Occupational Therapy
30 Under 30: Elizabeth Sherman, Heart of Gold, Pittsburgh Therapy Project LLC – Pittsburgh Business Times (bizjournals.com) Elizabeth Sherman is an occupational therapist who works with children and families as well as adults with disabilities and autism. Read her story of how she uses Heart of Gold to help others.
Occupational Therapy is discussed on Viewpoint, with host Dennis Quaid | News | wfmz.com This is interesting. Dennis Quaid is looking for stories of occupational therapy practitioners in education.
Lawmakers support bill to recognize occupational therapy licenses of other states – Carolina Journal – Carolina Journal Another state joins the Occupational Therapy Licensure Compact. North Carolina joins Virginia, Maryland, and Ohio.
Occupational Therapist Viewpoint: Supporting Home Learning Through Movement – Autism Parenting Magazine Movement has been found to be beneficial to learning, occupational therapists provide a program to support learning using movement.
Research
Making occupational therapy research visible: amplifying and elevating the contribution and impacts – Natalie Louise Jones, Jo Cooke, Judith Holliday, 2021 (sagepub.com) The six domains of impacts include health benefits of participants, service and workforce changes, research profile and capacity, economic benefit, organizational influence, knowledge production and exchange.
Psychosocial needs of stroke survivors by Robin A. Wenzel, Emily A. Zgoda et al. (wmich.edu) Five themes emerged. People with strokes: (a) experience an array of emotions, (b) are not likely to initiate disclosure of their state of mental health, (c) feel their psychosocial needs are not being addressed by health care professionals, (d) grieve the loss of prior roles post stroke and work hard to establish a new normal routine and purpose in life, and (e) have suggestions for improved care.
Impacting OTA student knowledge about OBP by Allen S. Keener, Cynthia L. Hayden et al. (wmich.edu) This study addresses a gap in the OTA education literature by showing evidence that use of the learning module increased OTA student knowledge of occupation, OBP, and the ability to select occupation-based interventions. This module was an efficient and effective method of meeting accreditation standards related to OTA education.
Factors predicting clinically significant functional gain and discharge to home in stroke in-patients after rehabilitation – A retrospective cohort study – Tony Kwun-Tak Li, Bobby Hin-Po Ng, Dora Yuk-Lin Chan, Ruthy Suet-Fan Chung, Kim-Kam Yu, 2020 (sagepub.com) Based on multivariate regression, the significant predictors for “clinically significant functional gain” were: younger age <75 years old, higher Glasgow Coma Scale score at admission, with hemorrhagic stroke, intermediate FIM-MM function group. Those significant predictors for “discharge to home” were: living with family/caregivers before stroke, higher FIM score at admission, and one or more level(s) of improvement in FIM-MM function group.
Potpourri
Youth Mental Health | PBS LearningMedia Is there a more difficult age that those adolescent and teenage years. Superimpose COVID on that age group and the mental health needs skyrocket. These video resources can help with meeting the mental health needs of students at school and at home.
The Best Car-Camping Gear for Wheelchair Users | Reviews by Wirecutter (nytimes.com) Amazing resource to allow individuals who use a wheelchair to engage in camping activities.
Easy ways to improve your balance – Harvard Health There is a misconception that improving balance involves intense moves and exercises. Simple, low impact, exercises can positively affect balance.
How One Graphic Novel Looks at Anti-Asian Hate – The New York Times (nytimes.com) This is an interesting read!
10 New Books We Recommend This Week – The New York Times (nytimes.com) The Invention of Miracles has my interest.
OT Research Corner 