The Exciting Process of an Activity Analysis

This past week in our Foundations of Occupation Centered Practice course we got the chance of completing our first activity analysis, and then sharing those with some of our classmates. Honestly when I first began this assignment, I was overwhelmed and worried about the extensiveness that it appeared to be. However once I got more into the assignment, I really started understanding the importance and relevance this assignment had to practicing occupational therapy. Sure we can listen all day in class and hear how important something may pertain to us but in reality it isn't until we actually put it into practice that it truly clicks or at least for me that is how it is. So I really did enjoy this assignment and learning about all the little details and requirements even the simplest of activities requires. The assignment really opened my eyes to see the details and my mind to think more about the components of all activities of daily living. Another big plus in this assignment was getting to share with a few people in our class. This was a wonderful experience just to see what others chose as their activity and having them share their views on the activity while we participated in whatever they may have chosen as their topic. Overall, I had so much fun doing this and a part of me wishes we could do it more often!

"The sky can't be the limit when there are footprints on the moon."

Today in one of our occupational therapy classes, we had a guest speaker named Fletcher Cleaves. Fletcher Cleaves is a Memphis native who has suffered from a spinal cord injury resulting in paralysis from the chest down classifying him as a quadraplegic. Fletcher had so much going for him as a young and successful athlete. He had been working years to get to where he was and in just a moment, it was all lost. As Fletcher was giving his story on how he overcame his situation, I was so honored to be in the presence of someone so amazing. He took a tragedy and turned it into a testimony, and I think he is absolutely incredible. One point Fletcher pointed out was just how crucial his rehabilitation team was while he was on the road to recovery. He made sure to tell us as future occupational therapists to always encourage our clients. He pointed out how important it is to be positive and to believe in someone because that definitely helps during recovery. "Be realistic but also be encouraging" is a statement he told us as a class. I found his perspective on the importance of occupational therapists after experiencing such a traumatic experience a very helpful one as I continue my education and eventually practice on my own one day. Remembering to never give up on someone will make a huge difference and who knows what all they can accomplish despite the odds being against them.

A Take-away From the Chucky Mullins Case Study Report- OT 537

Chucky Mullins was a 20 year old young man who suffered from a spinal cord injury in October 1988 as a result of a football incident. Our classmate, Annese, did a wonderful job at presenting us the information about Chucky and his situation. Some important ideas and thoughts I took away from this presentation include different treatment ideas for Chucky. We also discussed different ways we could modify his environment to help him get back into his life as a college student. Chucky's main goal after this injury was to earn a college degree, and he also wished to maintain a constant interaction with his peers/friends. There were different techniques discussed and even the possibility of utilizing devices to encourage his success in school and relationships.

Overall, I learned more about how a spinal cord injury can truly change someone's life completely in an instant. I learned how critical it was as an occupational therapist to focus on helping Chucky regain his independence and live life to the fullest since he was only 20 years old at the time of the injury. I found the presentation very informative and helpful in encouraging us as individuals to think creatively and then merging our ideas together as a group to form even greater ideas for effective ways to get Chucky where he wants to be in life.

Neuro Note #1: OT 537

For my first neuro note, I was not exactly sure what topic I wanted to cover. The brain and all it's functions absolutely amaze me. I am very intrigued by the anatomy and physiology of the nervous system as a whole, and even more interested to learn about the different neurological conditions that can occur within this system. As I was looking at different options, I noticed a TED Talk with the title "Parkinsons, depression and the switch that might turn them off" by Andres Lozano.

In this TED talk, Andres discusses the extent of different neurological conditions that affect motor control, movement, and cognition within the brain. Andres then offers an interesting solution to these various neurological conditions called deep brain stimulation as a form of treatment for the individual. With deep brain stimulation, there are electrodes placed to the affected areas of the brain and by use of a remote that conducts electrical stimuli through these electrodes a signal is sent helping to control these areas and improve function for the individual. Lozano proceeded to provide examples of how this form of treatment has been effective for people who suffered from Parkinson's, dystonia, depression, and even Alzheimer's.  He demonstrated videos of being able to maintain motor control and reduce the tremors seen in Parkinson's by using deep brain stimulation. He showed how a child with dystonia who was not even able to walk at age nine learned to walk 3 months post op to the deep brain stimulation surgery. He also showed how those who suffer from depression and do not see results from any other treatments offered today had a significant change in their mood function reducing the amount of sadness they experience. Lastly, he provided the example of improving memory by stimulating the fornix area of the brain for people who suffer from Alzheimer's and dementia.

Overall, I am glad that I selected this TED Talk to watch because I actually did learn a great deal about a treatment option I knew nothing about previously. As far as how an occupational therapist would contribute to this treatment, I imagine that we would play a critical role in the rehabilitation process after surgery and helping to either form or rebuild some occupations for these individuals who have been impacted by a neurological condition.



Lozano, Andres. (2013, January). Parkinson's, depression and the switch that might turn them off [TED Talk]. Retrieved from https://www.ted.com/talks/andres_lozano_parkinson_s_depression_and_the_switch_that_might_turn_them_off#t-490590

Professional Development Paves the Way!

In today's lecture we discussed professional development and the importance of working toward a strong professional reputation as an occupational therapy student and practitioner. One key thing to note is that learning does not simply end once you graduate the program and pass the NBCOT exam. Professional development is a continuum and carries well into your years as practicing as an occupational therapist. There are several ways to grow in a professional manner. One very vital piece of professional development is completed by keeping a professional developmental portfolio up to date. This is a wonderful way for the practitioner to showcase important achievements or accomplishments in the OT field. Professional development opens the door for many more opportunities for the occupational therapist and increases the learning experience ensuring that the OT will provide the best care to his or her clients. 

The Relevance of Clinical Reasoning

Clinical reasoning as learned today in class is a vital component to the practice of occupational therapy and becoming an effective occupational therapy practitioner. As we discussed clinical reasoning, I realized just how crucial it was when it applies to how I think and treat my future clients. I also realized that clinical reasoning is not something that I simply need to use at the beginning or end, but through the entire OT process for each individual client I may treat. Clinical reasoning is also complex in nature in that it has 3 different elements which are scientific, ethical, and artistic. Of course all three of these elements work together to ensure a meaningful and beneficial experience for the client when it comes to therapy. I believe that clinical reasoning is not something that is simply learned from a book or class, but is effectively developed in an individual through practice and observation in an occupational therapy setting.

The OT Process

As I continue learning about the occupational therapy profession, I am starting to see the significance in the OT Process. The three steps of evaluation, intervention, and outcomes are all essential components in ensuring providing the best and most effective treatment for our clients. Something that I find very interesting and very important to note is that this process isn't just necessarily cycled through one time for a client. This all varies depending on the goals set by the client and therapist and whether or not there are single or multiple steps to reaching an overall goal. Therefore, at the end of the OT process, the client may either be discharged or could even start a new step and go back to the intervention process with a new intervention implementation for a new goal.

Learning about Acquired Brain Injuries in OT 537

In today's lecture, we learned much more about the different acquired brain injuries and which fall under traumatic brain injury and which are classified as non traumatic brain injuries. I definitely enjoyed today's class and found every aspect interesting. I enjoyed learning about the different statistics and facts about all the different types of brain injuries. However, the biggest point that stood out to me today was learning about Wernicke's area and Broca's area. We discussed the types of aphasia that occurred with both these areas. I am fascinated by how these affect people and how each individual handles the stress of these different types of aphasia. I am definitely interested in seeing how occupational therapists play a role in treating clients who may suffer from either of these aphasia types. I understand that speech pathologists may hold a major role in therapy, but I also know that occupational therapists are critical in the therapeutic process for these individuals. I'm also curious to know if there are major differences in the therapy process for Wernicke's aphasia versus Broca's aphasia and what these differences may be. Overall, I thoroughly enjoy learning about these brain injuries and learning about what parts of the brain correlate with parts of the body. It is interesting to see how a person's occupations and activities of daily living can be significantly impacted by different brain injuries.

Daily Challenge #1 for OT 537

After watching the Ted Talk given by Aimee Mullins, I learned a great deal about how much influence we as clinicians have on our clients. She mentioned that her therapist saw her as a strong, independent little girl when she was only five and that she carried that attitude into her adulthood. She also mentioned how we as adults who have power can ignite a fire in a child. I felt this was very relevant to my future career as an occupational therapist. Providing my clients with a positive attitude and viewing them as whole and strong can definitely give my client the motivation to not only succeed in the therapy sessions and treatment but also during the rest of his or her life. She pointed out how one person had a lifelong affect on how she viewed herself which was complete and capable. I would love to be that person for others in the future and to have that big of a positive impact on someone else's life.