Thursday 17 May 2012

Linking to other blogs:

For this week we have been asked to link up with 5 other blogs that are related with OT practice,  the blogs I have decided to follow are as follows:

The blogs that I am following:

http://shearbc1-po1.blogspot.co.nz/

http://wiihabtherapy.blogspot.co.nz/

http://www.traceohna.blogspot.co.nz/

http://www.onlinetherapyinstituteblog.com/

http://community.advanceweb.com/blogs/ot_1/default.aspx


We were also asked to give proof of communication with other blogs so here you are:

Hey Amy
I was just wondering what placement you were on? was the one your talking about from fieldwork one or two ? It was really interesting looking at the videos your've listed, i hadn't thought about some of the ways those games can be applied to therapy goals.
Reply
Hi Beth
I was working in a rest home for my second placement although games were used in my first placement too but not as much.
Reply
Hey Beth
Just wondering were you on a physical or mental health pediatric placement??
ReplyDelete
Replies
  1. Hey Amy

    My first placement was in child development in a pediatrics setting. It was really interesting becaue i got to see so many different conditions and treatments in such a short persiod of time and all the clients we saw had different conditions. I can see how you would get confused though, my secound placememt was in a community mental health day programme.

    Have a great night
    beth
Assistive Technology

What is assistive technology?
According to Cook and Hussey, 2000 the definition of assistive technology is as follows, it refers to a broad range of devices, services, strategies and practices that are conceived and applied to ameliorate the problems faced by individuals who have disabilities (Cook and Hussey, 2000). 

So to me I see assistive technology as being any sort of equipment that is able to assist someone in any way and allow them to be able to do things easier than they did before. 

A piece of assistive technology I have decided to look at is the iPad. The iPad is a very versatile tool that allows people to work on their skills and do all sorts really on a small screen. The Ipad is not very big as it is only 241.2mm high, 185.7mm wide and 9.41mm deep. This allows the iPad to be able to be moved around easily and small enough for you to carry around with you. The iPad comes with many features like a camera, video recording tool, can act as a storage device for your files and allows you access to the internet where you are able to download many apps that can assist you in any way. 

Here is a clip on how the ipad is used to assist in rehabilitating children with Cerebral Palsy: 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ItgJ9PsvGQQ&feature=endscreen&NR=1
Here is another video clip on how the ipad can help patients communicate:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQ17u9PyCgw
  

References:

Cook, A. M., & Hussey, S. M. (2000). Assistive technologies: Principles and practice. St Louis: Mosby
The internet and online communities:

In this weeks blog we have been asked to look at online communities that are related to one of our fieldwork experiences. While on my first placement I got to spend a couple of weeks on the head and brain injury wards I found this really interesting as all the patients had such different stories but alot had similarities to other patients so for this posting I have decided to look into online communities for those people that have had brain injuries in their lives at some stage.

The 3 online communities I have chosen to look into are:

Weka disability support: http://www.weka.net.nz/support/by-support-service/rehabilitation-and-healthcare


The Brain trust: http://www.braintrust.org/


The Brian Injury Association New Zealand:  http://www.brain-injury.org.nz/


Weka Disability support is an online community that provides stories and videos of people going through the same thing as many other people out there. It has a chance for people to ask questions about what they are going through or on general topics. It is a very useful site as it provides links to rehabilitation equipment stores and provides details for information centers in both the north and south island. It has service links for the many other services which include:
-Disabilities
-Employment
-Education
-Housing
-Living
-Rehabilitation and health care
-Support
-Traveling
-Needs assessment service coordination 
It also has links to sites that provide help from addiction to Alzheimer's, brain injuries and amputees and many many more.






The Healing Exchange (T.H.E) Brian Trust this global community has been set up as support group for people who have had to deal with brain tumors or injuries in their lives. The service was set up as a place for people to be able to ask questions, make connections and have a discuss topics. The brain trust is not only for the people who have had to go through this but also for their families too. The brain trust also has a link to make donations to there trust if you wish to do so here is the link: https://www.communityroom.net/donate.asp?id=169


The third online community I am going to look at is The Brain Injury Association NZ this association has been set up for those people that have suffered from a brain injury. The website has a list of available courses that are educational to those that have had brain injuries and also their families. They inform people of what their brain injury effects may be and how to prevent them from having another brain injury. the site has information on what the association provides and also how you become involved in the association. If you are interested here is the link for jobs at the association: http://www.brain-injury.org.nz/about_jobs.html
They are also always after donations to keep the association running so if you feel the need here is the link for you to make a donation: http://www.brain-injury.org.nz/donation.html
The association also provides people with a newsletter which you can download from the following link: http://www.brain-injury.org.nz/about_newsletter.html


The following sites I have just talked about all fall into the topic of occupational disruption. All of the online communities above have been formed as a way of supporting those whose lives have become disrupted by their brain injuries. These sites provide a place for people to talk about what they have been through and provide them with support. It is a way of connecting people with others that have gone through the same thing. 
As well as occupational disruption these sites also fall into occupational transition. These sites provide a place for people to tell their stories a place where they can talk about the changes they have had to make to their lives while living with a brain injury. It can also be a place for other people going through the same thing to get ideas on how to cope with the changes that they are going through because of their brain injury. 

Because all these sites are from the internet there is always going to be the ethical considerations to take in like whether the information that is provided on the sites is actually reliable or not. also the copyright issues and things like where the money you are donating is actually going. another issue may be as these sites are for people to comment on and write their opinions this could also mean that some things that get written may be classed as inappropriate to others.   

Tuesday 15 May 2012

5 videos related to playing games

A topic of interest that occurred from my fieldwork experiences was that of playing games. there are so many games and variations of games now that there is at least one game that everyone loves. from the traditional board games to things like the latest wii these can all be used in occupational therapy intervention. 
This first video is showing different games that can be used and it explains how they are helping the patient in their recovery..
This second video is focused on theraputty which is used alot in hand therapy and also patients that are having trouble with their fine grips and need to get hand function/regain strength in the hand..
This third video is focused on the wii and on patients with brain injuries and how it can aid their recovery..
In this fourth video it is not very clear what he is doing when your watching the video but what he is doing is each piece of paper you see has a different word on it and every time the word gets called out he has to roll over it with his rolling pin, this is a fun way for him to work on his upper body strength.. 


This fifth video is again on the wii but it is showing how it can be used to help patients work on balance and coordination..


Playing Games

The occupation i have chosen to look at is gaming. What is a game? A competitive activity involving skill, chance, or endurance on the part of 2 or more persons who play according to a set of rules, usually for their own amusement or for that of spectators. (Dictionary.com, 2012). this occupation was present in both my first and second fieldwork placements but more so in my second. the use of games was done to influence and help people get people interacting with each other. i was involved with he gaming with some clients as they did not have the intellectual ability to play by themselves. some of the clients were becoming quite frustrated as they did not have the abilities to be able to do the required task. On my first placement we used gaming as a way to get the client to regain strength, grips and movement in her arm that had been weakened as a result of a brain injury. on my second placement it was used as a way to get the clients to interact with each other.
  


Do, Be, Become and Belong

Doing, being, becoming and belonging. all of the above terms and there meanings are not always that clear. Especially belonging. To belong do you have to comply to society's 'regulations' and the same with becoming, do you have to follow everyone elses trends etc to become 'cool' or 'acceptable' to society?
What do all these words mean to me..
Doing: the act of doing something physically or mentally undertaking an activity. 
Being:
Becoming: growing up, shaping who you are shaping your personality, changing the way you are to be something you want to be or are choosing to be.
Belonging: Fitting in, having your own personal security.
What do all these words mean according to the dictionary..
Do: to perform (an act, duty, role etc) to execute, to accomplish; finish; complete, to put forth. 
Be: To exist or live, to take place; happen; occur, to occupy a place or postition. to belong, attend; bafall.
Become: To come, change, or grow to be, to come into being.
Belong: To be proper or due; be properly or appropriately placed, situated, to be property of, to be a part or adjunct of.   




Image 1: Two boys playing video games
Image 2: Children playing monopoly
Image 3: Mousetrap game board
Image 4: Children playing soccer
Image 5: People playing table tennis
Image 6: Two brothers playing Guess who
Image 7: Little boy playing Buckaroo
Image 8: Two girls playing cards
Image 9: Boys playing football
Image 10: Pictionary game
Image 11: People playing chess
Image 12: Game of 4 across
Image 13: Chinese checkers board
Image 14: Little boy playing Lego game
Image 15: Noughts and crosses board
Image 16: Snakes and ladders board
Image 17: People playing wii
Image 18: iPhone game
Image 19: Two people playing catch with a ball
Image 20: Two people playing noughts and crosses


Ethical Considerations

When taking photographs of people on our placement or when others were taking photos on placement for the means of advertising or something like a case study it was a must that you have to have the patient/clients consent, in some cases the clients may not have a complete understanding of what is going on so it is your responsibility to make sure you have explained it to them. 
For the photos in my slideshow I made sure all the people in them gave me verbal consent. and all the photos i got off the internet i have referenced them appropriately so it is not mistaken that i took them myself. 

References

Coventry, L., Nixon, M. (2003). Information Technology. Oxford English Minidictionary(Revised 5th ed p262). Oxford University Press.
dictionary.com(2012). Game. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/game

Wednesday 25 April 2012

For this posting we are required to look into information technology/information communications technology and what these mean and our definitions of them. And also the ethical issues that surround it and how technology can be used in Occupational Therapy.


What is information technology?
According to the english mini dictionary information technology is "the study and use of computers, microelectronics, etc for storing and transferring information.
To me when i think of information technology the first thing that springs to my mind is computers, and really all things that can become very complicated very fast and is forever changing.

Here is a youtube clip showing how much technology has changed:

Information technology and technology itself are some of the most common things in today's society its kind of surprising to think that people could survive without them before they came into existence, like a cellphone for example getting hold of people in a matter of minutes even seconds when it use to take a matter of days in some cases it seems like soo long!
Technology itself is so widely in demand people are now using it for most things especially the internet, things like teaching purposes in our case sites like moodle, having easy access to email accounts, and of course researching information. Its also used for things like advertising, social networking, catching up on your favorite tv shows or checking the weather and so much  more. The internet can be used for pretty much anything these days.
When it comes to technology I feel as though I am generally alright doing things technology related. It seems i am always be on the internet wether it be course related work or on facebook, catching up on tv shows or even checking my bank account. My cellphone is also a life saver its so easier to find out where some one is or just keeping in contact with family or friends or taking photos.


Technology and Occupational Therapy
Occupational therapy and technology are becoming quite closely related and it is helping to make a change in someones life. It is forever changing and adapting to make things easier for those who do not have all that we do, like something like a wheelchair, not only is there the basic wheelchair theres now wheelchairs that can be controlled by a slight head movement. Or something like the computer as a easier way to store clients notes or making a record of a patients improvement.
Not only is it the things technology can change but its also about getting people engaged in meaningful occupations a good way to do this through technology is with things like wii and using things like ipads because it keeps people engaged. 

Ethics and Technology
The internet is so easy to access pretty much anyone can do this also means that anyone can post things or pictures of other people that may or not be of their benefit. Things like these are what start big arguments and cause drama but not only is it that but it can set standards for people for example if someone sees photos of heaps of people wearing a certain style of clothing or writing with certain language eg swearing then people may think that that is the norm when really it may not be. The internet is also a common place for cyber bulling. Its things like these that make technology not such a good thing. Lets look at social networking sites, you normally make these for your own personal benefit to keep in contact with friends, have somewhere to express yourself or put photos on for people to see what you have been up to but its not only your friends that can see this its also now a popular place for employers to look to check out their potential new employee. As part of OT it has been drummed into us the importance of security and consent as any photos you take like on a fieldwork placement or when working with the client you must make sure you have informed from consent not only from the clients but also the organisation.


Well thats all for now, catch you next time.

References

Coventry, L., Nixon, M. (2003). Information Technology. Oxford English Minidictionary(Revised 5th ed p262). Oxford University Press.