The Emergence and Development of Occupational Therapy
Discuss about the Values And Philosophy Of The Occupational Therapy.
Occupational therapy refers to the profession which enables people to do what they need to do through the therapeutic use of the meaningful daily activities. Here, the term occupation refers to the daily activities that people undertake as individuals or as a community to make use of time and bring some meaning to life. In the interdisciplinary school setting, the implementation of these laws was meant to improve service provision to the school children with disabilities (Jessica & Pranee, 2011). The development of occupational therapy is woven into the fabric of human existence and has promoted our survival since times in memorial, hence it is not a new profession. It is obvious that when the health status of a person is not in normal conditions, the ability to perform an occupation or the daily activities becomes challenged.
Occupational therapy started to emerge in 1700’s during the age of enlightenment when the ideas of revolution were sprouting concerning the mentally ill people. During those times, the mentally ill people were regarded as a disgrace to the society, mistreated, and locked up. A scholar known as Phillipe Pinel and an English Quaker known as William Tuke started to challenge the beliefs of the society against the mentally ill, hence stirring up a new understanding of the same and possible treatment (Drolet, 2014). Phillipe began an approach called “Moral Treatment and Occupation” in 1793 meant to treat mental illnesses. He believed that this would mean treating and healing the emotions of the mentally ill, hence promoting meaningful daily activities. This included music, physical exercises, and work as a means to cue emotional stress hence improving the ability to perform their duties (Mroz et al, 2015). William Tuke too advocated against the beliefs about the mentally ill by developing principles of treating such people with care and consideration just as the other people. He promoted occupations and activities which would reduce the signs of the patient’s mental illness. He initiated a retreat center in England where patients would engage in various activities according to their level of interests and ability. During 1840-1860 the treatment of mental illness was highly promoted in the American hospitals whereby the benefits of arts and crafts were noticed as one can feel relaxed at the same time be productive. During 1980’s and 1990’s the occupational therapy majorly concentrated on improving the value of life of the patient hence involving education, screenings, prevention, health maintenance, and independence. Nowadays, occupation is much focused as a major profession while it is ever-evolving and dynamic.
The Significance of Occupational Therapy in Special Schools
Various occupational therapists work in different settings with different disabilities and age groups. Thus, occupational therapy is dependent on the social environment that values the individuals and beliefs that everyone has their unique capability of acting on their own to achieve a better health condition through occupation. One of the principles of the occupational therapy is that the engaging in physical activities promote the well-being of a person and their ability to perform duties (Ashby et al, 2016). This leads to promoting sporting activities in the special school programs where children can exercise their potential talents in the field, hence stretching out their body muscles. The World Federation of Occupational Therapists stresses that people have the right to engage in a variety of activities which enables them to exploit their potential, flourish and experience satisfaction compatible with their culture and beliefs. It also promotes the provision of light work to the patients under medical supervision using handicraft which is not meant to make the patients craftsmen but rather promoting their mental and physical fitness. Occupational therapy thus focuses on directing the patient’s involvement in selected activities to reinforce performance and facilitate the enhancement of skills and functions required for adaptation and productivity.
Special schools normally accommodate the children with special abilities who require occupational therapy to advance their ability to carry on responsibilities. Occupational therapists work with the children to help them develop their functional skills and knowledge in their daily lives in areas of play, self-care, life skills, and school work. Special needs in such children may include learning difficulties, communication disorders, physical challenges, sensory needs, emotional and mental health problems. Such schools have special tools for enhancing the children’s fitness. The tools for enablement are of various types including toys to maintain the quest for the children to learn as using the same old tools can get the children bored and lose interest in learning. Such include the Therapy Putty which is used to enhance the strength of the fingers and hands. The tool is specifically designed to use by hand therapists as it is non-toxic, unscented, and latex-free. It provides a playful way for the kids to work on coordination, creativity, and sensory skills.
The children with sensory integration disorders find it difficult to interpret sensory information or respond to sensory stimuli. This may involve difficulties in touching, tasting, seeing and sound effects. This affects the participation in academic performance and participation in daily activities. Such tools include colour changing light balls
Tools Used by Occupational Therapists
Some children find it difficult sitting down and concentrate on a particular activity may be because of some problems with their joints. Therapy ball chairs have little feet which prevent them from rolling away when not in use, which might hit the children. Using therapy ball chairs provides stability to the child especially if the child is wiggly (McCracken & Vowles, 2014). It provides some sensory input to the child through their joints resulting to a better focus and attention. The schools have got to have a variety of seating options to accommodate the different sitting problems of the children. ‘Wiggle’ cushions can be placed on the therapy ball chairs to promote flexibility of the sitting position and provide sensory input (Bass et al, 2017). These provides changing positions when the child is in class hence promotion their concentration and focus when the lessons are ongoing. The shape and flexibility of the chairs also have the benefit of improving the posture of the children as they sit straighter hence strengthening their back muscles. They help the children get their wiggles out by encouraging rocking movements while maintaining their positions on the seats.
This is a small tool which fits on the pencil a child uses to write. Handwriting is a skill necessary for any student although it may be difficult for some children. This requires the teachers to make use of handwriting tools such as writing rascal which have a funny face with various color options which improve the learning motivation of the child. The tool has a unique tail which separates the two sides of the hand hence promoting a functional tripod pencil grasp and a custom-fit for each child’s hand. A child enjoys engaging with a variety of colors and this can impact their curiosity to learn. A writing rascal has various colors which play a significant role in the child’s motivation and the zeal to participate and concentrate in class. It helps to promote a tripod grasp used in writing by pulling the pencil in the right position hence making it easier for the children. This makes the learning sessions more fun and fruitful.
Professional identity in this context refers to a group interaction in the occupational therapy and relates to how individuals differentiate themselves from their fellow professional groups. It involves featuring the enhancement of talents and values in the profession. Over the years, occupational therapy has been faced with weak professional identity. However, in the recent years, it has gained a sense of professional identity whereby the mentally ill people are regarded with respect and care just as the other type of patients unlike in the ancient times where they were disregarded and viewed as an abuse to the society. Therapists strive to harmonize with the clients and understanding the nature of their disability so as to determine the ways to treat and relate with them (Clarke et al, 2016). Therapists normally assume the role of the coordinator in an interdisciplinary team for the disabled clients by understanding them. By perceiving the clients as human beings and not simply patients enables them to contribute into their wellbeing y empowering them to attain sovereignty of their lives. Occupational therapists view people as occupational beings who are naturally creative and active hence need to keep on engaging in a variety of activities to maintain their well-being. Occupational therapy has been objected by various theologians as full profession (Bushby et al, 2015). However, the field has gained some professional identity in various fields such as teaching, medical doctors,
Principles of Occupational Therapy
The profession of occupational therapy clearly demonstrates how it observes the identity of people it works with. The people are known by names such as patients and clients. The profession is entrenched in the values which define individuals as occupational beings. Such beliefs claim that the occupational therapists should consider that people experience it in diverse manner and prescribe the meaning of places, events, objects, and people depending on various things such as the habits and roles of people (Makely et al, 2017). As occupational therapy works with people of various disabilities and illnesses, it believes that people are also defined by the type of work they do. The patients are also obligated with the duty to value their lives and roles which help to define themselves. For instance, such roles may include diagnostic labels which may be used as the patient’s identity with some cultural understanding such that other people are aware of what to expect from a schizophrenic person. Understanding oneself is regarded as a life skill which is ever evolving since it lacks an ending point. For instance, today a person may be healthy and looking good and the next time he or she is faced with a certain sickness which may change their thinking capacity and remain in that state for quite long. The government involvement in acknowledging the rights of the mentally ill people in the society has also given a hand in the professional identity for the occupational therapy. Such include the changes in education system which considers such people. Its measures also to monitor the competence of the occupational therapists and other health professionals has helped to increase the effectiveness in providing the relevant services.
Conclusion
In conclusion, occupational therapy as a profession has undergone various transformations over the years since its emergence in the 1700’s in a quest to make it better. The study has revealed that the mentally ill people faced discrimination in the past, and this made their condition to worsen for they felt unwanted. However, Phillipe Pinel and William Tuke came in to introduce the measures to accommodate such people by caring for them and treating them to improve their conditions. In the modern world, the patients are regarded as human beings and are provided with tools which would help them to improve their wellness. The occupational therapy profession is identified by regarding the clients not just as patients but as crucial human beings. The government also supports the implementation of measures to value the mentally ill as people who can become better when given a chance to exercise their rights.
References
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Drolet, M. J. (2014). The axiological ontology of occupational therapy: A philosophical
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Makely, S., Austin, V. J., & Kester, Q. (2017). Professionalism in health care: A primer for
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Mroz, T. M., Pitonyak, J. S., Fogelberg, D., & Leland, N. E. (2015). Client centeredness and
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Evolution of occupational therapy, values, philosophies, and models.
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