OT stories from around the web

Each day we review the latest Google news alerts to present a selection of links to online articles from around the world featuring occupational therapists and those who are benefiting from occupational therapy

Clinic helps vision impaired take a swing at golf
22 July 2010, Columbia Missourian
The MU School of Health Professions Department of Occupational Therapy hosted an adapted golf clinic on Wednesday at Perche Creek Golf Club. The clinic, put on by students of the occupational therapy program, introduced the game of golf to eight people with low vision or blindness...

Carol helps rebuild so many shattered lives
20 July 2010, The Bolton News
'Working with people with brain injury becomes a drug — it’s fantastically complex and difficult. I found something that excited me. The variety is addictive...'

They just can't stand it
19 July 2010, Charlotte Observer
Sensory research is still young; prominent California occupational therapist and psychologist A. Jean Ayres began studying sensory integration problems only in the 1960s...

New Aldie rehab hospital gets patients back on their feet
14 July 2010, Loudon Times
One of the main features of occupational therapy is the ADL unit, which stands for activity of daily living. This room is a simulated household with a bed, kitchenette, laundry facilities and an adjoining bathroom...

Don't let time run away with your fitness
29 June 2010, The Irish Times
“We have clients who find the thought of exercise feels like climbing Mount Everest,” says Peter Connolly, occupational therapist at St John of God hospital in Stillorgan, Co Dublin...

Planting hope
21 June 2010, Jerusalem Post
“Ziva is amazing, she held my hand throughout this whole process,” says one mother, whose special needs son received occupational therapy at Merkaz Rakefet several years ago...

‘Boot camp’ gets kids ready for kindergarten
14 June 2010, Timesleader.com
So, Dessoye, who received her doctorate in occupational therapy from Misericordia University in May, established Kindergarten Readiness Program...

Abergavenny amputee scales Sugar Loaf
Gwent news, 7 June 2010
During his six weeks at Abergavenny’s Nevill Hall in October 2008 after the accident, he had a conversation with his occupational therapist. He was told he could climb the Sugar Loaf within two years, so Mr Foord, who now has a prosthetic leg, set himself the challenge to take on the 2km trek up the peak, which stands at 1,955 feet...

Airport buzzing with World Cup arrivals
5 June 2010, FIFA.com
Over the next few weeks Africa’s first FIFA World Cup will be the catalyst to unite the world. It’s a symbol of hope and new beginnings for all of us,” said Junior Medrano, a newly-qualified occupational therapist.

Turning pain to gain
Boston Globe, 3 May 2010
'Sarah Doherty lost a leg at 13 and is now an occupational therapist who designed a shock-absorbent crutch for a...'

Welwyn Garden City hospital patients ready to cook in new kitchen
Welwyn Hatfield Times 24, 1 May 2010
'Head occupational therapist Alison Wilcox said: “This is a fantastic facility and we're all extremely grateful to the League of Friends for making it...

''Me? Prime Minister? Are you having a laugh?' Jamie Oliver lightens up
Mail Online, 25 April 2010
'If you speak to any doctor who's out there fixing people now, the obesity strategy doesn't work. It doesn't stop people getting unhealthy and big, and when they get to hospital the doctors just fix them for whatever they happen to have problems with that day, then they send them home. There's no home service, no occupational therapist saying, "This is happening because you don't know how to cook this, or do that...'

Awakening the senses: bringing problem children back into the mainstream
The National, 24 April 2010
The concept of sensory integration dysfunction was first mooted by Anna Jean Ayres, an American occupational therapist and developmental psychologist...

Haiti now - what's it like?
San Francisco Chronicle, 24 April 2010
Cheryl is an occupational therapist who was a part of my Haiti team when we went in February. She was so moved by what she saw that she came back to the States, immediately organized her own team (this time of all volunteer occupational/physical therapists), and headed right back for another week this month. So for anyone wondering what's up now, how Haiti looks to an unbiased source, what has happened to all those people who got amputations, and if there's been any change from the aid sent - here's what the situation's like, as of now, amid the devastation of Haiti...

BurnleyCitizen.co.uk, 22 April 2010
An exhibition sharing stories and memories of Burnley Football Club and its supporters is to go ahead following a £49,000 grant from the lottery...Iain Broadley, an occupational therapist from Lancashire Care NHS Trust, is the Clarets fan who came up with the idea...

First birthday for dementia service
This is Nottingham.co.uk, 22 April 2010
A pioneering service for young dementia sufferers...is the first in the country to be run by an occupational therapist and serves both the city and county...

The importance of occupational therapy
Galveston County Daily News, 21 April 2010
Occupational therapy is based on the belief that purposeful activity (occupation) prevents or mediates dysfunction of physical or psychological origin...

Praise from a princess
Portsmouth News, 20 April 2010
'The princess...said that something special had been created and that there had been a shift in attitude regarding the importance of occupational therapy...'

A New Normal
UC Daily News, 10 April 2010
When Toby turned two, we started him at a therapy school for speech delay. There was an occupational therapist on staff and she was the first to diagnose...

Shock therapy could help people dealing with neurological trauma
WMBFNews.com, 8 April 2010
"We're going to stimulate the muscles that control the extention or the opening of your fingers and also the bend or the flection of your fingers," occupational therapist Heidi Thomas said...

For the Battle-Scarred, Comfort at Leash's End
New York Times, 4 April 2010
Sara Meisinger, the chief of occupational therapy at the warrior transition unit at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, said a service dog should be used only...

Two new OT student blogs to keep an eye on
blogspot.com, 21 March 2010
This page on blogspot.com links to a wide range of OT blogs.

Money for Min children's study
Bath Chronicle, 5 March 2010
Meanwhile, an occupational therapist from The Min has won a national prize for her work with people with common pain syndrome. Sandi Derham has been awarded...

Watch how you hold that crayon
New York Times, 24 February 2010
Like many parents, Ms. Lascano decided it was time for help, so 10 months ago she hired Casey Halper, a pediatric occupational therapist, to work first with James, and then with Noah, once a week...

Adaptations can change people's lives
Northern Ireland Housing Executive, 18 February 2010
In many other cases, we can provide major adaptations such as level deck showers, ground floor WCs, lifts and ground floor bedrooms and a change of heating system, if the work is recommended by an occupational therapist...

In search of a break
The Standard, 9 February 2010
An occupational therapy assessment indicates that Ka Chung has sensory integration dysfunction...

Princess Royal delights people across Norfolk
Norfolk Eastern Daily Press, 21 January 2010
Princess Anne then travelled to Wymondham, where she toured the Robert Kett Court complex at Ethel Gooch Road to see how occupational therapy is helping to...

Occupational Therapy Homework
Zikkir, 13 January 2010
For a child receiving occupational therapy services, homework involves more than just sitting down and focusing. Your child may have trouble holding his pencil, writing letters with appropriate size and formation, or difficulty copying notes from his textbook...

Child's game to help brain health
BBC News UK, 11 January 2010
Occupational therapists Fiona McLean and Barbara Manson are seeking 15 volunteers to...

Breakfast Club helps patients transition home
Maryville Daily Times, 11 January 2010
To assist in this opportunity to restore their health, TCC occupational therapy assistant Diana Tallent has been working with Smith, Patterson and...

Health: best treatments - Parkinson's disease and occupational therapy
Guardian.co.uk, 9 January 2010
An occupational therapist will help you adapt to the changes in your life caused by Parkinson's. The goal is to allow you to carry on with activities that are important to you...

Dance hailed as treatment for dementia
The Scotsman, 6 January 2010
NHS Lothian occupational therapist Sarah Whyte said: "Both the staff and patients found the...

Home Instead senior care's New Year Resolutions for seniors
Waterford Today, 6 January 2010
A home visit by an occupational therapist will help identify risk factors and tell you what to do to make...

Profile: Donna Koolmees, occupational therapist
Commonwealth Secretariat, 4 January 2010
But as an occupational therapist, Ms Koolmees knew differently. She used an adapted keyboard and positioned the teenager, a wheelchair user, in a way that enabled him to type...

'My reattached arm feels part of me again'
BBC News, 3 January 2010
Fiona Clilverd, specialist occupational therapist at the hospital, agreed that the speed of his recovery was a testament to his hard work...

'I'm finally myself again'
The Irish Times, 29 December 2009
We worked on finding the right medications for me, I attended occupational therapy daily and I pieced myself back together...

Cookery lessons aid recovery from eating disorders
Nursing Times, 18 December 2009
The service's head of occupational therapy Laura Lock said: Patients are involved in menu planning, shopping...

County awards for North Devon workers with young people
North Devon Gazette & Advertiser, 15 December 2009
Sharon Clemence, Head of Occupational Therapy at the Barnstaple Child Development Centre, won the Achieving Excellence trophy...

Cumbria council bids to ditch therapy red tape for disabled and elderly
News and Star, 15 December 2009
The council wants to make the occupational therapy system more accessible to the general public...

Kaelyn's dream is to learn how to walk
Unison.ie, 9 December 2009
...has come on in leaps and bounds, thanks to physiotherapy and occupational therapy at the Central Remedial Clinic (CRC) in Clontarf in Dublin...

Hope is on the horizon for mental health
guardian.co.uk, 9 December 2009
People in the mental health sector were delighted when told that one of the three priorities would be mental health, alongside cardiovascular disease and...

ECU lecturer honoured during national Occupational Therapy week
Edith Cowan University, Australia, 8 December 2009
Associate Professor Jeannine Millsteed has been recognised by Occupational Therapy Australia (WA) with the 2009 Pioneer Award...

Hospital worker memorial rededicated
Great Yarmouth Mercury, 7 December 2009,
A ceremony has been held to mark the re-siting of a memorial plaque to a former head occupational therapist at Northgate Hospital...

Pooch platoon gives traumatised troops new life
The Sunday Times, 6 December 2009
“We’re using dogs a lot for patients with invisible wounds too,” said Lieutenant Colonel Matthew St Laurent, assistant director for occupational therapy... life

Norwich woman's award-winning Olympic garden design
Norwich Evening News, 1 December 2009
... the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Olympic Park Great British Garden Competition... inspired by her work as an occupational therapist...

Scotland appoints an older people's champion to work with care homes
Caring Times, December 2009
Mrs Macintosh was chosen for the role after an extensive 26-year career as an occupational therapist in both NHS and Local Authority sectors as well as her work within Allied Health Professionals and as chair of the Scottish OT Managers Forum...

'Proper communication can help children with cerebral palsy'
Times of India, 23 November 2009
Explaining the main criterion to determine children with cerebral palsy, Dr Shashidhar Rao, associate professor in occupational therapy, Manipal University...

Kudos For Top Knowledge Transfer Partnerships
University of Ulster Online
Clare, an experienced occupational therapist who gained a Masters in Clinical Research while working as a student Associate on the project, now works for...

Claddagh School launches fundraising CD
Galway Advertiser
The aim is to raise much-needed funds for speech and language therapy (SLT) and occupational therapy (OT) for the children in the school...

Using a DVD to help people with chronic fatigue syndrome learn the technique
Nursing Times
Occupational therapists in the team use the booklet/DVD in several ways. It is given to clients at the end of CFS/ME courses and is played within some...

Occupational Therapists Need More Training In Sight Loss, Says New Study
Medical News Today
The research has been welcomed by the College of Occupational Therapists. "This important research shows that occupational therapists need more than a...

'Fit notes' for back pain concern
BBC News
Carolyn Coole, study leader and research occupational therapist, said the results showed GPs did not "readily engage" with getting back pain sufferers to...

Role of occupational therapy highlighted at Dow seminar
The News International
Dr Soomro said that occupational therapists assisted in daily living activities at home like feeding, grooming, bathing, toilet, in return for work and...