Theories give OT practitioners a way of knowing why they are using a specific intervention. What I admire about the occupational therapy profession is how clients are always viewed in a holistic way, looking at their individual environment, occupational performance, and personal interests. One model I particularly like is the Kawa Model. The Kawa Model gives the occupational therapist a more concrete way of looking at each individual's life, and the factors that play a role in it. Therapists need to be able to explain why they are doing a certain treatment so that the clients can also have a clear understanding of the intervention. The Kawa Model looks more at the cultural context, making it useful for any client. It makes clear occupational therapy's overall purpose, ways of understanding a client's circumstances, and explaining why a particular intervention will be helpful within their personal context. This model compares life to being a river, flowing through time and space, while being affected by factors such as barriers, relationships, and personal characteristics. I think this is a great way of clarifying how OT works. The implementation of OT theory is vital in carrying out a valid intervention that will hopefully provide a more meaningful, independent life for every client.
Pat Summitt is well-known for being an exceptional basketball coach for the Lady Vols at the University of Tennessee Knoxville, as well as being a coach for the women's USA olympic team. In 2010, Pat began showing subtle signs of dementia, but she ignored the signs for another year. In 2011, she was diagnosed at age 59 with early-onset dementia. She went to Mayo Clinic when she began experiencing symptoms including showing up to a game while leaving her car running and calling the wrong terms during the game. She also reported signs such as feeling disoriented when waking up in the morning. She reported that numbers were especially difficult to understand and deal with at this point. After her diagnosis, Pat was determined to continue coaching at UTK; however, after about a year she was encouraged to retire from her position as head coach. She then started the Pat Summitt Foundation to raise money and awareness for research about early-onset dementia. During the middle stages of de...
"The implementation of OT theory is vital in carrying out a valid intervention that will hopefully provide a more meaningful, independent life for every client. " YES!! Very well articulated, Camille.
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