Blog Post Challenge 1: Universal Design

As time and technology continue to advance, people with and without disabilities are living longer, making universal design increasingly important. Universal design involves making products and environments accessible for all people. The theory is intriguing to me because so many people can be involved from design, construction, advocacy, etc. Occupational therapists even have a role with universal design in helping to make a client’s physical environment accessible for their occupations to be carried out.

Over the past year, my grandfather’s health has been decreasing. He was always the type to be on the go. He woke up early and hit the roads. He is now between a walker and a wheel chair having a difficult time moving around his home. I hope to one day, as an occupational therapist, be able to help make adjustments and designs for environments for my clients who are like my grandfather.

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Blog Post Challenge 9: Cultural Competence

Today in class, we talked about cultural competence, what it is, and why it’s important. What I took away from the lecture the most was how to gain cultural competence. I grew up in a small town in East Tennessee, and moving across the state to Memphis is even a huge change for me. I think it’s important in my journey through OT school and future career to have cultural competence, because I will be in contact with a wide variety of people. Some key things we discussed in class include self-reflection, exposure, and interdisciplinary or inter-professional relationships. Self-reflection is huge in revealing to yourself what you know and think about different cultures and molding those thoughts if necessary. Like I said earlier, I grew up in a small town, and although traveling some, I haven’t had many opportunities to expose myself to other cultures. Contact with other students and professors in the OT program and other programs is a good step as well in gaining ...

OT 640 Debrief

Blog Post Challenge 5: Clinical Reasoning

“Clinical reasoning enables practitioners to • Identify the multiple demands, required skills, and potential meanings of the activities and occupations and   • Gain a deeper understanding of the interrelationships between aspects of the domain that affect performance and that support client-centered interventions and outcomes.” – OTPF An integral part of the OT process is using clinical reasoning. As discussed in class, acquiring the skill can take time as an OT. It is something for us, as students, to remember as we travel through the program. We have opportunities through fieldwork and RKS to not only watch experienced practitioners use clinical reasoning, but to practice and mold our own clinical reasoning.

Whitney OT425

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