AOTA Victorious in Medicare Fight  On July 15, Congress voted to override the President's veto and enact legislation that will extend the therapy cap exceptions process through December 2009, avoid cuts to the physician fee schedule, and make other significant improvements to Medicare.

Hi Karen,
I somehow happened upon your blog. Enjoyed reading some of your entries. Its
very interesting to hear of your studies.

I noticed you had a link for some visual perception exercises.

I maintain a simple blog at www.creativespectrum.blogspot.com. I am a mom to
an amazing little boy with Autism and I am also an artist and eventually
thinking of studying Art Therapy. We are also working on a coffee product
called yummycoffee.org (for Autism). Check it out -if you drink coffee!

So I keep this blog on creative ideas for those on the spectrum. I often
include links to other articles and info that I can share for others. I just
like to post anything I think is relevant or interesting to share.

I want to include your info about the visual perception link, and thought
maybe since you are “studying” that you might know of more resources that
you happen across that could be available to parents. And/or if you wanted
to write something – I would be happy to link to your site.

Well thanks again for sharing.
Jacquie Chachitz

—
Jacqueline Chachitz
Yummy Coffee
256 6th Avenue
Brooklyn, New York 11215
347 342 8838

www yummycoffee.org
jax@yummycoffee.org

Www.creativespectrum.blogspot.com
Www.atelierjax.blogspot.com
Www.atelierjax.com

Do you think the definition “FRIKKEN AMAZING” would work?

The 5th edition of Quick Reference Dictionary for Occupational Therapy (SLACK, Inc.) edited by Karen Jacobs and Laela Jacobs is coming!  For this latest edition, I have been asked to develop an appendix to help answer the question, “What is Occupational Therapy?”  Every student and practitioner has been asked this very question countless times.  This appendix provides both professional and practitioner/student definitions of the profession and are designed to serve as a tool for readers to assist those not familiar with occupational therapy understand what we do!
I am in the process of collecting one-sentence definitions of occupational therapy and you can help!  This is your opportunity to share your knowledge about the profession and if your definition is selected, be cited as author for that definition in the newest Quick Reference Dictionary!

Please forward your responses to the following email address smcneil   AT   bu.edu no later than Friday July 25th at 6pm!
Thank you in advance!

Scott D. McNeil, MS, OTR/L
OTD Student – Boston University, Sargent College

Nadine asks,

“

I need to check out www.otnow.com when I get a chance! The owner of the site, Ron, mentions:

==========
The OTnow.com site has two wheelchair-specific resources:

1. The FEW (Functioning Everyday with a Wheelchair)

2. Wheelchair Evaluation (created by myself)

Most of the resources, but not the
FEW, require a password.

Please go to the following page: www.otnow.com/resources.html. If you
need a password, follow the directions on the page.

Kim Greenblatt has left a new comment on your post “Edhelper.com“:

I probably should have posted to the other link but a post is a post. The Dollar Tree or 99 cent store is a great place to find tactile little tsotkes and if you can take the time to wash them, things at garage sales work as well. Just make sure that you sterlize them!

Also, make sure they aren't TOO small that kids can't put them in their mouths. Er, and make sure there isn't any lead in it either… I think that covers it. Thanks again for the shout out for my book, “Your Daughter Has Been Diagnosed With Rett Syndrome” a few months back. Good luck with your career and definitely don't go broke!

Mark gave me permission to post this 🙂 A typical e-mail letter from future potential OT students..

Hi Karen, my name's Mark. I'm 17 at the moment and im currently in my final year of studies before hopefully going to University of Queensland, in Australia. Basically, for a long time during almost all of high school i couldn't decide at all on any career path whatsoever that i wanted to take, which was pretty depressing LOL. Until eventually my girlfriend's mother set me up with one of those occupational tests that tells you what sort of jobs match your personality and interests the best, and Occupational Therapy came way above anything else for me which was pretty suprising (seeing as i had no idea what OT was) but pleasing once i found out :P.
 
Ughhh so basically I've done a little bit of research on the courses and so forth and I'm taking quite an interest so far, and then i stumbled across your blog which was exactly what i was looking for, i thought it was an awesome idea for you to talk about your experiences in the field and during your studies because that's exactly the opinion people inspiring to undertake these courses needs to see, so they don't waste their time haha :p Anyway I haven't managed to get through the whole blog yet, but I was wondering if you could possibly reply to this email and tell me a little bit about the course and whatnot, like the Ups and Downs of studying, how full-on the studying was? if that makes sense :S what sort of jobs you've had sent your way and so on.
 
ANYWAY yeah I just dont feel like all the technical ramble on the internet about OT does it justice, so I figured I'd set out and try and find someone who could give me a brief rundown on what to expect, i know I can get the grades, i just need the motivation 🙂 haha, so thanks for reading if you got this far I hope you manage to reply to this and keep adding to your blog 🙂 i'll be checking it regularly ahah.

Loved your blog. Hey check if you have freecycle in your area. We have it here in Tucson AZ and its great. You list what you need or have to give and people will respond.
====

Carole, a graphologist (sp)

www.handwritingexplained.com

“sometimes I think rehab corporations fund infertility clinics since so many multiples end up in therapy”

that's quite an observation you've made. i'm proud of you. many people speculate that “big pharma” is who lobbies hardest against natural treatments/cures. watch michael moore's “sicko” with your friends. you are all entering a very challenging field in which to work — healthcare. resources are scare, prices are high, compassion is low, and ignorance is plentiful. yet, you can and will make a difference. you truly were meant to be an advocate for people who can't advocate for themselves. i still hope you will somehow go on to receive your doctoral degree. in my estimation there is no limit to what you can accomplish. you are a born healer and a born diplomat. 🙂 i am so very proud of you.

Some feedback from an OT on my little girl with shyness and Visual perceptual issues: (Wiki Stix are sticky pliable/flexible small like, line thingies)
 
Wiki stix are wonderful. Try them to figure out the maze in the Little Pony Book rather than drawing a line.
And instead of purchasing raised line paper, try using the wiki-stix to create the lines on blank paper (or lined paper)…I hate the idea of you spending your private money on your fieldwork patients. It's wonderful and generous but I would recommend that you set boundries for yourself…
Regarding her shyness, perhaps use a “third person”–a little doll, pony, teddy, whatever–that speaks to her and asks her questions, rather than you speaking to her directly and she speaking directly back to you. It is amazing how much easier it is to relate to a puppet..