One of the most fulfilling parts of my role at AOTA is to monitor mentions of occupational therapy in the news. Many of these mentions in media outlets involve success stories: people overcoming obstacles to achieve the things that make their lives worthwhile. As we take a moment to reflect on Thanksgiving about what we are thankful for, I thought I would share just a sampling of some recent examples of people in the news feeling thankful for YOU, and the profession of occupational therapy:
USA Today explains how a Wounded Warrior began making jewelry at the suggestion of one of her occupational therapists. The hobby, intended to help her exercise motor skills with her hands, has become a profitable business that helped her “reclaim her life and self-worth.”
This Idaho Press-Tribune/Idaho State Journal article explains how a jockey recovering from a racing accident is getting occupational therapy to get back in the saddle, and back to work as an attorney.
The Sioux City Journal highlights an occupational therapy practitioner’s work in helping a man recover from injuries sustained in a bus crash. Occupational therapy introduced him to an in-home rehab device that acts like a video game to motivate him to make hundreds of moves each day, which is helping in his recovery.
This Psychology Today article written by a stroke survivor details how occupational therapy helped her regain independence, saying, “I cannot say enough about the therapists at the rehab. They are among the most dedicated group of professionals I’ve ever met.”
A Press-Enterprise article explains how a toddler who nearly drowned is relearning daily activities such as walking and playing from an occupational therapist.
This TODAY Show story on occupational therapist Veronica Brooks who born without arms explains why the profession is perfect for her, and a description of her work. “I think I’ve been very blessed because though I’ve never had two of my own arms, it’s never stopped me from being able to teach someone else how to make better use of their own,” she says during the interview.
An OT client has a video and article in BP Hope Magazine (Bipolar Disorder) on how occupational therapy inspired her to combat her symptoms by learning a new skill and creating things.
A man who had a stroke champions occupational therapy practitioners for helping him “get back to daily life” in the Times of Northwest Indiana. The article explains how working on driving and community mobility made him feel more like himself again.
In this WFIR-TV CBS 23 (IL) story titled “Playing Golf Again Thanks to Therapy,” a man who had a stroke credits occupational therapy to helping get him back on the course and to a hobby he loves.
In this article posted on The Mighty, an adult with autism spectrum disorder explains how while she was at-first skeptical of occupational therapy at age 27. Now she is thankful. She says, “In the past, I have been called complicated and lazy…Occupational therapy has begun to provide an avenue for that change. While I may be complicated, I am not lazy. I just needed help. I am so thankful I gave occupational therapy a chance.”
To read more stories about how occupational therapy is changing lives, visit AOTA’s OT in the News page.