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Facilitators and Barriers to Sustainable Global Rehabilitation Projects
No full textThe sustainability of projects addressing significant rehabilitation needs in lower-resource countries is considered one of the most critical outcomes of these initiatives. While some information is available from public health and medical projects on promoting sustainability, less evidence exists on facilitators and barriers to the sustainability of global rehabilitation development projects. Interviews with eleven medical and rehabilitation professionals, each with over 8 years of experience in global project development, contributed to the discussion of barriers and facilitators for sustainability with direct implications for occupational therapy practice and research. The presence of established professional standards was a distinctive facilitator, and disruptions from natural disasters and war were a distinctive barrier. An essential element of planning was the involvement of key local leaders and individuals in all phases of projects. The themes identified as facilitators are necessary for needs assessment, planning, and evaluation of global rehabilitation projects. Some barriers, such as establishing processes and procedures, developing personnel, and improving professional standards, can be addressed in longer-term projects However, other factors, such as securing long-term funding, obtaining government and health ministry support, and contending with natural disasters, pose greater challenges to sustainability
ELA Pre-Service Teachers Composing for Change: Public Letter Writing as Activist Endeavor
No full textThis study of five English Language Arts pre-service teachers draws on critical literacy and collective case study methods to examine how they talk about their own experiences with public letter writing as part of their writing methods course and they ways they perceive public letter writing as an activist endeavor. Our findings noted three interwoven themes—agency, advocacy, and focus on students—where participants talked about public letter writing as a way to develop and utilize agency, which allows them to advocate for students, teacher, themselves, education, etc. and to focus on students, especially as it relates to writing and writing instruction. After a discussion of the findings, we offer connections to and implications for teacher education and an activist-focused approach to writing instruction
Rigor and Academic (Re)Socialization: The Faculty Role in Student Success Curriculum
No full textIn the post-pandemic learning era, communication faculty experience tensions among expectations for flexibility, sensitivity to students’ well-being, and our commitment to the academic rigor of our courses. These tensions, we argue, may be resolved through offering academic (re)socialization as a stand-alone element of the communication curriculum. This essay explicates the development and implementation of a for-credit workshop-style course aimed at bridging gaps in student academic capital laid bare by the COVID-19 learning crisis. “Communication Fundamentals for College Success” is a collaborative effort among six communication instructors to support practical and socio-emotional skills that undergird students’ transdisciplinary intellectual growth. We reflect on the early implementation of the course and the role of faculty in directly cultivating students’ emotional, aspirational, and navigational capital
The Power of Words. Manifested Capital in the Processing of Claims of Compensation for Occupational Disorders
No full textDecisions on compensation vary according to the insured person’s access to relevant resources. Socioeconomic inequalities also affect, and manifest themselves in, the communication between primarily insurers and applicants, which in turn plays an important part in obtaining approval when applying for life insurance benefits. This article examines administration of the insurance for occupational disorders, focusing on power relations made visible in the communication. Through a qualitative text analysis, a random sample of personal files (n=139) was examined. In the communication process, unequal power relations are reflected and reproduced. Findings show gaps and contradictions regarding how the insured person is addressed, what kinds of explanations are valued, and what information is requested and how. We argue that lack of communication between the insurance case administrator, the treating physician, and the insured person contributes in making the process dependent on the insured person’s access to capital in terms of, for example, education, knowledge of the insurance system, and a relevant social network
From Democratic Engagement to Individual Self Sufficiency: Framing Poverty Reduction in Community Action Agency Mission Statements
No full textThe Community Action Program was a central component of the War on Poverty, establishing Community Action Agencies (CAAs) in the United States beginning in the 1960’s. CAAs emphasized “maximum feasible participation” from low-income citizens, but that inclusive aim was always in tension with a more top-down model of service provision. This article contributes to the literature on poverty governance by offering a qualitative analysis of the mission statements of CAAs across the nation, testing the degree to which they frame poverty in collective and participatory terms. I document that most missions feature individualistic and expert- focused elements, consistent with the approaches taken in other sites of the contemporary poverty governance landscape. I also find that some continue to emphasize more collective and participatory approaches. Those missions, though less common, demonstrate that some CAAs continue to resonate with elements evident at the founding of the Community Action Program. With presence in almost every county of the United States, CAAs hold the potential to expand prevailing frameworks for thinking about and addressing poverty as a social structure
ALVAR AALTO: Past. Present.Future
Full text linkAlvar Aalto serves as a timeless guide for architectural and design principles. These principles are not of universal rigidness but are flexible based on the givenconditions of site, culture, and people. His traditionalmethods of sketching and drawing create a hand to mind connection to the design process. This process, much like his work, develops a mindful and thoughtful outcome of decisions. With computer technology become more increasingly apart of our lives, it is important that we not forget the human point of view rather than purely a rational mode of thinking. This capstone project address how it is possible to merge the lessons of Alvar Aalto and history into the 21st century. Through primary sources of research of the lectures, essays, and publications of Alvar Aalto we can gain insight of Aalto’s approach directly. Secondary sources of monographs of other authors who explore areas of his work provide detailed analysis from topics of light, material, forms, planning, details, and the place-making of his projects. These topics can then introduce forward thinking topics such topology (place-making and context), typology (planning and forms), tectonics (materials), technics (architectural details), and thermodynamics (light). With these findings the capstone project embodies Alvar Aalto through Hybrid Design Methodology where we integrate these multiple topics of Aalto’s design principles into a designed outcome on a given site. Use of traditional methods of design from sketching and study models combined with CAD and 3D modeling software can create a well-rounded design workflow that bridges history and the present
An Interdisciplinary Functional Exercise Program for Individuals with Parkinson’s Disease: A Case Series
Full text linkBackground: Traditional exercise programs are beneficial in managing Parkinson’s disease (PD). Little research exists on interdisciplinary, functional exercise programs designed and implemented by licensed therapists.
Method: Our case series presents the development, implementation, and results of an interdisciplinary functional exercise program for individuals with PD and the effects this program had on daily functioning and quality of life. Participants were recruited via flyers, email, and phone communication, and consented to data collection for our objectives. Participants attended two sessions per week for 8 weeks. Sessions addressed fine and gross motor skills, dexterity, cognition, functional strength, gait, balance, and posture. Outcome measures were chosen before the implementation of pre-assessments, including PD-specific evaluations of cognition, mobility, gait, balance, coordination, strength, dexterity, and quality of life.
Results: Seven participants (4 M, 3 F) with PD completed pre-assessment, intervention, and post-assessment. As hypothesized, they demonstrated improvement across multiple outcomes, mostly in mobility metrics.
Discussion: Findings from this case series suggest that an interdisciplinary, functional exercise program integrating occupational and physical therapy can meaningfully improve mobility, reduce bodily discomfort, and positively influence aspects of quality of life for individuals with PD. The program’s emphasis on functional tasks and interdisciplinary collaboration highlights the value of tailoring interventions to both motor and non-motor challenges. These results support further investigation of interdisciplinary exercise approaches as a complementary component of traditional care for this population
Occupational Therapy Guidelines for Rehabilitating People with Spinal Metastasis: Pathophysiology and Biomechanics
Full text linkOccupational therapists are increasingly treating people living with metastatic spinal cancer because of advancements in cancer treatment. Specific occupational therapy guidance for serving this growing and vulnerable population is limited. This paper provides evidence for occupational therapists to expand their understanding of the pathophysiological and biomechanical reasons for spinal precautions and the importance of individualizing interventions for people with metastatic spinal cancer. Metastatic lesions can compromise bone integrity, increasing the risk of pain, fractures, and spinal cord compression, leading to irreversible neurological damage. Daily life activities create large forces in the spine, putting people with spinal metastasis at high risk for skeletal-related events (SRE). Advanced knowledge of the effects of metastatic cancer on spinal stability and biomechanics is the basis for safe and effective occupational therapy. Spinal precautions are explained using an abbreviation, “No BLT”, as a reminder to avoid bending, lifting, and twisting, simplifying the application of biomechanical principles for clinical practice. Although complete avoidance of bending, lifting, and twisting severely limits engagement in daily life, strategies that minimize the shift of the center of mass away from the spine reduce the risk of SREs, including metastatic spinal cord compression, and can increase occupational engagement leading to improved quality of life. Adaptations for activities of daily living following spinal precautions are summarized and illustrated. Occupational therapists are instrumental in enhancing meaningful engagement in daily life, and safe rehabilitation can increase the independence levels of people with metastatic spinal cancer