ABC Therapeutics Occupational Therapy Weblog

We have received several phone calls in recent weeks regarding a controversial new 'research' study that was published on the 'Freakonomics' website. To view the article, click here . The article states that the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) data shows that child restraint systems are no more effective than regular seatbelts for children ages two and up. There are several potential problems with this conclusion that need to be resolved. First, FARS data only accounts for fatality crashes. The incidence of injury is far greater than the incidence of death in motor vehicle crashes, and this study doesn't address the way that child restraints may function to prevent injury in less-severe motor vehicle crashes. Second, the 'study' has not been peer-reviewed. We encourage the authors to submit their findings to a reputable peer-reviewed journal so that it can be scrutinized appropriately. Third, we are concerned that there has been no consideration fo...

I originally wrote this on 9/18/2001 while I was feeling under assault from the constant media coverage of the terrorist attacks. I felt a need to revisit something positive relating to Islam. I have been watching the National Geographic documentaries on 9/11 and that horrible feeling in my stomach returned, so I thought it might be a good time to dust off these old recollections. "As-salaam alaykum," the gentleman said to me as he made his way slowly into my office, leaning on a cane and lowering himself slowly into the chair opposite me. I looked at him, hesitantly, not knowing the proper response. "It's nice to meet you," I said, extending my hand. The man looked at me sternly and then said to me quite seriously and in a thickly-accented English, "This will never do. If you are to be the one who will help me improve my abilities, we will have to greet each other properly. When I say 'As-salaam alaykum' to you as I enter the room, you must return...

I glanced down at the intake sheet on the seat next to me as I crossed high over the arching bridge and downshifted into the city. I was running a little late but thought that the house would be easy enough to find. I dialed the house and told the family I would be there shortly. The mother's voice was uneven and slurred. "The house is on the corner, and my street is between 18th and 20th," she announced. I was a little concerned, because I was not sure where else she thought I would look to find 19th St. I entered the house by the side door, as instructed, and walked up a flight of deep and dirty steps to the second floor. I could tell immediately that the environment was not going to be pleasant. Cigarette butts were extinguished haphazardly and left on the windowsill next to some rotting food and too many flies. It was muggy and sticky just like the city gets in the hot August sun. "There would never be enough water to make this clean," I thought out loud as ...

There was a NY Times article today that outlined the degradation that people experience when they are admitted to hospitals or health care systems. I was a little bothered by the fact that this was presented as some type of news flash. I guess no one was listening over 30 years ago when Madelaine Gray talked about the same issue. This is probably too arcane for non-OT readers to find, but the citation is: Gray, M. (1972). Effects of hospitalization on work-play behavior, American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 26, 180-185. So there are a few problems here. First, we knew about a problem over 30 years ago, discussed it and debated it, but here we still are without a solution. That is just inexcusable, and I wouldn't blame patients for revolting. Second, how frustrating is it to be Madelaine Gray? I don't know if she is alive, and I doubt this could ever reach her ears or eyes, but I wish I could tell her that someone did hear her and that she was correct. As for the Times art...

There are so many things to do. I don't mean to have an exaggerated sense of what I am trying to accomplish here or elsewhere, but now I need to get myself motivated to do all the things that need to be done. Despite being on vacation, I was thinking about things everyday; certainly, my brain did not shut itself down. I needed a transition back into work mode, so of course the John Deere came in handy. At first I didn't manage much beyond yard thoughts, but it got my thinking jumpstarted again. Most recently I have been thinking a little about the moles in my yard. I don't understand why people are so upset about moles. They dig nice tunnels and I enjoy watching them scurry around when I cut the grass. I enjoy watching them run into their little mole-holes - and I am not compelled to ask them to leave. Actually, I enjoy the fact that they are there. I feel the same way about the frogs in the pond. It gives me a sense of peace to know that they live in my pond, and that it ...

I have been reflecting on the concept of work lately and am reminded of the Albert Einstein quote: If A equals success, then the formula is: A = X + Y + Z, X is work. Y is play. Z is keep your mouth shut. I have done plenty of X. This last week has supplied plenty of Y. I am desperately in need of Z, and this blog is not helping. Actually, because of my abundance of Y, I have been feeding my soul with all kind of replenishing things that will rejuvenate me for X. I read 'A Prayer for Owen Meaney' which was an interesting study in pre-destination. I also revisited some children's literature - mostly Lloyd Alexander stuff. Nothing clears my mind like finding my way back to a book that I read when I was ten years old. My wonderful colleagues have been holding the fort down for me, which I will publicly thank them for here (THANK YOU!). A quick visit back to the office on Friday to beat back the Demons of Withdrawal and Paranoia was successful in showing me how irrelevant I tru...

Hm, perhaps my postings over the next little while will be restricted to text only. I wanted to talk about private practice, and perhaps talk a little bit about what I went through in the last 36 hours, and perhaps talk about a broader desire to help other people get involved in private practice - but now that I can't upload my picture I am feeling a little deflated. It was of Thelma and Louise, flying over a cliff, preferring to face death than capture. That is kind of what entering private practice is like. I don't mean this in a negative way whatsoever, despite what the last 36 hours was like. Now that I am here on my slow dial-up connection I don't have motivation. I might read instead. I think that I am just tired. The sun set around an hour ago. The waves are pushing quietly but insistently at the beach outside. All is right with the world.

OK everyone... make sure to visit here... This will take you to the Children's Assessment of Participation and Enjoyment (CAPE) and Preferences for Activities of Children (PAC). Yes, this is a wonderful new assessment I am currently enjoying, but it is also why I worked 18 hours today. The CAPE provides data on an individual’s day-to-day participation for the purpose of intervention planning or measuring outcomes. CAPE scores provide information about the diversity (number of activities done) and intensity of participation, as well as children’s enjoyment of activities and the context of children’s participation (with whom and where they participate in activities). The PAC may be used to assess an individual’s preference for activities. Both measures are appropriate for clients with or without disabilities between the ages of 6 and 21 years. CAPE and PAC may be used independently or together. Activity types addressed in both measures include: recreational, physical, social, skill-b...

I talked a little about the thinking I do while driving yesterday... and I failed to mention that my absolute best thinking is accomplished while mowing the lawn with my John Deere tractor. There I was, driving around in established circles in my back yard when I approached my MacGyver -like birdfeeder. I never imagined myself to be overly creative with constructing or building things - I remember frustrating my OT 'media' teachers with my lack of creative skill. But I really redeemed myself with my birdfeeder. It used to be a pole for the satellite dish, but I removed the dish and capped off the solid steel pole with an (unused) 3" toilet bowl flange , and then attached the bird feeder to the flange. It was ingenious, if I do say so myself. Actually, I probably got the idea to do that while riding on my John Deere. See? Anyway, there I am driving around and I get to the bird feeder and I see a bird stuck inside the feeder. My first thought was to capture the bird and keep...

Tuesday and Thursdays are traveling days this summer... most of my work on these days is in the homes of families all over Western New York, providing early intervention and home-based preschool services. There isn't much to do in a car by yourself, so I spend a lot of time thinking. Here are some things that crossed my mind while driving around today: I thought about buying a Hybrid vehicle to save on gas. I thought about my newest niece. Because I am alone in the universe I considered submitting an article to OT Practice on virtual contexts and Blogs. I checked the Power Vista and Lewiston-Queenston bridge for signs of terrorists. What a world we live in. I wondered if there was a web site that had lists of what students (i.e. my son) need for college (A google search tonight solved that problem). I wondered if all my daughters have strep throat (oldest does, younger ones pending). I thought about my grandmother. I mentally designed a brochure to advertise a staff m...

I was looking for other blogs today that are written by occupational therapists (because I have so much time on my hands). I couldn't find any, and that was a little disappointing. I am relatively certain that there are a lot of people out there who would have many interesting things to write about. But relativity breaks down at the point of singularities - and this is where space-time has zero volume and maximum density. Sounds like my mental state at the end of the day. If I wasn't an OT, I would want to be an astrophysicist - but I lack the mental capacity. Today I saw a young fellow whose mental capacity far exceeds my own - but he can't tie his shoes yet and he develops unassailable arguments about the methodologies of learning how to print. He said to me today, "If I am supposed to start my letters at the top, then how come an 'e' starts in the middle?" My brain, as dense as any singularity in the universe, could not generate a reasonable response.

I was asked to go to Amber’s home to complete an evaluation. She is almost two and lives with her mom, grandparents, three aunts, and one uncle. "Her Dad lives with his parents," the mother told me, nonchalantly. She told me as if it was almost the norm. Their small apartment was in a very poor neighborhood. The walls were streaked with a greasy residue. It was distributed at adult level, and not just on doorframes. I wondered how many years of dirt were accumulated on those walls. Flypaper strips hung obscenely from the doorways, dotted with the remains of insects that couldn't seem to escape the traps. Amber was a beautiful child, by any measure. She was slight, and her hair curled in casual twists and turns outlining her perfectly symmetrical face and deep brown eyes. She had a microphone buried halfway into her mouth, making humming noises that were distorting terribly over a toy karaoke machine. "She doesn't talk yet," the mother reported, "but sh...

W hat a wonderful and busy day we had today. Getting ready for vacation is always the most stressful part of going on a vacation to me. I always feel a big push to catch up all the paperwork, get all the billing out, make sure all the little pieces are well organized. I have one pressing problem that I don't know how to solve yet: what do I do with my garden when I am away?? Today I picked my first tomato. It pleased me, but raised the large question. Then I remembered, there will always be tomatoes left on the vine. Maybe the rabbits will eat them, and that wouldn't be so bad.

Hi everyone... This is the ABC Therapeutics weblog. We are occupational therapists in Western New York. More coming soon...