Differently Able

An Occupational Therapists Story

1Rachel Booth Disability Fringe 2009

COT Conference

About me.....

Qualified as an OT in 2006

2Rachel Booth Disability Fringe 2009

COT Conference

• Music • Festivals• Gigs• Cinema• Textiles • Fashion • Art • Audio Books • Cupcakes

…..and by the way•I have cerebral palsy – a right hemi• and I’m dyslexic!

• Shopping • Photography• The Sixties • Working in Acute Psychiatry.• Involvement in N&Y BAOT Region Group

Growing Up – Solving Problems

• Getting my toys up and down stairs• Using escalators• Balancing on a moving bus• Making Mum a cup of tea• Getting to and around school• Reading and Writing• Coming to terms with being different

3Rachel Booth Disability Fringe 2009

COT Conference

Becoming an Occupational Therapist

• Student experience• Mostly positive – extra time if needed for assignments• Amanuensis for written exams• Support from tutors and • Bought experience of disability• Fieldwork placements – educators were cautious and

concerned at first• Most placements made reasonable adjustments.• Some professionals found it hard to accept me.• My confidents was knocked.

4Rachel Booth Disability Fringe 2009

COT Conference

Working life

• Empathy• Reasonable adjustments• Having student’s with disabilities

OT’s with a disability bring a little extra

• Many Occupational therapists work and are trained within a medical or administrative model of disability.

• Attitudes are shaped by this

• These models look at impairment and assessment.

• We can bring the social model to influence colleagues and COT

• In our clinical work we bring an understanding and knowledge that other OT’s may not.

Rachel Booth Disability Fringe 2009 COT Conference

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Differently Able

Rachel Booth Disability Fringe 2009 COT Conference

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