Knowledge check

"Everyone has to figure out a way to cope and navigate around their disability. And these solutions are worth sharing" was a line spoken in Why We Need Universal Design. This TED talk along with the assistive technology presentation, really drove home the meaning to embrace the you. There are so many times we get caught up in comparing ourselves we often forget that being different is a good thing. It is okay to have to do a task differently than someone else. Through implementation of universal design and assistive technology, we can give everyone equal opportunity to participate in meaningful activities. In order to make this possible, we must be innovative and experimental in finding new solutions.

The podcast "Can OT Help with ADHD" was very informative for me especially wanting to go into pediatrics. Working with kids means working with tons of energy and distractions. As OT's it is important for us to find ways to help those kids stay focused and work on tasks while also allowing them to release some of their energy that gets built up because recess and P.E. are gradually becoming obsolete in the school system. We are seeing more and more kids with "behavioral issues" and "attention disorders" because they are being asked to do too much at such a young age. They are confined to desks for 8 hours a day preparing for test after test instead of learning how to function as a child should.