Tutorial Eight

Assistive technology is equipment that assists people with their activities. It includes technology that contributes to the persute of leisure,work and daily living. It is a regular, reliable, repeatable peice of equipment that doesn't cause fatigue. This may also cover technology that is used by the able bodied person or child along with the disabled. "Assistive technology is technology used by individuals with disabilities in order to perform functions that might otherwise be diffcult or possible" (University of Washington,2002-2012).

A peice of equipment introduced in the assistive technology tutorial is the Power wheelchair supplied by Allied Medical/Quantum. This chair helps to increase occupations such as transportation and social interaction by raising the seat. Can engage people in communication via the internet and use of a laptop. A green button clicks the mouse on and it enables the user to operate the joystick to control a mouse. It can also record a video via a screen. This chair is a tilt-in-space chair so it enables the user to be occupied in a 45 degree recline. Tilt-in-space enables gravity to open the chest cavity takes pressure off the lungs assisting the users breathing. This chair is 18" by 18" (inches) it costs $15,000 plus $8,000 without seating. The seating costs around $3,000 to $5,000. This chair assists a person in their occupational transition. From being able bodied to becomming reliant on it for a means of transportation.

Occupational transition according to Christiansen and Townsend (2010), can be defined as a great change in the retertoire of a persons Occupations. The chair allows people to participate in activity and assists them by encouraging participation. Occupational disruption results from factors or situations over which a person has some control. The chair by provides a means of transport and it supports the person in occupations that may be disrupted had they no assistive device. "Deprivation occurs when something or someone external to the individual creates deprivation"(Christiansen & Townsend, 2010). A person in a chair is able to participate in or enjoy occupation over an extended period of time which prevents them from having many of the occupational deprivations the would have should they not be supplied with it. Humans are recognised as occupational beings who participate in occupations and this chair empowers a person by enabling and including them. They have more independence in the chair and their occupational potential is increased both by the chair and its attachments.

Tavas Pastrana has made use of a manual wheelchair. "He's the only person in the world to complete a double backflip on a wheelchair" (Nash, 2011).  Power wheelchairs are often used by people who have severe cases of cerebral palsey. There are seven thousand people in the country with some form of cerebral palsy, with one third of them being less than twenty one years of age (C.P. Society of NZ 1984-2007). Cerebral Palsy has many factors that may cause it; disabilities as a result of brain damage can be complex. Having a comfortable and function enhancing wheelchair can assist by minimising or delaying physical deformities and give support for bodily functions. Spinal Cord Injuries have an impact of condition on occupation, areas of performance that can be enhanced by the use of a power wheelchair are instrumental activities of daily living, education, work, leisure and social participation according to Atchison & Dirette (2007).

Tutorial eight photos of Travis Pastrana unavailable but here is one of his team mates

Aaron "Wheelz" Fotheringham

Nash K. (2011) 

References:

B. J., Aitchison &  D. K. Dirette (2007), Conditions in occupational therapy: Effect on occupational 
         performance.  Baltimore/Philadephia, U.S.A: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins 

Cerebral Palsy Society of NZ (1984-2007), Retrieved, March 2012, from
        http:www.cpsoc.org.nz/opindex.htm.

Nash K. (2011), Wheelchair motocross is teen's extreme dream, Retrieved from 
       http://www.nzherald.co.nz /nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10702975.


 University of Washington.(2002 - 2012)AccessIT Retrieved, March, 2012 from www.washington.edu/access it/articles?109.

Slide show and Tutorial Two


My chosen occupation is Alpine Snow Sports and skiing. Alpine snow sports involve many activities such as snowboarding, cross country skiing and snow shoeing. These sports can be adapted so that they involve people who have disabilities. Skiing, which is usually done in the winter on snow high in the mountains, can be adapted so that a disabled person can participate in the sport. I have a knowledge of this sport and a passion for it and have seen how this sport has enriched people's lives. It was chosen because of my experience participating in and facilitating this activity.

During my first fieldwork experience I worked with a supervisor and  a physiotherapist who had clients that  took part in this sport.  In my second fieldwork experience some of the clients enjoyed this occupation both as a leisure activity and also competitively. Over the winter months the most rewarding thing for me has been to facilitate disabled skiers and to volunteer as a supervisor for the local children during their school activities on the mountain.

'Doing' according to Wilcock,(1988) is a mechanism for social interaction, development of societies and can form communities with both national and international identity. The slide presentation shows that skiing is an international sport and is popular in many societies. Image one is taken in France and image two is in New Zealand. The image of the Canadian free-styler is taken in New Zealand while he was here to train to take advantage of our winter season. The image of Lindsay Vonn winning the womens downhill reresents the  commuities that compete internationally.  These images represent the international goals and community of skiing.

Being can be described as finding oneself, makeing the most of every moment, appreciating nature, in a thoughtful manner and enjoy being with special people according to Hammell (2004). The prize-giving picture shows a large community of local families actively involved with their children in their occupation of being. The pic-nic at Matuki is of people appreciating nature with enjoying each others company. Being a part of the alpine environment and the people who belong to that environment is one of the necessities of snow sports. This we can see in the pictures of the children, Luca and Ben, interacting with the snow.

Hammell (2004) states that belonging brings together the affirmation that one's life has value for other people as well as oneself , reciprocal exchange is of importance, contributing to others agrees with the concept of belonging.  Conributing to a community of people such as the people in the picture of the bi-ski, gives a sense of belonging and they are provided with social interaction. This social interaction is necessary to participate in an alpine sport. From the hours of early morning social interaction is ongoing which consists of the occupations of organizing equipment, transport, tickets and weather forecasts. It is necessary to organise friends or groups of people to participate in the sport and to finally reach the lift line on a cool clear day as seen in the picture of Treble Cone.

'Becoming' allows people to use their capacity both physically and mentally and they can change to meet certain expectations.  Adam Hall,  an impaired skiier,  has become an international competitor for New Zealand. He does this by adapting his equipment allowing him to participate in Adaptive Snow Sports. He has an impairment but he uses his capacities and potential. He changes his equipment to meet the sociocultural expectaions and regulations of the sport as seen in the slide of him racing. Becomming describes the idea that people can explore new opportunities and have visions about what they wish to become according to Hammell (2004). 

Considerations that were made in relation to the images are informed consent from Adaptive Snow Sports
New Zealand, personal communications via the people who are in the photos and online material was verified as being authentic.

References:

Wilcock, A.A. (1998a). Occupation for health. British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 61, 340-345
      

Hammell, K.W. (2004). Dimensions of meaning in the occupations of daily life.  Canadian Journal of Occupational Therapy, 71 (5).