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).
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