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This is a great resource that is short and concise to help therapist incorporate their patients in the transfer process.  Safe transfers is about good positioning but it is also about have clear communication with the patient.  I like the sample phrases within this article aimed  at having better communication with the patient.  Communication that the patient can understand is crucial to the transfer process.

Living in a community with ample open space is associated with more physical, occupational and social participation for adults with physical impairments, according to new research. Authors Amanda Botticello, PhD, MPH, and Nicolette Cobbold, BS, of the Kessler Foundation, West Orange, N.J., and Tanya Rohrbach, MS, of Raritan Valley Community College, Branchburg, N.J., explored associations between community and neighborhood land uses and community participation.

Assertiveness can help you control stress and anger and improve coping skills. Recognize and learn assertive behavior and communication. By Mayo Clinic staff Being assertive is a core communication skill. Being assertive means that you express yourself effectively and stand up for your point of view, while also respecting the rights and beliefs of others.

Information regarding community mobility from AOTA

Driving and Community Mobility A medical doctor wrote and asked if we do "driving evaluations," and if so, what exactly it is we do. As the co-editor of a text published by the American Occupational Therapy Association, I was challenged to respond in a brief manner.

This blog posting talks about the importance of pacing your interactions with those who have dementia. Not all people suffering from dementia will have the same level of cognizance but it is important for us as future OT practitioners to understand that no matter their level of function, clients should always be spoken to as if they are able to respond. The focus in most healthcare settings is to be as efficient with your time as possible, so striking a balance between efficiency and giving your client adequate time to communicate their needs is one of the demands of our client-centered form of care.

Written by Roger Many with depression don't stand up for themselves. Are you having difficulty with being assertive? Here's how to be more assertive, deal with aggressiveness and improve the communication process. Table of Contents Introduction Difficulty with being assertive has stereotypically been a challenge ascribed to women.

As we talk about community mobility, I thought about this change Disney is making. An interesting read if you are thinking about taking a disabled person to Disney.

CarFit is a community based program that sponsors events (as a collaborative effort between AOTA, AAA, and AARP) with the purpose of inspecting the older driver in their own vehicle. "trained technicians and/or health professionals work with each participant to ensure they "fit" their vehicle properly for maximum comfort and safety". It takes about 20 mins after which recommendations for adjustments and adaptations are provided. The website provides FAQs and videos with a lot of information pertaining to the older driver and driver safety. Those of you interested in driving rehab may be interested in participating in an event such as this as a COTA in the future.

This organization meshes senior living with computer technology individualized for seniors. This is a cool idea and incorporates physical exercises in the system as well as social and cognitive stimulation. I believe it's a great innovative way to keep the aging mind stimulated and in touch with family and friends.

As we age, our needs and interests evolve and change, so our choices of housing should be wide ranging, as should be the spectrum of activities and services. Most older adults wish to remain in their homes and communities as they age.

I chose this article because when I was at Keystone, an adult day program in Oak Ridge, I saw the benefit of this program in allowing seniors with physical and cognitive deficits to remain at home, or in assisted living, for longer periods of time. I liked this article's emphasis on integration of many programs to age in place successfully.

Since we are learning about EADL this week I wanted to share this article. As I was reading this it surprised me that one of the smartest men on earth had trouble using the software device. The article pointed out that this 72 year old (Stephen Hawking) did not grow up using an iphone etc. That is something to think about when treating clients of all ages. I love that Hawking had a group of people working on this project for him and with him. He is able to communicate with the use of one muscle in his face. Read on to see how they are working on picking up on his brain waves to help him communicate. FASCINATING!

I meant to share this a while ago. This site lists 7 ipad aps that you can purchase for AAC. The prices range from $7.99 to $189 plus the cost of the actually ipad. I still think it's relatively cheaper compared to some of the other AAC devices we've looked at.

Great infographic on the long term effects of stress on the body. Infographics are easy to read for all populations of patients and they can be an easier way to communicate with diverse patients especially if there is a language barrier.

This story of Jacob LaFerriere, a burn victim gives back to his community and gives back by giving motivation to kids who have been burned.  I like this video because it shows him working with an occupational therapist and doing fun rehab activities.

very interresting!

Meet Max, the Virtual Guidedog Max is a real, assistive device for those that are visually impaired, totally blind, print impaired, or mobility impaired so all enjoy the Immersive Internet.

A company specializing in communication devices. The website gives you an option to choose your disability (ALS, TBI, Autism, etc) and recommends products that are associated with it. Also information on trouble shooting with products and questions related to training and using your device.