August/September 2005

Editor's Message

By Chris Wolski

A Matter of Perspective

During a recent trip, I found myself unexpectedly staying in an adapted hotel room. The room was outfitted with all the devices and accoutrements that our therapist-writers regularly discuss—grab bars, extrawide doors, adjustable showerheads. For 2 days, I had the unique opportunity to experience what it is like to live in a world that was in complete contrast to my own, which in its own way replicated what a wheelchair user faces daily in the world of the ambulatory. To say the least, it was an eye-opening experience.

Living in an adapted world for a few days exposed me firsthand to the simple marvels and strategies that can make the life of the disabled less challenging. Having an adjustable showerhead mounted to allow for a seated bather to get the full benefit of the spray may not seem like a technological marvel, but I can see now how important it would be to that bather—making a shower a matter of routine and not frustration.

Though a positive and eye-opening experience, I did struggle to live in an environment not ideally suited to my ambulatory condition. And it was my—admittedly minor—struggle to adapt that made me wonder if physical and occupational therapists have the opportunity to roll a mile in the seats of their clients. So I asked a few members of Rehab Management’s editorial advisory board (EAB) for their thoughts on this.

I know that many programs offer students the opportunity to spend a day in a wheelchair, experiencing firsthand what life is like for the wheelchair user. Boston University is typical, having the students use the adaptive equipment their clients use. EAB member and Boston University faculty member Karen Jacobs, EdD, OTR/L, CPE, FAOTA, calls this an “important aspect in the process of becoming an occupational therapist.”

There is no arguing with Jacobs on this point. It is important to have students not only understand how equipment works, but to develop empathy with their current and future clientele.

But in the midst of busy careers, it is easy to forget these early lessons and focus on the task at hand, losing that empathetic perspective that was so important during long-ago days in the classroom.

Fortunately, there are opportunities to renew that perspective. Kerry Dunning, MSH, of Dunning Consultants, runs various perspective-changing workshops and training sessions. “One of the best things I have found is putting [participants] in splints and positioning devices for the hour of the training period. You should watch them wiggle around,” she says. “The other thing that works real well is to make them write the 10 most important things in their life—with their nondominant hand. One interesting side effect: they often can’t think of 10 things while they are writing because they are having to concentrate so much on writing with the other hand.”

But you do not have to wait for an opportunity like Dunning’s. Take 15 minutes and set up a situation with adapted equipment in hand, and experience life as your clients do. It does not take much to change one’s perspective, and you will be glad that you did, and so will your clients.

—Chris Wolski

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