Community Week 2

Community week 2!!!! I can’t believe it’s already the second week down. Our week started off a little slow, but gained momentum as we went along. We started off with the Wellness Group on Monday at the local clinic. I simply loved interacting with the elderly ladies and grannies! They come together once a week for a meal which they all contribute towards, but they just love interacting with one another and being there together. What stuck out for me was their sense of unity!

“We are like sisters”,

 “We love each other”,

“I have a toothache but I’m still here”,

“I love being here; I will come even if I have to walk very far”,

and comments like those are really uplifting. I feel like wow, even if I do nothing here these ladies are already amazing on their own! I can just add more value to what they already have. One great thing about these lovely old ladies; you meet them once, now you their friend for lifeJ. Whenever I saw them later that week they would call me and rush over to hug and greet me! I absolutely love itJ!

Community Week 1

Community Week 1!!! The block I was most anxious and most looking forward to. On day 1 it was a pleasant drive to the small community just out of Durban. The scenery was good, and the driving was less than adequate! South African drivers… need I say more? The community creeps up on you. Nestled amongst much greenery and small hills and valleys, are little houses close together and many different coloured tenements. The poverty is  also evident, and litter mars the greenery next to the main road. We first met with the CCG( community care givers) and learnt some of the history of the community and the work that they had been doing.

Back to blogging!

My apologies for not blogging for so long, but this 4th year has been so hectic! As it is our honours year it has been incredibly busy, and I could not find the time to blog. However, we are now on our community block, where we work on various projects within a small community just out of Durban. As part of the requirements, each week I will be posting my reflections on our weekly experiences within the community. Hope you enjoy!
Till next time
xxx

What is sensory processing disorder? Amazing video!

4th year- The beginning of the End!

It seems like just the other day I was the new OT student on the block! Losing my way around campus, bunking lectures, making new friends and facing new fears like dissecting bodies in anatomy! And now I am almost at the end of my journey. One more intense year of studies and OT practical's before I shall be qualified with an Honours Degree in Occupational Therapy- God willing. Despite the hectic year that lies ahead, I hope to keep posting interesting snippets of my OT life. Please continue reading and keep the comments coming:)

Activities to Address Fine Motor Skills, Strengthening, and Visual Motor Skills

http://www.op97.org/special-education/documents/1FMactivities-final.pdf

Schizophrenia shouldn't be a life sentence. But it will be

Patients used to be given only pills. They respond far better when asked about their lives – that's the bit that costs, though.

Read the article here>>>>http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/nov/14/schizophrenia-recovery-nhs-cuts



The effect of technology on children

While surfing the net I stumbled accross a very interesting blog titled Moving to Learn, which looks at the effect of technology on children, by a leading child development expect.

Follow the links below  to see some of her interesting blog posts. It is a must read for all parents.

http://movingtolearn.ca/2012/child-mental-disorders-illness-or-environment
http://movingtolearn.ca/2012/early-technology-use-limits-imagination
http://movingtolearn.ca/2012/video-games-linked-to-attention-problems

Sensory ideas for young toddlers

Follow link here>>> http://voices.yahoo.com/sensory-ideas-young-toddlers-preschoolers-10415263.html?cat=4

Sensory Integration Therapy - Pediatric OT

Explaining Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) to family members, teachers and children

Follow the link here>>>> http://chicagoplayproject.com/explaining-sensory-processing-disorder-spd-to-family-members-teachers-and-children/

Negative perceptions on mental illness

A mental illness is a medical condition that disrupts a person's thinking, feeling, mood, ability to relate to others and daily functioning. Just as diabetes is a disorder of the pancreas, mental illnesses are medical conditions that often result in a diminished capacity for coping with the ordinary demands of life. But many people do not see it this way. Rather than viewing a mental illness just like a physical illness, people tend to view it as 'their own fault' and not as a result of an illness. According to research, social stigma associated with mental disorders is a widespread problem. Some people believe those with serious mental illnesses cannot recover, or are to blame for problems. Media coverage of mental illness comprises predominantly negative and pejorative depictions, for example, of incompetence, violence or criminality, with far less coverage of positive issues such as accomplishments or human rights issues.

 

Although I was aware of all of these facts, I recently I find myself reflecting more deeply on the stigma people with mental illness experience. Maybe it is because within my own communities I now clearly see many negative connotations and perceptions associated with having a mental illness. People feel they are 'mad' , 'retarded' or because they have this disability they cannot work or be part of society. In fact within our Indian community of South Africa it is common to label someone as "having nerves" because they may behave in socially inappropriate ways.  I myself  was initially scared and a little nervous to work in a psychiatric unit. Reflecting on that, my fear and nervousness probably stems from the stigma we have in our societies.

Brain Injury Linked To Crime In Young People

A new UK report finds there is a link between brain injury in childhood and crime in young people, and points to evidence that brain trauma can cause maturing brains to "misfire" and disrupt the development of self-restraint, social judgement and impulse control. It calls for more collaboration among health and criminal justice authorities to spot brain injuries early, treat them properly, and ensure they are taken account of throughout the criminal justice process.

Read the rest of the article here>>>> http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/251798.php

Bullies twice as likely to have disorder- ABC News

Mental disorders plague many adults who were bullied as children, but a new study suggests that those who had mental health disorders during childhood are three times more likely to become bullies. Researchers at Brown University analyzed survey responses from parents of nearly 64,000 children ages 6 to 17 who were identified as having a mental health disorder, and those who were identified as bullies. An estimated 15 percent of U.S. children in 2007 were identified as bullies by a parent or guardian, according to the responses, which were part of the 2007 National Survey of Children's Health.

Play

Signs of Dyspraxia

"Blog it"

My reflections on my first ever blog

 

So at the start of the semester when we were asked to create a blog to share our experiences, I must admit I was slightly apprehensive. Not that I hadn't used social media before, but the idea of pouring out my inner most thoughts and feelings on a public platform was not exactly attractive to me! Nevertheless I decided to give it a try, and… wow! I'm addicted to blogging! I'm constantly thinking about new and interesting blog posts, and when anything significant occurs my first thought is, " I'm so blogging that!'. Frankly, I am a very talkative person and I feel as though countless ideas and thoughts are constantly running through my head that I just have to get out. And I've now found the perfect outlet.. Blog it!