VOTC Newsletter - Summer 2020 Demonstrate Professionalism - Command Respect In the Indian context of practice, one of the challenges faced by occupational therapists (OTs) is gaining respect from other professionals and stakeholders. Many professionals either experience a sense of inferiority or feel that they have not been given the respect they deserve. Respect stems from the way others perceive a professional. This article highlights the ways in which OTs in India can demonstrate professionalism to command respect from others.  Comment on Occupational Therapy Scope of Practice   Indian Occupational Therapists Think Tank (IOTTT), a voluntary group of likeminded, experienced, and expert occupational therapists, drafted a Scope of Practice document pertaining to the Indian context of practice. The IOTTT is seeking public comments on the draft. The deadline to comment is July 20, 2020. COVID-19 Resources IOTTT Publishes COVID-19 Secure Guidelines for Rehabilitation Professionals in India Indian Occupational Therapists Think Tank published COVID-19 secure guidelines to assist rehabilitation professionals in India reopen their practice/re-enter the workforce safely and protect the service recipients of occupational therapy. The guidelines are available free of cost and will soon be posted here.  World Health Organization Centers for Disease Control & Prevention John Hopkins Coronovirus Dashboard Ministry of Health & Family Welfare Health & Family Welfare Department, Tamil Nadu   Disability News No. of disabled students sees sharp fall in Rajasthan schools Lockdown blues: Persons with disabilities face abuse, neglect & uncertainty Grocery kits distributed to disabled Madurai: Lockdown a double challenge for disabled Coronavirus lockdown – In the pandemic, the disabled remain an invisible minority How Revival aims to ‘un-hide’ stories of disability in India

Evidence Corner (Links to Research that Support OT Practice/Profession)   Awareness of Occupational Therapy among Medical Practitioners in South India Utilization of Assistive Devices in Occupational Therapy Practice in Tamil Nadu Evidence Based Practice

Awareness of Occupational Therapy among Medical Practitioners in South India

Medical practitioners are often the primary referral source for OTs. To make timely and appropriate referrals to OT, it is imperative that the referral sources demonstrate a broader level of understanding of the OT profession. This study determined the level of awareness about OT among medical practitioners in South India. The results revealed that 82% of the respondents reported either being familiar with or having heard about OT. Respondents who are specialists, work in the private sector, and practice their profession in a foreign country were more familiar with the OT profession and referred patients to OT. Although many respondents have heard about OT and recognize it as a profession aligned with the rehabilitation of individuals with disabilities, their responses indicate that they have a limited understanding of the profession's scope of practice, OTs' role in some practice areas, and practice settings in which OT services are delivered. 

VOTC Therapy Newsletter - Spring 2020 Points of Interest for Occupational Therapists in India The Allied and Healthcare Professions Bill, 2018 was introduced in Rajya Sabha on December 31, 2018. This bill seeks to regulate and standardize the education of 53 allied and healthcare professions, including occupational therapy (OT). The bill was referred to the Standing Committee on January 2, 2019. The Standing Committee submitted its report (Report No 117) to Rajya Sabha on January 31, 2020. This summary highlights some notable excerpts from Report 117 that have implications for the OT profession in India with related comments, thoughts, and arguments. PS: The All India Occupational Therapists Association (AIOTA) reported that the bill (National Commission on Allied & Healthcare Professions Bill, 2020) was approved by the cabinet on March 20, 2020. Awareness of Occupational Therapy among Medical Practitioners in South India Look for the research article in the forthcoming issue of Indian Journal of Occupational Therapy that reports the survey that was conducted among medical practitioners (anyone with a MBBS degree or above) in South India to determine their level of awareness about OT.  Utilization of Assistive Devices in Occupational Therapy Practice in Tamil Nadu Look for the research article in the forthcoming issue of Indian Journal of Occupational Therapy that reports the survey that was conducted among occupational therapists in Tamil Nadu regarding the utilization of assistive devices in their practice.  COVID-19 World Health Organization Centers for Disease Control & Prevention John Hopkins Coronovirus Dashboard Ministry of Health & Family Welfare Health & Family Welfare Department, Tamil Nadu Disability News BCCI rewards Indian disability team Chennai: After Santhome, 2 more parks for disabled kids to c .. 2,000 disabled people to receive motorised wheelchairs in Tamil Nadu Teachers to be trained to help disabled kids perform better Goa’s beaches accessible, but not disabled-friendly Disabled and extremely poor Data: How disabilities make life difficult for the affected

Evidence Corner (Links to Research that Support OT Practice) Effectiveness of School-Based Occupational Therapy Intervention on Handwriting Stroke Epidemiology and Stroke Care Services in India INCLEN Diagnostic Tool for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (INDT-ADHD): Development and Validation   Evidence Based Practice

Copyright © 2020 Vijaya Occupational Therapy Centre, All rights reserved.

VOTC Therapy Newsletter - Issue 124 The lack of awareness has been the prime issue that deters the growth of the occupational therapy (OT) profession for decades in India.  Occupational therapists (OTs) in India may use social media to their advantage to promote the profession. The internet and mobile phone users are growing... Read More Autism Corner: Strategies to Manage Restrictive Repetitive Behaviors Read More Disability News Occupational therapists call for Central regulatory body Permanently disabled need not renew certificates Chennai pools are not for disabled kids Treat people with special needs equally: Delhi HC

Important Announcement Beginning 2020, VOTC Therapy Newsletters will be published on a quarterly basis. Spring Issue - March Summer Issue - June Fall Issue - September Winter Issue - December

VOTC Therapy Newsletter - Issue 123 Mentorship is believed to be one of the key ingredients for success in the healthcare industry. According to Dr. Harmych (2015), healthcare professionals benefit from mentoring at any stage of their careers; and mentors benefit from their mentors.  Also, mentorship positively influences career success and development (Duvall, 2016).  Mentorship could ... Read More Autism Corner: Why do Children with Autism Display Restrictive  Repetitive Behaviors? Read More Disability News Air travel for passengers with disabilities remains stressful Nagaland woman in wheelchair raises hopes for disabled First blind IAS officer takes charge as sub-collector Accessible cinema: Govt asks filmmakers to make audio descriptions part of production Copyright © 2019 Vijaya Occupational Therapy Centre, All rights reserved.

VOTC Therapy Newsletter - Issue 122 One of the professional issues faced by the occupational therapy (OT) community in India is the violation of their professional boundaries by other professionals, knowingly or unknowingly.  The dearth of manpower in the field of OT may have consequently led to the stepping in of other professionals or trained personals into the domains of OT practice.  This article lists the professional strategies that could mitigate the issue of professional boundary violation in..... Read More Autism Corner: Behaviors Suggestive of Socialization Deficits in Pervasive Developmental Disorders Read More Disability News Disabled people in Tamil Nadu to begin protest  With rules notified, finally Goa disabilities act in force  Be it job or doing business, here’s a chance for disabled to ..  Quota for disabled people: Civil court summons 4 departments  Manasi Joshi’s demand for GST waiver reopens debate on tax on disability aids Hackathon, a nationwide initiative to make disabled friendly toilets

Copyright © 2019 Vijaya Occupational Therapy Centre, All rights reserved.

VOTC Newsletter - Issue 119

VOTC Therapy Newsletter - Issue 119

Cultural practices in India make OT practice challenging. As OT’s primary goal is to help patients in what they want and need to do, OT practitioners in India must ... Read More

Autism Corner: What screening tools are used by healthcare professionals practising in the area of autism spectrum disorders? Read More

Disability News Delhi: Policy for disabled people  Three people, three stories, tell us Chennai is not that disabled-friendly  Chennai to get first bus with foldable ramp for disabled  Now, two more homes for children with disabilities

Occupational Therapy Workforce in India

What's the average salary range of full-time OT practitioners in India? Does gender, job title, level of OT education, practice area, years of experience, and geographical region influence compensation received by OT practitioners in India?

http://www.ijotonweb.org/article.asp?issn=0445-7706;year=2019;volume=51;issue=2;spage=45;epage=51;aulast=Mani

VOTC Therapy Newsletter 117

VOTC Therapy Newsletter - Issue 117

Outcome measures help OTs communicate objectively the clients’ strengths and deficits, clients’ progress, and value of therapy to other stakeholders. Indian OTs must use valid outcome measures in practice to communicate the value to OT to other stakeholders. Read More

Autism Corner: What are the economic impacts of autism spectrum disorders? Read More

Disability News Efforts on to make Thane polling booths more disabled friendly Coimbatore airport staff given training in handling disabled passengers Calcutta HC fines state for denying MBBS admission to disabled candidate No wheelchairs or ramps, a tough walk for disabled voters  Two held for travelling in train on fake disability certificate