What do occupational therapists think of the Ashley Treatment? How will this affect the field of OT?

I am writing an essay about the affect the controversial Ashley Treatment will have on the field of occupational therapy, and I'd love to hear what practicing OTs or aspiring OTs think.

I don't really see why the treatment would have an impact on the field of OT?
First of all, you have to really stop and think about what our role is with an individual who is dependent on caregivers for ALL their self care skills. Our job is to provide a better quality of life, this can only be done by family education and training for things such as positioning, transfers, PROM and stretching. That role wont change if the individual is sterilized or sexually mature. It makes no difference, other than it's easier to take care of a small child versus an overweight menstruating woman. I hate to sound so crass about it, but that is the reality. We are not miracle healers.

My understanding is that this procedure is only for those children who will be dependent for life. Understand, years past, many of these children would not have survived to adulthood, and those that did, ended up dying in early adulthood due to poor care in group homes or institutes. I can see why people would be offended by the notion of sterilization in order to keep humans small and easy to move. But they need to understand the state that these humans are in.

Anyway, getting back to your question, it should make no impact on the field of OT, it's not our role to JUDGE a family. Be careful how you approach that essay, I'd change my topic if it is in fact 'the ashley treatment and it's affect on OT'. Over the past years, the only impact I've felt from any new medical treatments, is an increase in caseload due to things such as 'back to bed'. Good luck...sorry if I did not give you the answer you wanted, but I remember back when I was in school, spending too much time trying to write essays in things that really were not relevant, and wishing someone would have just said..'change your topic'..

Tags

　　Oral Cancer 　　Opiates 　　Ophthalmology 　　Oncology 　　Omega-3 Fatty Acids 　　Ombudsman Programs 　　Occupational Therapy 　　Occupational Injuries 　　Occupational Health 　　Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder 　　Obesity 　　Nystagmus

Related information

Any Occupational Therapists out there?HELP!?

I'm an OT. Let's brainstorm for a bit shall we? (1) The effects of stress on students and faculty at the college. For example, you could lead a relaxation/imagery group for a group o...

I really want to be an occupational therapist. However, only a select few colleges offer the degree.?

You will have to major in OT. The reason being is that there are major specific classes that you have to take. You cannot get into a masters in OT program until after you have your BS in OT. ...

Do Occupational Therapist administer and do therapy, or do they just do paperwork???

Yes a registered occupational therapist (OTR) does administer the therapy, they are also the ones responsible for doing the initial evaluations, re certifications, and discharges so therefor there ...

What is the difference between occupational and physical therapy?

Occupational and Physical Therapist help those people that have lost the ability to do simple everyday tasks possibly from suffering a stroke or car accident. Occupational Therapist help others by...

Online Physio/Occupational/other Natural Therapy degrees?

I've never heard of an online physio or oc program..because you need the clinical aspect of it. but I have heard of online iridology, etc

...

Physical, Occupational, and Speech Therapy ICD-9 Codes....?

Just take note of the diagnosis you see come through the clinic. compile a list of the frequently used diagnoses then look up the icd-9 codes and list them in alphabetical, then again in numerical...

Looking for a center in Katy, Texas that offers occupational & speech therapy.Preferably for austistic kids.?

I suggest you go to ASHA.org, which is the website for the American Speech Language Hearing Association. They have a locator for providers nationwide. Another resource could be your local hospital...

Does anybody know of a place on the internet to go to ask questions related to pediatric occupational therapy?

Advance for OT has a forum type board that has a peds section. Sometimes it takes forever to get a response though. But sometimes you get lucky and get responses pretty quick. Other than that I gu...