Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Case Report: Optimizing Daily Function For People With Below-Elbow Limb Deficiency With The Softhand Pro, Amanda Theuer, Sasha Blue Godfrey, Kristin Zhao, Ryan Breighner, Manuel Catalano, Marco Santello, Antonio Bicchi, Karen L. Andrews

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Innovation in prosthetic devices for adults with upper limb loss is necessary to meet the demand for effective devices to optimize participation in daily activity. We evaluate the SoftHand Pro (SHP) as a terminal device to determine the application of this biologically-inspired prosthetic hand for use for a person with transradial limb deficiency.

Method: This case study describes and measures the first use of the SHP by an individual with transradial limb deficiency in their home environment. This paper reports the features and functionality of the SHP prototype and provides recommendations for changes to further optimize function. …

Ican-Play: A Practice Guideline For Assessment And Intervention Of Play For Children With Severe Multiple Disabilities, Stephanie Hui, Katherine Dimitropoulou

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

The nature of play in children with severe multiple disabilities (SMD) is complex, as many have significant motor and language impairments. Through the use of assistive technology (AT), children with SMD can play more independently and provide input to caregivers on their preferred play repertoire. This author-developed guideline describes an assessment and intervention to improve play in children with SMD using AT methods. The Interactive Child Activity Narrative of Play (iCan-Play) is an assessment tool used to evaluate play in children with SMD. It provides a comprehensive understanding of children’s play preferences, social and environmental contexts, and frequency of play. …

Considering Technology In The Occupational Therapy Practice Framework, Cara E. Masselink

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

The Occupational Therapy Practice Framework, 3rd edition (2014), presents an incomplete infrastructure of assistive technology’s role in occupational therapy. Assistive technology and device use is currently defined in “Preparatory methods” (AOTA, 2014, p. S29); however, this categorization presents conflicting information to readers. This article aims to analyze assistive technology in the definition logic rules of precision and parsimony. The classification scheme will be assessed in the logic rules of exclusivity and exhaustiveness. The results of the analysis guide the placement of assistive technology in the profession’s guiding document. This may protect coverage and reimbursement, the education of clinicians, and best …

They Said: A Global Perspective On Access To Assistive Technology, Angela K. Boisselle, Lenin C. Grajo

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

International experts in assistive technology from five global regions (South America, Asia Pacific, Europe, Africa, and Australia) and with affiliation to the World Health Organization (WHO) Global Cooperation on Assistive Technology (GATE) community were invited to share their perspectives on the delivery of assistive technology and provision of assistive products in their regions. Four common topics emerged from the experts: (a) user and environmental barriers; (b) policy, funding, and product access; (c) professional training, collaboration, and service delivery; and (d) occupational justice (i.e., empowerment, participation, and progress).

Infusing An Occupational Justice Perspective To Technology Use In Occupational Therapy Practice, Lenin C. Grajo, Angela K. Boisselle

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Vital to building best and evidence-based practices in technology use in occupational therapy is the understanding of technology access, the lived experience of clients from diverse backgrounds who use technologies every day, and the understanding of many various factors (e.g., socioeconomic, political, geographical) that may influence the use of and access to technology. In this Letter from the Editors, we want to infuse the notion of occupational justice in the way that we, occupational therapy practitioners, understand and assess the impact of technology use in daily occupational participation.

Assistive Technology Accessibility And Abandonment: Challenges For Occupational Therapists, Daniel Mc Cruz, Maria Luisa G. Emmel, Mariana G. Manzini, Paulo V. Braga Mendes

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

No abstract provided.

The Training And Use Of Service Dogs In Occupational Therapy Education, Mary Isaacson

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

The purpose of this study is to describe the role of occupational therapy fieldwork students in the training of service dogs. Ethnography is an approach that strives to explore and describe the point of view of people. Ethnographers view the researcher as an instrument to gain insight into the subject. This researcher utilized her own experiences as an occupational therapist, an occupational therapy educator, and as a volunteer dog trainer of service dogs. She then validated the process through interviews with key informants. The results indicate that occupational therapists and occupational therapy students are capable of playing a significant role …