I’ve been quite silent this month especially when considering the celebration of Occupational Therapy Month and celebrating this marvellous profession. I have re-posted some posts by other colleagues and OTs I follow on socials or posed for photos with those OTs who are close to my heart but that’s pretty much it. 

The reason behind me being ‘quiet’ is probably because of the struggle I’ve been living as a community occupational therapist, I took this time to stop and reflect as to why I constantly have something to say about anything that is going on in the health and social care sector. Few understand me and it’s probably those who live the same experiences I do, although its effect on them might be different than mine. 

As someone who has supported people within the community from all walks of life, I can proudly say that I could not have done any of this without the knowledge of Occupational Science. Yes, not an expert but experienced. Daily, OTs who work in the community know all about the Occupational nature of persons, they have touched the lives of people who experience Occupational Injustice, Occupational Deprivation, Occupational Alienation, Occupational Apartheids, Occupational Balance, and Occupational Disturbance. OTs have witnessed the effects of the lack of Occupational Identity and are proud of the Occupational Development, Occupational Engagement, Occupational Enrichment, and Occupational Possibilities that individuals have, through their merit and that of the community and therapists who support them. 

Doing, Being, Becoming and Belonging are all terms and experiences that are not given much importance (at times) due to the structure that OTs are constricted to work in and the lack of understanding of their role. Taking the work and experiences of younger therapists for granted because they’re practising in a way that is not the norm is not on. Recognition of their work is needed and that is the only way to grow. We have a lot of people with different and great experiences with substance within the local community of OTs, we could learn from these experiences just by sitting down, listening and learning from each other. 

To wrap things up, the reason why this is being written is that it is the only alternative that I am finding to standing on a rooftop and shouting “Talk to an OT”. There is so much more that OTs can offer. It’s mostly on the therapists themselves, i’m trying to do my part.