Overview on Occupational Therapy’s Role in Transitions

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INTRODUCTION

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Thanks to the AOTA Transitions Workgroup, and to all contributors who spent their time and put great effort

into the creation of this resource.

Special thanks to: Jo A. Schweitzer, MS, OTR/L

David M. Merlo, MS, COTA, CPRP Elizabeth Sadler, OTR/L, MHA

Sheryl Michel, OTD, OTR/L Heather Jackson-Peña, MOT, OTR/L, ETS

Vicky Terpoorten

LEARNING OBJECTIVES 1. Recognize that transition is a complex issue occurring throughout the life span 2. Recognize the role and opportunities for occupational therapy practitioners in transition planning and services 3. Review national, state, and local activities and resources

“If we envision transitions as times when clients and/or their families need new or additional skill sets or practice engaging in novel occupations, we as a profession become an ideal source of information and preparation.”

(p. 12, Gibson et al., 2010)

OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY • Occupations = everyday activities • Promoting health and participation • A holistic approach • “Occupational Therapy: Living Life To Its

Fullest™” • Meeting “society’s occupational needs” • Developing a plan for client transitioning

within or between settings or systems

KEY CONCEPT: SELF-DETERMINATION

"Self-determination allows individuals with disabilities to live independently, to exert control and choice over their own lives, and to fully participate in and contribute to their communities…" Administration on Developmental Disabilities

SUBTITLE A--GENERAL PROVISIONS 42 USC 15001 SEC. 101. FINDINGS, PURPOSES, AND POLICY. #1

TRANSITIONS

• What are they? • When do they occur? • Why are they important?

DEFINITION OF TRANSITION “Passage from one state, stage, subject, or place to another” (Webster’s Encyclopedic Unabridged Dictionary, 1994, p. 1505)

“Actions coordinated to prepare for or facilitate change, such as from one functional level to another, from one life stage to another, from one program to another, or from one environment to another” (American Occupational Therapy Association [AOTA], 1998, p. 866)

CROSS SYSTEMS APPROACH • Looking at transitions in a broad,

systemic way in terms of • Life span • Population • Settings/Context

• Preparing for “changes in occupations

and for aspects of participation in occupations, such as roles and routines, that will occur after the move to the next environment.” (p. 214, Myers, 2008)

OVERARCHING THEMES IN TRANSITION

“Nothing is secure but life, transition, the energizing spirit.”Ralph Waldo Emerson

• Transition happens often and to everyone. • The end of life, while a transition in and of itself,

can occur at any age. • Funding affects and may impede transition

services. • During all transitions, there is an impact on

mental health, which can be positive and/or negative.

TRANSITIONS IN EARLY CHILDHOOD

• Early intervention to preschool

• Preschool to kindergarten

• Transitions are significant due to changes in : – Service delivery approaches – Providers – Environments – Expectations

TRANSITIONS IN SCHOOLS

• Shifts in grade, school, and school personnel

• Increasing academic challenges

• Developing and sustaining peer relationships

• Moving toward community integration, college, and/or career

• Building knowledge and skills.

TRANSITIONS IN MILITARY SERVICE • Promote healing and

ability to perform essential soldier skills

• Address mental health

• Work and community reintegration

• Transitioning to a return to military service or a productive civilian life

NAVIGATION:

Module 2 Schools

Module 6 Military Service

Module 3 Health

Module 4 Mental Health

Module 1 Early Childhood

Module 5 Return to Work

Module 7 Healthy/

Productive Aging

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