#JoharisWindow- public, real-time CPD on Twitter

January 27, 2013 2 Comments


The #nhssm chat: “What are you an avatar of?”

During a recent #nhssm chat, @MarkOneInFour started to explore what our presence in social media represented about our selves. We didn’t have time during the chat, but we did decide to explore the concept through the evening that followed. People very generously offered their feedback on how they viewed us, which was really helpful, because one can never really know how one comes across to others without specifically exploring it!

Personal reflection: if you ask for feedback, what if you get it?

It felt quite exposed to do this experiment- I wasn’t sure if anyone would respond, and if they did, what they would say about me! I was prepared to deal with any feedback that I got on the basis that it represented how I came across in social media- it didn’t reflect how people felt about me, personally, as many of the people responding don’t know me personally. I am a confident person, and I knew I had personal resources to keep myself safe during the experiment, including having friends and followers to call on for support if I felt hurt by any comments made.

Mental health warning: do you feel safe to hear feedback?

If anyone is interested in doing this experiment for themselves- just take a moment to check out that you’re okay with receiving feedback before you start.

My Johari’s Window:

Arena

(known to self and others)

able, caring, energetic, friendly, sympathetic

Blind Spot

(known only to others)

accepting, bold, brave, clever, complex, confident, dependable, dignified, extroverted, giving, happy, helpful, idealistic, independent, intelligent, kind, knowledgeable, logical, loving, modest, nervous, observant, organised, powerful, proud, reflective, responsive, searching, self-assertive, self-conscious, sentimental, trustworthy, warm, wise, witty

Façade

(known only to self)

Unknown

(known to nobody)

adaptable, calm, cheerful, ingenious, introverted, mature, patient, quiet, relaxed, religious, sensible, shy, silly, spontaneous, tense

All Percentages

able (13%) accepting (9%) adaptable (0%) bold (9%) brave (4%) calm (0%) caring (27%) cheerful (0%) clever (9%) complex (9%) confident (18%) dependable (13%) dignified (9%) energetic (4%) extroverted (9%) friendly (27%) giving (4%) happy (4%) helpful (50%) idealistic (9%) independent (22%) ingenious (0%) intelligent (40%) introverted (0%) kind (4%) knowledgeable (45%) logical (9%) loving (4%) mature (0%) modest (9%) nervous (4%) observant (13%) organised (9%) patient (0%) powerful (9%) proud (4%) quiet (0%) reflective (18%) relaxed (0%) religious (0%) responsive (18%) searching (9%) self-assertive (36%) self-conscious (9%) sensible (0%) sentimental (4%) shy (0%) silly (0%) spontaneous (0%) sympathetic (4%) tense (0%) trustworthy (13%) warm (27%) wise (9%) witty (9%)

Created by the Interactive Johari Window on 27.1.2013, using data from 22 respondents.
You can make your own Johari Window, or view MeOT’s full data.

Personal reflections

As more and more people added feedback, Johari’s Window showed increasing congruence between my internal idea of how I come across, and the views expressed by the people who kindly offered feedback. This is an example of the “Wisdom of Crowds”

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wisdom_of_Crowds

It is also interesting to note how this could contribute to personal resilience in the face of criticism. It can be important to remember that the views of a single person don’t reflect the general way one is seen by everyone one encounters: sometimes, we’ve all experienced a personality clash. Perhaps this is of interest to people seeking 360 degree feedback- which may be more accurate with an increasing number of contributors?

Storify

I storified the conversation, see this link:

http://storify.com/claireOT2/johari-s-window-real-time-virtual-cpd-experiment

Grabchat

Some of the interesting comments wee made before we settled on a hashtag to help collate the Tweets. However, once they were collated under the #JoharisWindow tag, it was easy to grab the chat:

Involved

Top resources

http://kevan.org/johari?name=shirleydsc
http://kevan.org/johari?name=uk_james
http://socialinnovation.typepad.com/silk/silk-method-deck.html
http://kevan.org/johari?name=jonbolton
http://kevan.org/johari?name=fi
http://kevan.org/johari?name=amcunningham
http://kevan.org/johari?name=fionaarttwitter
http://kevan.org/johari?name=@ajax_63
http://kevan.org/johari?view=MeOT
http://kevan.org/johari?name=MeOT

Related tags

#socialmedia #some #hubmsi

See Twitter for more tweets, people, videos and photos for #johariswindow

@claireOT @shirleyayres @MarkOneinFour fancy giving me some feedback? Go to http://t.co/WEzLelUO #johariswindow (Wed, 23 Jan 2013 21:29:11 +0000)
@uk_james @shirleyayres @claireot #johariswindow good tool – one of many in Social Innovation Lab Kent’s Method Deck http://t.co/Zo4PKzO3 (Wed, 23 Jan 2013 21:32:46 +0000)
@shirleyayres @claireOT done I like this tool! #johariswindow @MarkOneinFour (Wed, 23 Jan 2013 21:33:35 +0000)
@MarkOneinFour @claireOT @shirleyayres Done it! Also, now get what it is and how it works #johariswindow (Wed, 23 Jan 2013 21:37:14 +0000)
@shirleyayres Fascinating! Social Innovation Lab Kent’s Method Deck includes #johariswindow http://t.co/ewrdKbqt HT @uk_james @claireOT (Wed, 23 Jan 2013 21:38:53 +0000)
@shirleyayres @uk_james @claireOT @MarkOneinFour starting to feel my age now realise I first used #johariswindow in 1975!(Wed, 23 Jan 2013 21:40:49 +0000)
@claireOT @MarkOneinFour you and Shirley agreed on one word “knowledgable”- isn’t it funny? I didn’t pick it! #johariswindow @shirleyayres (Wed, 23 Jan 2013 21:41:20 +0000)
@shirleyayres @claireOT @MarkOneinFour I’m such a simple soul this is now my new most favourite tool – thanks Claire! #johariswindow (Wed, 23 Jan 2013 21:43:45 +0000)
@claireOT @MarkOneinFour done it! What do you think? #johariswindow @shirleyayres (Wed, 23 Jan 2013 21:44:41 +0000)
@shirleyayres @MarkOneinFour done – interesting the areas @claireOT & I agree on! #johariswindow (Wed, 23 Jan 2013 21:46:45 +0000)
@shirleyayres @MarkOneinFour @claireOT this ihas to be the *must do* activity of the evening! Love your feedback http://t.co/KKGlwgdJ #johariswindow (Wed, 23 Jan 2013 21:50:56 +0000)
@shirleyayres @Ermintrude2 I’d love your feedback! http://t.co/toQXSl0a #johariswindow HT @claireOT for discovering this tool! @MarkOneinFour (Wed, 23 Jan 2013 21:56:57 +0000)
@claireOT @MarkOneinFour it’s so interesting, isn’t it? @shirleyayres @Ermintrude2 #johariswindow (Wed, 23 Jan 2013 22:09:05 +0000)
@claireOT @RobWebster_LCH @PlanetPavs @AgencyNurse @JoWren1 thanks for your feedback, guys, really helpful #johariswindow (Wed, 23 Jan 2013 22:11:54 +0000)
@Ermintrude2 @MarkOneinFour I added my thoughts to your #johariswindow :) @claireot @shirleyayres (Wed, 23 Jan 2013 22:12:17 +0000)
@claireOT @shirleyayres i agree :-) @markoneinfour perhaps “conflicted” or “confused” is what “complex” feels like, inside? #johariswindow (Wed, 23 Jan 2013 22:12:58 +0000)
@claireOT @JoWren1 yes, I’ve never used it publicly before today… go on…. Get involved! #johariswindow (Wed, 23 Jan 2013 22:15:17 +0000)
@shirleyayres @PaulBromford a great tool we’re experimenting w/ I’d love your feedback! http://t.co/toQXSl0a HT @claireOT for finding #johariswindow (Wed, 23 Jan 2013 22:17:22 +0000)
@Ermintrude2 How do you perceive me? (well, it’s limited to nice things!) http://t.co/iT5sE5ex #johariswindow @shirleyayres @markoneinfour @claireot (Wed, 23 Jan 2013 22:22:36 +0000)
@shirleyayres I’d love feedback – how do I come across to you via #socialmedia ? http://t.co/toQXSl0a #johariswindow (Wed, 23 Jan 2013 22:22:53 +0000)
@uk_james @claireOT @shirleyayres @markoneinfour @ermintrude2 done! It’s quite smart isn’t it?! Shirley… You’re next…. #johariswindow (Wed, 23 Jan 2013 22:24:46 +0000)
@claireOT @Ermintrude2 done it! What do you think? #johariswindow @shirleyayres @markoneinfour (Wed, 23 Jan 2013 22:27:02 +0000)
@uk_james @shirleyayres done! It’s a picture that keeps building… Right, time to make me one…. #johariswindow @claireOT (Wed, 23 Jan 2013 22:29:15 +0000)
@ajax_63 @shirleyayres how could I resist :) Found it hard to separate out social media and IRL though! #johariswindow (Wed, 23 Jan 2013 22:32:31 +0000)
@shirleyayres @uk_james @claireOT @MarkOneinFour @Ermintrude2 @PaulBromford #johariswindow the latest tool to sweep across Twitter!(Wed, 23 Jan 2013 22:33:11 +0000)
@shirleyayres @ajax_63 thanks I hope you are going to do one too Andrew :-) #johariswindow (Wed, 23 Jan 2013 22:34:00 +0000)
@PaulBromford @shirleyayres @claireOT certainly! here you go http://t.co/hhN0zekb @ paulbromford #johariswindow (Wed, 23 Jan 2013 22:34:21 +0000)
@FionaArt @claireot @shirleyayres @MarkOneinFour I added my thoughts to your #johariswindow :) Will you fill in mine please :-) .(Wed, 23 Jan 2013 22:34:38 +0000)
@uk_james . @shirleyayres @claireot @markoneinfour @ermintrude2 here’s the link http://t.co/9OgxDIpy how do you perceive me on Twitter? #johariswindow (Wed, 23 Jan 2013 22:36:41 +0000)
@ajax_63 @Ermintrude2 a pleasure, but six was not enough :) #johariswindow (Wed, 23 Jan 2013 22:37:19 +0000)
@claireOT Thanks for the valued feedback, @_jonb @FionaArt @anniecoops #johariswindow (Wed, 23 Jan 2013 22:40:48 +0000)
@amcunningham My #johariswindow http://t.co/ETqqOdk9 … thinks @shirleyayres !!(Wed, 23 Jan 2013 22:40:52 +0000)
@uk_james Hello Twitter followers! How do I come across on #socialmedia ? Please let me know at http://t.co/9OgxDIpy #johariswindow (Wed, 23 Jan 2013 22:42:23 +0000)
@claireOT @Darrenruddick thank you- I value the feedback- it’s so interesting to learn how I come over vs how I think I come over! #johariswindow (Wed, 23 Jan 2013 22:42:31 +0000)
@claireOT @jaxrafferty thank you- it’s really valuable to get feedback, don’t know why I didn’t think of doing this before! #johariswindow (Wed, 23 Jan 2013 22:46:38 +0000)
@claireOT Lol! No suprise for me that no-one has identified me as “introverted” or “mature”! #johariswindow @shirleyayres @MarkOneinFour @Ermintrude2 (Wed, 23 Jan 2013 22:48:33 +0000)
@uk_james RT @shirleyayres : @uk_james @claireOT @MarkOneinFour @Ermintrude2 @PaulBromford #johariswindow the latest tool to sweep across Twitter!(Wed, 23 Jan 2013 22:48:39 +0000)
@FionaArt http://t.co/9G6upeQm How do u think I come across? #johariswindow (Wed, 23 Jan 2013 22:51:03 +0000)
@ajax_63 TY @shirleyayres :) and so, I’d love to know, how do you see me via social media? http://t.co/qFTAy5Op < experiments with #johariswindow (Wed, 23 Jan 2013 22:51:14 +0000)
@claireOT @Ermintrude2 lol! You may be “silly” in real life, but your blog and feed belie the reality!! @shirleyayres @markoneinfour #johariswindow (Wed, 23 Jan 2013 22:52:42 +0000)
@claireOT @jaxrafferty I think that congruence in #some is really important. I am fortunate to feel safe enough to be honest. #johariswindow (Wed, 23 Jan 2013 22:53:42 +0000)
@claireOT @Darrenruddick really? I was surprised people identified me as “brave”, it certainly doesn’t feel like that from inside! #johariswindow (Wed, 23 Jan 2013 22:54:50 +0000)
@shirleyayres +1 RT @claireOT @Ermintrude2 lol! You may be “silly” in real life, but your blog and feed belie the reality!! @markoneinfour #johariswindow (Wed, 23 Jan 2013 22:55:01 +0000)
@FionaArt Thanks @claireOT @shirleyayres @MarkOneinFour for completing my #johariswindow , definitely food for thought :-) .(Wed, 23 Jan 2013 22:56:02 +0000)
@claireOT Anybody want to offer me some feedback on how I come over on #SoMe ? Follow the link- it is very quick! #johariswindow http://t.co/aPZNfdXp (Wed, 23 Jan 2013 22:57:49 +0000)
@shirleyayres @Ermintrude2 @claireOT @MarkOneinFour @PaulBromford I now have about 12 #johariswindow open. I agree fascinating how others perceive us!(Wed, 23 Jan 2013 23:01:43 +0000)
@Chris_Goulden RT @uk_james : @shirleyayres @claireot #johariswindow good tool – one of many in Social Innovation Lab Kent’s Method Deck http://t.co/Zo4PKzO3 (Wed, 23 Jan 2013 23:11:48 +0000)
@shirleyayres @HelReynolds a great tool we’re experimenting w/ I’d love your feedback! http://t.co/toQXSl0a HT @claireOT for finding #johariswindow (Wed, 23 Jan 2013 23:14:27 +0000)
@shirleyayres @whatsthepont a great tool we’re experimenting w/ I’d love your feedback! http://t.co/toQXSl0a HT @claireOT for finding #johariswindow (Wed, 23 Jan 2013 23:14:50 +0000)
@shirleyayres @MindingsStu a great tool we’re experimenting w/ I’d love your feedback! http://t.co/toQXSl0a HT @claireOT for finding #johariswindow (Wed, 23 Jan 2013 23:18:43 +0000)
@shirleyayres @PaulBromford starting to feel my age now realise I first used #johariswindow in 1975!(Wed, 23 Jan 2013 23:23:50 +0000)
@shirleyayres @DCCTayside a great tool we’re experimenting w/ I’d love your feedback! http://t.co/toQXSl0a #johariswindow (Wed, 23 Jan 2013 23:25:25 +0000)
@shirleyayres @clarkmike a great tool we’re experimenting w/ I’d love your feedback! http://t.co/toQXSl0a #johariswindow (Wed, 23 Jan 2013 23:28:03 +0000)
@shirleyayres @TomSprints a great tool we’re experimenting with I’d love your feedback! http://t.co/toQXSl0a #johariswindow (Wed, 23 Jan 2013 23:28:42 +0000)
@claireOT I’m really interested to know what you think of me, do you have a couple of minutes to describe me? #johariswindow http://t.co/E1wxNOF0 (Wed, 23 Jan 2013 23:32:00 +0000)
@ajax_63 @shirleyayres @amcunningham @ermintrude2 @claireOT TY all! do you know how hard this is for an INFJ :) #johariswindow (Wed, 23 Jan 2013 23:32:28 +0000)
@shirleyayres @ajax_63 showing my ignorance here what is an INFJ? #johariswindow @amcunningham @Ermintrude2 @claireOT (Wed, 23 Jan 2013 23:37:20 +0000)
@shirleyayres @jonbolton a great tool we’re experimenting with I’d love your feedback http://t.co/toQXSl0a #johariswindow (Wed, 23 Jan 2013 23:50:22 +0000)
@shirleyayres @Action4Ageing thanks Chris for completing my #johariswindow – are you tempted? Looking forward to catching up at #hubmsi (Wed, 23 Jan 2013 23:53:22 +0000)
@shirleyayres A big thank you to @kevan a lot of us have had great fun with your interactive #johariswindow this evening!(Thu, 24 Jan 2013 00:22:54 +0000)
@shirleyayres @jonbolton @Accaber_Red starting to feel my age now realise I first used #johariswindow in 1975!(Thu, 24 Jan 2013 00:24:21 +0000)
@shirleyayres @jonbolton thanks for the #johariswindow feedback a fascinating picture emerging! Are you tempted?(Thu, 24 Jan 2013 00:41:43 +0000)
@jonbolton So a few of us were experimenting with #johariswindow last night. Can you describe me in 5-6 words? http://t.co/EKki3jzM (Thu, 24 Jan 2013 08:21:55 +0000)
@AMLTaylor66 RT @jonbolton : So a few of us were experimenting with #johariswindow last night. Can you describe me in 5-6 words? http://t.co/EKki3jzM (Thu, 24 Jan 2013 08:38:55 +0000)
@shirleyayres I’d love feedback – how do I come across to you via #socialmedia ? http://t.co/toQXSl0a #johariswindow (Thu, 24 Jan 2013 09:45:25 +0000)
@FionaArt http://t.co/6DYEl0KX? How do u think I come across on twitter as @FionaArt ? #johariswindow (Thu, 24 Jan 2013 13:29:24 +0000)
@shirleyayres @whatsthepont I would have liked to be able to add analytical to your #johariswindow ! @claireOT @ena_lloyd (Thu, 24 Jan 2013 23:42:31 +0000)
@akosiabiegalet Wag masyadong malinis ang tingin sa sarili. Ayan tuloy hirap tumanggap kapag sinisita ng iba. #johariswindow (Sun, 27 Jan 2013 05:03:49 +0000)

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Filed under CPD, Interprofessional practice, Reflection, Research, Social Media, Twitter Tagged with , , , , ,

A response, with YoungMinds, to 'My daughter the schizophrenic'

January 22, 2013 Leave a comment

Reblogged from Clinical Psychology and People:

On 19.01.2013 the Guardian's weekend magazine published a story entitled 'My daughter the schizophrenic'.  I was previously aware of this little girl as I had seen the documentary 'Born schizophrenic'.  The documentary gave me sleepless nights.  The article brought them back.  I had to respond and I am thrilled that YoungMinds (@YoungMindsUK) agreed to publish it as a joint statement.  This, for me, indicates that there are many of us, in all sectors fighting for better ways of thinking and talking about young people with psychological difficulties. 

Read more… 1,086 more words

I was going to write about this article, but this blog puts across my thoughts much better. Joint blog by a clinical psychologist and the Director of Young Minds.

Filed under Uncategorized

Mary Seacole school project

January 4, 2013 4 Comments


I’ve become aware of moves by Michael Gove to redesign the History syllabus for children in our schools. His idea seems to include the removal of many famous women, and people of Black and minority ethnic heritage from the histories that our children will study.

As a health professional, I was aware of the inspirational story of Mary Seacole, and I am delighted that my daughter (age 6) was tasked with writing a project about her life over the Christmas holidays.

I’m including the work she produced in this blog, as I think it demonstrates clearly the value of including a rich heritage of narratives within our history curriculum in schools, and because she was an important figure in healthcare history who was sadly overlooked during our own recent past.

20130104-223654.jpg

Mary travelled from Jamaica to provide care for soldiers during the Crimean war. She was not allowed to join Florence Nightingale’s band of nurses due to being Black, so she set up her own frontline “British Hostel” in Balaclava, Turkey, to provide care. Contemporary records show she often travelled onto the battlefield to provide first aid.

20130104-223801.jpg

There is currently a drive to memorialise Mary with a statue, you can donate to this cause, see http://www.maryseacole.com/maryseacole/pages/mary_statue.html

For more information about the life of Mary Seacole, visit maryseacole.com

I commented about this issue, on The Green Benches, where I said

I am proud to have spent the afternoon helping my daughter complete her school project about Mary Seacole. What a great example of triumph over adversity, and illustration of why racism is unhelpful and wrong in society. And of course, we used the resources produced by Horrible Histories (on YouTube) to bring her story to life. I’m proud that my daughter has learned at 6 what many people seem to be unable to comprehend as grown adults.

Edit: There is a petition to request the Minister reconsider the decision to remove Mary from the curriculum. Please consider signing at: https://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/michael-gove-secretary-of-state-for-education-keep-mary-seacole-on-the-national-curriculum   Thank you

Filed under Commons, Interprofessional practice, Reflection Tagged with , , ,

#leadersforleeds- Civic leadership for our City

December 11, 2012 2 Comments


As many of my readers will know, I’m terrifically interested in what goes on in my City of Leeds. The event held at the Civic Hall to encourage civic leadership across the City was a great chance to meet with people doing interesting things- from small social enterprises and community groups to the CEOs of our major institutions.

Integrating Health and Social Care

I work constantly to attempt to influence health and social care organisations to work more innovatively and to offer a more integrated experience for people using the services. After all, who cares about whether a service they receive is delivered by a local Trust, by the Council, by the Voluntary sector or if it’s delivered within community groups or social enterprises? When experiencing services, what matters is the quality of the experience, not the organisational structure behind it. So I was pleased to be able to meet with so many others who were representing large and small organisations who work for social impact in the City.

Health Inequality=Social Inequality

Rob Webster, who is CEO of one of our Trusts and a great Twitter follow to boot described the situation perfectly;

“For every mile you walk from North West Leeds heading South, the life expectancy of the residents drops by a year. Residents in South Leeds live 10 fewer years than residents in North West Leeds.”

One of the challenges for people interested in healthcare is that so much about health outcomes doesn’t depend on health intervention AT ALL. I know this sounds a bit strange, but we know that social inequality, access to green space, whether or not a parent reads to you as a child, an countless other factors are really important for health (and life) outcomes. So actually, people who care about health care have a responsibility to act on social inequality and to improve health outcomes in this way. This is great because it means that the creative possibilities for collaboration are extended across sectors- whether it’s a youth project, a local church, a small business offering employment, or any number of other possibilities, we can collaborate to drive up health outcomes and reduce social inequality.

Digital Health Centre of Excellence

My goal is to ensure Leeds is seen as a centre of excellence in the development and delivery of digital health and digitally-enabled social care. Many people I met agreed that this forms part of our civic future, because the people of Leeds need to have efficient and effective services despite a financial environment that ensures we have to think radically different. Because people recognise that we have to work together to make an impact on this. Because it’s a great way to develop the City’s economic outlook and provide jobs. Because we have some of the best hospitals and health services in the country. Because we have all the structural advantage of the NHS Information Centre and the NHS Commissioning Board. Because it’s the right thing to do.

Recently, the local Shadow Health and Wellbeing Board have crowd-sourced information about how digital products and social media can support people in the city who  use health and social care services- expect to see more of this as we move forward.

We have a vibrant digital sector, both within health care and in other digital fields (did you know that Grand Theft Auto was written in Leeds?) We already have great initiatives such as GoOn Leeds, Leeds Social Media Surgeries (TONIGHT at the Civic Hall from 6pm, by the way!), and the fabulous Leeds Digital Festival. Let’s make it even better.

Digital Conference and Hack v2

I’m already working towards the Digital Centre of Excellence, as are many other people all over the city. This year, we held the first Digital Health Conference and Hack, and we’re planning another one for next April. This time, we’re going to look at open source solutions in healthcare, described today by Dick Vinegar as “the future of Health IT”. We already have the excellent open source portal developed at Leeds Teaching Hospital Trust by Tony Shannon- there’s a lot more we can do with this agenda.

We also have several totally original digitally enabled health innovations going on locally- and I can’t wait to share more details with you. We’re hoping you’ll join us.

Filed under #sm4hwb, Conference, Leeds, Web 2.0 Tagged with , , , , , , , , , ,

#occhat topic 4/12/12 - Occupational Balance in the Digital Age

December 4, 2012 Leave a comment

Reblogged from OTalk_Occhat:

As a keen user of social media and a gadget addict I have seen my time use change dramatically over the past few years. As Christmas approaches and many people hope that the newest gadget arrives from Santa I thought it timely to discuss the impact of the 'Digital Age' on occupational balance. This week's occhat will encourage participants to discuss the benefits and challenges digital media and technology places on our occupational balance as well as identifying strategies that can be employed to maintain/improve balance when needed.

Read more… 32 more words

A timely chat is planned tonight for #Occhat- how do we retain our occupational balance in the digital age? Join us 8pm GMT on Twitter to discuss.

Filed under Uncategorized

#Occhat Nov 20th- Using equipment to facilitate occupation

November 20, 2012 2 Comments


I’m in the hotseat for the #occhat Twitter discussion tonight- and it’s been a while since I was able to facilitate, so I am looking forward to it and feeling anxious about it in equal measure!

Why are we looking at equipment?

One of our core skills as OTs is the prescription of environmental adaptations including adaptive equipment, so of course, we’re always interested in gadgets and things to make life easier.

As a disabled woman, I’m very grateful for some of the equipment that has become part of my everyday life, like my mobility scooter, or my bed stick. But equipment is much broader than just the stuff you can get through your local equipment store.

I consider my eye-Pad to be one of the best bits of adaptive equipment I have. It’s a multi-functional entertainment system, so if I’m ill, I can watch TV in bed, or catch up with my friends on social networks. If I have light sensitivity, I can alter the settings to make using it more comfortable. If there is nothing for it but to keep my eyes firmly closed, I can switch to listening to radio comedy or drama. This is brilliant for keeping me entertained and distracted from the pain when I am ill!

My children are able to use the features of the tablet to pinch, select, turn and type emails to their family, using a simple email app. They also play with their Moshi Monsters, dance to films on YouTube, and draw and make videos. They can do all this with me in my bed, when I’m ill- there is no bit of kit in the equipment store that you could say that about! So a tablet computer can help me to perform the life role of “Mum”, even when I have a disability that makes some activities very difficult indeed.

Image

I know people who use Siri as speech recognition software- where they have spasm or pain in their fingers, for instance. (p.s. if you have Siri, do ask him/her “Who let the dogs out?”- it’s very funny!)

But this isn’t an advert for Apple, and yes, other tablet computers are available (my partner loves his Google Nexus). We’re thinking about equipment in it’s broadest sense, and how it enables us to perform occupations and life roles.

COT partnering with Boots

We’re also prompted to consider this topic in the light of the recent announcement by the COT of the new partnership they have developed with Boots- please see http://www.cot.co.uk/homepage/new-partnership-puts-occupational-therapy-high-street

Do we think this promotes the benefits of OT to a wider audience?

Are there concerns related to this?

Does it help or hinder the public perception of OT to be linked so explicitly with equipment provision- after all, we do so much more?

I know you will have lots of brilliant examples of how equipment helps you to live life your way. You may also have opinions about COT partnering with Boots. To join in the conversation, please join us for our Twitter chat tonight at 8-9pm.

Just add #occhat to your tweets, so we can all see them. And do please remember your responsibilities related to your HPC registration when you Tweet.

See you there!

Filed under CPD, Healthcare Apps, Occupational Therapy, Social Media, Twitter, Uncategorized Tagged with , , , ,

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