The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1943-05-11
Oceupational Therapy
Topic at Faculty Chat

Occupational therapy. quallfica-
lions for the profession. and the
work done by It, was discussed for
Normal College students at a Fac.
ulty Chat Monday afternoon in the
Alumni Lounge Of Charles Mcken-
ny Hall, when they were addressed
by Miss Beatrice Wade. of the spe-
cial education department OF the
college, on the subject. "Occupa.
tional Therapy, a New Profession.
Stating that occupational therapy
was a comparatively new profess
sion, Miss wade traced its deyel.
opment from 1920. when It began
as a result of request by General
John Pershing that some type OF
work be established 10 aid soldiers
in France suffering from she'll
shock. to its status today as a rap
idly growing profession with APP
proXimately 1900 workers in the
Held. She stressed the need for
many more occupational therapists
for the profession which is becom-
ing increasingly important during
this time OF war.
The physical function of occupa.
tional therapy is to help restore
the function OF muscles and joints
Of handicapped people. Socially
and mentally, the speaker said, il
helps rebuild lives and helps peo-
pie adjust themselves to their own
limitations. Occupational therapy
she stated, is a field Of abnormal
ity. but the theory of the work is
that normal activity is essential to
help regain ones health. The activ-
ity must be adjusted to the needs
OF the patient.
First of the five types OF activity
into which oCCupational therapy en-
ters is aiding a child or older per
son unable 10 coordinate muscular
movements. Although not emphasiz.
ing that goal. the patient is slim
ulated TO other goals through
games and other types Of activity,
through which indirectly better co.
ordination is reached. Another
type of therapy work is found in
sanatoriums, the speaker stated,
where people during long periods
OF illness are guided In an attempt
to occupy their minds in an effort
to relax their bodies, largely
through mental stimulation, with
work more educational than manu-
al OCcupational therapy extends
to mental patients. Miss Wade
said, as a third field, in which
the effort is made to provide
more normal atmosphere and aid
IN bringing the patient back to
reality Aim OF work in general
hospital she continued, is not TO
interfere with treatment. and to
help ease the patients mind into
a more tranquil state from the
nervous tension. The fifth field,
she said. is with industrial work
ers. and the work IL particularly
valuable during these days as IT
aids in restoring the patients
health and helps them return 10
their jobs sooner than they might
have without the help of the occupa-
tional therapist.
The course in oCCupational Their
apy al the Normal College has been
in existence only two years, the
speaker said. Preparation for the
career Of a therapist includes the
four year college course, at the
end OF which the student receives
his B. :. degree, after which per-
iod of nine months is spent doing
practical work and gaining expert
ence in hospitals. OF that nine
months. she stated, three are spent
al the University Hospital. Ann
Arbor, three months at the Npsi-
lanti State Hospital, one month at
Mt. Clemens Hospital School for
the study of orthopedic cases, one
month at a sanatorium, and one
month working with the Visiting
Nurses Association in Detroit TO
study work with home bound pa
rents.
Following her talk Miss Wade