Students in Brenau University's occupational therapy department hosted a luncheon in December to celebrate and thank their community partners. This new program introduced OT students to the daily lives of people with disabilities who live in the community.
Community partners in the program are people with disabilities brought about by factors including stroke, birth defects, developmental disabilities, head injury or mental illness. The students spent time each week with their partners in various activities, from dining to attending movies to just visiting.
"The purpose of the community partners experience for our students is to get to know people with disabilities as 'people' first," said Barbara Schell, Ph.D., Brenau's occupational therapy department chairman.
"It is apparent that the community partners enjoyed getting to know our students and teaching them about themselves," said Robin Underwood, the program's fieldwork coordinator.
"Students were surprised to find that the biggest challenges facing their community partners were the social attitudes they encounter," Underwood said. "Often, these individuals are capable of participating in all aspects of life. This is an important insight for future occupational therapists whose role in health care is to help people do the everyday life activities that they want and need to do."