Thanking Our Occupational Therapists

Colleagues, clients and caregivers show appreciation to SPD’s OTs in celebration of Occupational Therapy Day.

Colleagues, clients and caregivers show appreciation to SPD’s OTs in celebration of Occupational Therapy Day.

“Dear Eloise, your gentle spirit is like a balm to your clients’ anxieties. Thank you for doing your best for them!”

“Mrinmoy, keep smiling and encouraging! How to describe you? Approachable best confidant, compassionate, dependable, eager to help, friendly, genuine, helpful etc etc etc”

“Sheena, thanks for being an understanding and patient therapist. Two thumbs up!!!”

“Thank you Charlotte!”

These are some of the appreciation notes written for our occupational therapists (OTs) in a week-long activity held in conjunction with Occupational Therapy Day on 11 January.

SPD has more than 40 OTs who support persons with disabilities in programmes and services offered at SPD as well as in the community.

Appreciation board at SPD Ability Centre

Appreciation boards were put up at our headquarters and satellite centres from 11 to 18 January for SPD staff, clients and caregivers to share notes of appreciation to our OTs. A series of videos were also shared with all colleagues to increase staff awareness about OTs’ role in assisting our clients in functioning more independently.

A client’s appreciation message to OT Sheena Astilla –
“Thanks for being an understanding and patient therapist. Two thumbs up!!!”

Tan Zhen Min, an OT who works with children and also an organising member of this year’s Occupational Therapy Day activities at SPD, shared some thoughts on her work. “Our transdisciplinary (trans-d) team of professionals including OTs, speech therapists, physiotherapists, psychologists, social workers and teachers work together to achieve the goals set for the children.”

OT Tan Zhen Min working with a client

“At times, the child doesn’t seem to improve, for example, in their handwriting and level of concentration, but we will strive on, continue to work with the child and parents and try other intervention methods. Hence, sharing and brainstorming sessions within the team help to put forth possible ways of intervention to help the child. It is satisfying when we see the child improve as that’s when we know that we have done something that makes a difference.”

Congenital and developmental conditions, injuries, illnesses or old age can affect one’s ability to perform day-to-day tasks independently. An OT works with persons of all ages, from children to seniors, to facilitate independent living, promoting integration and reintegration to society and improving an individual’s quality of life. Using activities to achieve specific goals, OTs develop, enhance and maintain a person’s capacity to perform the tasks and roles essential to daily living, such as self-care, work and social participation. The OTs could be working with the client on movement techniques such as getting out of bed, dressing and eating, or working with children on their hand-eye co-ordination which is essential for play and schoolwork. OTs will collaborate with clients and their family members to achieve the client-centred therapy goals. Besides conducting therapy, OTs also educate clients and caregivers on home programmes, home adaptions and assistive devices.

Here’s a glimpse of some of our OTs at work.

OT Mrinmoy Karmakar working with a senior client on motor skills

OT Dawn Ching engaging seniors with dementia in a game of “five-stones”

OT Charlotte Choo assisting a client in using a rollator

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