Happy publication day to me! 🥳
My book ‘Occupational Therapy, Disability Activism, and Me’ is out NOW!!
I hope there is something there for everyone, thank you for allowing me to share my story. ❤️✨
In all honesty its been a tough couple of months trying to become a registered OT with my CP.
But today I finally received my registration and I can finally call myself an Occupational Therapist and I've never felt so fantastic!!! 🎉💚
I am thrilled to announce that today I've signed a publishing contract with
@JKPHealth
to write a book about ableism in occupational therapy practice! ✍️
This is BEYOND my wildest dreams thank you
@JKPBooks
for believing in me! I am so proud to have this opportunity.✨
To occupational health who told me I could never be an occupational therapist when I applied to uni 5 years ago because I couldn’t do manual handling. Yesterday I completed my manual handling train the trainer course with no queries because I could talk someone through it! 😌
Super excited to announce that you can now pre-order my book ‘Occupational Therapy, Disability Activism, and Me:
Challenging Ableism in Healthcare’. I’m so proud of this book and cannot wait to share it with you!❤️
Thank you
@JKPBooks
for everything!✨
I’m delighted to say that I have a job! I can't say much at the minute as it's a brand new rol, but I'm absolutely over the moon! I will hopefully be able to share more soon. But, I just wanted to thank you for all your support over these last few months you’re all amazing!💚🥰
Well I really didn't think I’d be sharing this news 2 and a half months ago but I'm pleased to announce that I'm about to embark on the world of occupational therapy with a First Class Honours!!🍾🥂💚
I did it, I completed and passed my final occupational therapy placement!🥳 Now I have 2 more months at university before I become a qualified occupational therapist!🥰💚
I’ve finally got my book! It's so surreal having a copy of the book in my hands. I'm so proud of myself!🥹📖
The book comes out a week today! Please keep pre-ordering!
Dear OT Community,
I am 19 years old with right sided hemiplegia and I study Journalism in Southampton. Without the support from people like OTs, I could not be following my dream. The job you do is so important to so many.
@NedKelly02
- CP Community
It’s been a great first day
@Hudds_Uni_OT
! Yes, I can finally spill the beans on my new job… I’m going to be working as a clinical demonstrator in occupational therapy at
@HuddersfieldUni
! I’m so excited to work with the team and get stuck into this new and innovative role!💚
🎵Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah🎵
Enquired about a OT job this morning, explained my CP.
Received a reply saying they feel it's best I get to know the environment first before deciding if the role is suitable and have invited me for a visit!🙌
It really is that simple.
Happy World Occupational Therapy Day!💚
Yes, there are barriers that need to be dismantled. But I love this profession so much and I cannot wait to get into the working work of occupational therapy!💚🥰
Here’s me in green to celebrate!💚
Dear OT Community,
Lennie is 9 and a budding musician. Music is his world- it soothes, excites, drives and allows him to express himself. Lennie has CP from extreme prematurity and uses a wheelchair. He struggles to hold a pencil but is able to play.
@TunesLennie
- CP Community
Great pre-interview meeting. Answered all my worries and made me feel at ease. For the first time in the job hunting process I came out thinking that adjustments CAN be put into place and and I CAN work as an occupational therapist.
The day finally came. Today I discussed my experiences becoming a registered occupational therapist and made suggestions for change
Thank you to those from
@The_HCPC
who listened and had this conversation with me. I look forward to continuing our working relationship.
The face of a very smiley girl who has just SUBMITTED her manuscript!🥹
At times I didn’t think I’d complete it within the deadline but I’m so thrilled I have and thankful for the amazing support I’ve received along the way!🥰
I’m so excited to see what the next year brings!✨
Dear OT Community,
Disabilities don't make us incapable or unable. It might take longer or need a different path but we'll get there. Please don't always make us do it your way, our way might actually be better for us (and for you). Let's work together to achieve our goals.
NEW POST: Finally! Becoming a Registered Occupational Therapist
"[...] I understand that my registration process was never going to be straightforward, but 3-long months of waiting had, had a massive impact on my mental health [...]"
I'm overjoyed to announce that I am a Rising Star on the
@ShawTrust
’s
#DisabilityPower100
.
I can't even begin to explain how much this means. What a great event, a huge congratulations to everyone!💜
Congratulations to Georgia Vine
@GeorgiaVineOT
who has been nominated for the Positive Role Model (Disability) Award at The National Diversity Awards 2021. To vote please visit
#NDA21
#Nominate
#VotingNowOpen
Ed Sheeran tickets go on sale today. But I realised that disabled access tickets can only be booked by phoning which is rather inaccessible to me. I contacted Ed’s manager about this ableist reflection and I’ve just received an email saying you can book online. Enjoy fellow fans!
Dear OT Community,
As someone who has mild cerebral palsy, I feel CP awareness month is an important time to raise awareness of the aspects which aren’t so well understood, such as the fact that CP is not always an obvious visible disability.
@Natalie_MLW
- CP community
Dear OT Community,
Just because I need adjustments to when and how I work, and because I may have more sick days does not mean I am any less of an employee. If I’m “good when you’re here”! find ways to keep me.
@Occ4LifeLTD
@AbleOTsUK
-Disability Community
Dear OT Community,
I wish people knew how harmful using the word spastic is. Spasticity is a medical term used to describe people with my type of CP that get tense. Calling someone this is rude and implies I'm unintelligent because of my disability.
@franariella
-CP Community
Happy International Wheelchair Day!!🦼♿
My wheelchair provides me with so much joy by eliminating some pain and fatigue in so I can carry out my daily occupations. Yes, accessibility is a palaver and I'm still trying to get confident using my wheelchair in certain places.1/2
Happy international wheelchair day!!♿️
I’m so proud to be an ambulatory wheelchair user and thankful that my wheelchairs are there to help me manage chronic fatigue and pain!👩🏻🦼
The Occupational Therapy and Play Practice Guidelines have launched and I am beyond privileged to have written a forewords for them!🥹
At the beginning of the year, I was adamant I wasn’t getting involved in any new projects until I’d submitted my manuscript. 1/
Finally shared my challenges getting registered in
@OTnews
. Thank you
@annekeen55
for writing this piece with me and educating us all on what can be a very conflicting time. I will not stop advocating till everyone knows their rights, making sure no one experiences what I did.🫶🏻
I’m not one to post grades on social media but seen as I shared everything about my
#VirtualOTPlacement
on here and I couldn’t have done it without everyone input... I’m happy to announce that I got a 1st!
This assignment was about my
@OTalk_
so thank you to those who took part!
Just drove on my own for the first time. It's wasn't far but I did it. I know it's long overdue (I’ve been slowing grading this) but I'm feeling proud!! Next step increase the demands again by going further! 🤗
Super excited to announce that you can now pre-order my book ‘Occupational Therapy, Disability Activism, and Me:
Challenging Ableism in Healthcare’. I’m so proud of this book and cannot wait to share it with you!❤️
Thank you
@JKPBooks
for everything!✨
Hey! Just wanted to say a massive thank you to everyone for the interview prep! Unfortunately, it wasn't the one but the interview itself went well, just too physical. I am exploring other options and I can't say too much but just wanted to let you know and send love to you all!
NEW POST: What Is a Virtual Occupational Therapy Placement?
'The online disabled community is growing. So, why isn't occupational therapy growing with it?...;'
#VirtualOTPlacement
Just logged onto the NHS jobs website to realise that I have now been browsing for jobs on there for a year!😥
I have an interview for a paediatric role next week. I know I've asked for tips a million times but I am RUBBISH at interviews. Any help? This is my dream role 🥺
I'm a disabled occupational therapist. You’d think working in healthcare they'd be no ableism but there is A LOT. Right from before you even start studying. I've faced so much ableism already just a year into qualifying. 1/
@josierones
#RosieJonesTellathon
I’ve just sent off my first talk for a international conference. I am in disbelief that people from different parts of the world want to hear my story!🥺
Just done my first trial commute to work with Dad, still got a bit of practice to do but I’m so pleased with how it went!🥰
This route was actually one of my favourite routes to drive in my driving lessons, it just proves that everything happens for a reason!❤️💫
MY FAVOURITE DAY OF THE YEAR HAS ARRIVED!
Happy World Cerebral Palsy Day 2022!!!💚🌏
This years theme is still millions of reasons with a focus on accessible technology. 👩🏻💻1/
#WorldCerebralPalsyDay
Thank you to everyone who came to celebrate with me yesterday. A huge thank you to
@OT_rach
for giving an amazing speech! 🥳
I was then joined by family and friends in the evening a truly special day!🥰
Just had occupational health, where I was listened to and understood. They knew that I knew my needs best and that I didn’t have all the answers as chronic fatigue and pain fluctuates.
What is sad however is the fact that I found this so refreshing when it should be the norm. 🙈
Due to recent events I decided the next steps was to make a petition to change this ableist system to make accessible tickets accessible.
Please sign and share!
Stop accessible concert tickets being inaccessible to purchase!
I got made an example of for using the chat feature instead of speaking on Zoom. When I explained that I was using the chat because of my speech impairment I just got ”Okay Georgia” with no apology or no private message after. I can't believe incidents like this still happen!🙈🤯
Wasn’t expecting to be on the front cover of
@OTnews
this month! Thank you for highlighting my article on ableism in the profession to mark Disability Pride Month!🥳💚
NEW POST: Do You Notice Ableism Around You?
"[...] “I’m not ableist, I’m an occupational therapist” doesn’t cut it anymore, yeah, it's not nice to think that a profession that prides itself on person-centred practice [...]"
Another unsuccessful interview today due to lack of experience. Considering volunteering not quite the route I wanted to go down post-grad. I feel like I am being penalised because I couldn't work and study due to my CP.
So volunteering it is, any other advice?? Thank you 💚x
I'm privileged to share that I've been shortlisted for the Rising Star category of the
#DisabilityPower100
- the
@ShawTrust
's publication of the 100 most influential disabled people in the UK!
Making this list as I start my life as a OT is really special, I'm still disbelief. ✨
VIVA done, dissertation proposal handed in🥳... I have lovely few days planned this weekend-I'm ACTUALLY leaving the house!!! 🤪 I now have the summer to work on the blog (exciting things coming) and find my first ever OT job!!💚
My publication event is happening in Sheffield on May 4th 2024!🎉
I will be discussing the book followed by a Q&A hosted by the fabulous
@margaretOT360
! 💚
The incredible
@OT_rach
will also be sharing her experiences!🩷
Find out more below!
⬇️
I am going to be a keynote speaker at the CountMeIn conference in 2020! I feel very honoured to have been asked and I am very thankful to The CHILD Research Group! 🌍💚
You can find more about the conference and The CHILD Research Group here:
First week done!! I can’t wait until I’m into my role more and can write a blog. I get to use both my occupational therapy and my disabled activist hats and it’s so awesome!😆
I went out last night... A bouncer looked at my ID and said that I was too drunk.
So I showed him my access card to prove that I wasn’t drunk. Although an apology would have been nice I was pleased that my plan worked. I will never go on a night out without my card again!
Very excited to start my virtual mental health placement tomorrow! I can't believe this is my final placement and that in a few months time I’ll be a qualified OT!🙈🥰💚
Dear OT Community,
Think outside the box to support colleagues with disabilities. Just because something has always been done one way that doesn’t mean it is the only way it can be done. Retain the lessons from the pandemic. Think flexibly.
@Occ4LifeLtd
-Disability Community
From next week I am doing a virtual placement up until the end of May. Therefore, I will be a lot more active on social media, telling you about my work as a virtual OT. There will be a blog every week during this time. More information on this will be in Fridays blog post...💚
Next month is CP awareness month and I've been thinking about what I could do. Again, using the power of online communities I was thinking of giving a shout-out to 25 amazing people in the CP community that the OT community may not be aware of. Thoughts?🤔💚
Me: *Explains what I do*
He/she/them: Cool, but disability rights have come a long way.
YES, disability rights have come a long way and I have respect for activists who fought hard. BUT we need to stop using how far we’ve come as an excuse to not discuss what we’ve got to do!!
Happy International Day of Persons with Disabilities. Personally I prefer the phrase disabled person yet, this is a meaningful day. But, what I and others would like to see today is our allies as it’s tiring advocating all year round. So, to see your support today would be ace!
This is my cousin Tommy. As much as I adore kids, due to my physical difficulties I am never the big cousin that can pick them up (yes don't be fooled I managed to hold Tommy for a 10-second snapshot🙈😂) and I often use to feel like I wasn't fulfilling my 'big cousin duties'.1/4
Today was the virtual award ceremony as I received the Michael Masterson Prize for Excellence in Adversity at graduation. What a honour to get this award. Thank you to my tutors who put me forwarded and supported me.
To get this award with
@Khanwali1170
was extra special!🥰💚
Is there a model that is useful to explain the stages of accepting a disability or impairment?
I wanting to look into this question for future blog posts. Could you help me out by sharing this as far as possible, please? Thank you so much!
Tonight our Oastler building will be illuminated green in support of Occupational Therapy Week. OT Week is a national awareness-raising campaign dedicated to celebrating the life-changing power of occupational therapy.
Visit
@theRCOT
's profile for more information
#OTWeek23
#InternationalDayofPeopleWithDisabilities
, or disabled people as I prefer. Although it's important to have these days, disabled people's views matter every single day and we must acknowledge lived experience in order to create a society disabled people truly feel they belong!💜
In tears because I've just skimmed over the book for tomorrow and caught the last page where I briefly talk about finding a partner who gets me and now I'm 8-months into the best relationship I could ask for 🥹❤️
Super excited to announce that you can now pre-order my book ‘Occupational Therapy, Disability Activism, and Me:
Challenging Ableism in Healthcare’. I’m so proud of this book and cannot wait to share it with you!❤️
Thank you
@JKPBooks
for everything!✨
Dear OT community,
I’m proud of my disabilities. They make me who I am. I want to dismantle the myths and misinformation, and I want you to help me. Being an ally is educating yourself, continuously.
@AlexandratheOT
@AbleOTsUK
- Disability Community
Well, it was a lovely surprise to open
@ot_magazine
yesterday and be named as one of the unmissable events
@TheOTShow
! Thank you so much!
Find out more about my experience:
“I’ll say it now The OT Show has changed my life.”
Today has been such a great day. I drove to and from
@Hudds_Uni_OT
(with dad still not there yet BUT it is the first time I’ve done both ways in a day). Then I’ve come home and done some freelancing.
Oh, how I wish I had this much energy everyday!🥰
What a privilege it was to be invited to the
@theRCOT
awards!💚 It was an honour to meet some amazing people and represent
@AbleOTUK
and
@Hudds_Uni_OT
! 🥰
Join me at The Occupational Therapy Show on 24-25 November at the NEC Birmingham it's the must attend event for all Occupational Therapists! Learn more & book ticket at - Don't miss out!
I did a thing yesterday!! I got the train independently to Manchester to see
@HamiltonWestEnd
tour!!
What a way to start Disability History Month! Blog coming soon! 💚
Due to unforeseen circumstances publication has been delayed a week. I also am yet to receive my copy so it’s not just you lovely people this is affecting!
But on with the show! It’s still only 3-weeks away… Who’s excited? 😆