Change Agent
OTs advocate on behalf of, and with clients, working toward positive change to improve programs, services, and society, within health and other systems. Practitioners work for population and community change in the funding, management, policy, and other systems that impact occupations.
My Experience...
In my community development placement opportunity, my OT partner and I along with two community developers, are advocating for an indigenous blood pressure clinic to be implemented in Kingston. There was a need recognized by an indigenous nurse practitioner to develop a program that would help to mediate the risks of stroke and heart disease among indigenous people through monitoring their blood pressure. This program is already functional in another area of Ontario, and it has changed and saved the lives of many indigenous individuals who can now manage their blood pressure to be able to reduce their risks of stroke and heart disease. As a team, we are advocating for the development of this program through encouraging the support of not only the Indigenous Health Council, but the support of organizations of Kingston that can ensure the continuity of this program. It is empowering to be a part of a community development program that is fighting for better health access and support for Indigenous individuals through a blood pressure clinic.
During my second fieldwork opportunity, there were many occasions where I had to support the OT role within that setting especially because it was role emerging and there was not a OT role established there previously. This was a difficult feat to accomplish, especially due to the fact that the educators didn’t know or understand what OTs were or their ability within their setting. My OT partner and I ensured that we were well versed in what OT was and our role within that setting, and we defined OT to not only the educators but to the students as well. It was a good experience to advocate for OT within that setting and that we had a place within that setting.
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I have yet to have many experiences advocating for clients, which is something that I need to develop and grow upon in the future. I believe that this skill will come from more experience and understanding OTs role within the practice setting.