Filling the gap: 'OT's for tertiary'

What will this 'OT's for tertiary' service look like?
 It will be a holistic Occupational therapy service.
Based on the 'model of human occupation' (MOHO) a client centred framework. This framework is based on the person as a human system, how the environment presses and affords on that human system, and as a result what is the occupational behavior of that person.   
Also the bio-mechanical framework, which is divided into three areas of intervention, compensation, prevention and maintenance. Compensation is where OT's can issue students equipment to compensate for their physical deficits within the class room/ lab/ tutorials/ office and wherever else the student needs to be as apart of their studies. Prevention is where the OT can prescribe activities that will prevent further physical deformity. Maintenance, is the prescription of activity, positioning, to maintain the students current physical abilities, so that they can continue to study.
 
How would students access this sort of service? 
Anyone with a physical deficit that has affected them part-way through their tertiary study can be referred. Referrals will be accepted by hospital OTs, tertiary study staff, self referrals, friends and family.







Is one Occupational therapist per university needed? 
No, I think if we took this sort of approach, some of the smaller Polytechnics and tertiary study providers will miss out on funding, therefore it will not be a sufficient.

Will one private community service cover a city?
Yes, this approach will be location specific. In larger city's there will be more than one office for students to access. Any one office will cover all tertiary study providers in the area, and has access to all of New Zealand 'OT's for tertiary' offices to gain and exchange information if a student is looking to change their location of study. 

What is student friendly?
Accessible, close to tertiary study providers, being treated as an individual, good therapeutic relationships, a community service.

Do we need tertiary study providers to advertise our services for us?  
 Yes, we will have a partnership with the tertiary study providers, they will advertise for us and we will keep their students returning after trauma. Part of being student friendly is also about advertising in the right places so that the students are knowledgeable about our service, ensuring the students find us approachable and supported by their study provider.


Who will fund us? Private, government, tertiary study providers? 
 I think the first place I would be applying for funding would be the New Zealand education board for government funding. The government, as I have said before, views students as 'employed' so just as we return paid employees to work, let's apply for funding so we can return our studying 'employees' back to work. If we don't come away with 100% of funding from the government, I will then hold conferences with the larger tertiary study providers. I will educate them of our service, present the financial and personal benefits and apply for a top-up of funding from the study providers.


How will we ensure we will have the knowledge to help these students gradually get back in to their wide variety of courses? 
Simply the students will educate the OT's on their individualistic courses, so that they can learn about the demands, expectations, hours, roles, performance and participation the student has. We then have the skills and knowledge to do study space assessments looking for things pressing and affording in the study environment. With all this knowledge the OT's can provide grading back to study programs.

What process will 'return to study' follow?
A grading process, it will look different for each individual, depending on physical capabilities, mental capabilities, course studies and other daily demands on the individual. Refer to the picture above for a framework of how a typical graded back to study program might look. 



Will there be any other professionals/ therapist that will be involved in this service? 
Yes, I would like to see a careers adviser be a part of this service. This role will help students who are thinking about a potential change in study path. Together the careers adviser and the student can look at interests, new/old experiences, and potential paths the student could take. They will ensure practical aspects of the student's recovery are considered in partnership with the OT.
Depending on the demands of the service, I would expect to need an assistant who has a relationship with the local tertiary study institutes. An assistant would help the students fill out all the correct paperwork for enrollment and cancellation of courses.