Jasmine: I first learned about occupational therapy (OT) through my own family’s experience of caregiving for my beloved Great Aunt. An occupational therapist enabled my Aunt to age in place, which gave her the key to living her life to the fullest. Through this experience, I learned that engaging in meaningful daily activities adds quality to people’s lives…COVID-19 has highlighted to me how important daily occupations are; our daily routines and roles have been completely turned upside down due to the pandemic. I believe occupational therapists are needed now more than ever.
Claudia: I have witnessed first-hand the impacts of disability and injuries on my family members’ quality of life and engagement in daily activities. By pursuing occupational therapy, I hope to help people participate and engage in occupations that are meaningful to them, while understanding how various factors may impact their functioning… The COVID-19 pandemic has refocused my attention to the importance of maintaining occupations during life transitions. This pandemic has impacted all of us to some extent, whether it be how we interact with our social circles, our employment status, and even how we engage in our leisure occupations.
Article by Julia Soudat, Temerty Faculty of Medicine Communications, November 18, 2020. Read their full statements.