Welcome to this July's issue of OTnews
July marks Disability Pride Month – a powerful opportunity to celebrate the voices, experiences and strengths of disabled people, and to challenge the barriers that still limit full inclusion. It’s also a timely reminder of the role we play, as occupational therapists, in pushing for equity, dignity and participation for all.
Neurodivergency – With a national spotlight on employment and workforce participation, we must be unapologetic advocates for those most excluded. Neurodivergent people, particularly autistic individuals, continue to face persistent challenges in accessing and sustaining meaningful work. Catherine Hurley calls on us to stand up and speak out. (pages 34-36)
Innovation in occupational therapy – Katy Lee shows how a closed canteen in a specialist inpatient hospital became something much more – a vocational café run by patients, rooted in occupational therapy values and real-world relevance. It’s a fantastic example of how we can rethink spaces and create opportunities that matter. (pages 50-51)
Post-viral support – We also hear from Laura Fraser and Gillian Scott who are making vital inroads in supporting people living with ME/CFS, post-viral fatigue and Long Covid – conditions that are often misunderstood but profoundly disabling. (pages 30-32)
Breathlessness rehabilitation – Helen West invites us to consider breathlessness rehabilitation as a field where occupational therapy expertise makes a real difference. (pages 24 to 27)
Improving equipment – Mark Rance and Dr Anita Mottram offer a masterclass in how the Kirklees equipment service is evolving to meet people’s needs more responsively and equitably. (pages 20 to 23)
And finally, when Emma Paed brought tabletop role-playing games into a psychiatric inpatient service, something powerful happened: patients reconnected with imagination and social connection. In this month’s cover feature she reflects on coproduction, creativity, and why meaningful play deserves a seat at the therapeutic table. (pages 16 to 19)
Read on to discover these stories and more in this issue.
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Share your story, service development, improvement journey or practice placement experience by contacting Tracey Samuels, our Editorial and Design Manager, at editorial@rcot.co.uk.