U of T occupational therapy student Heather Moyse participated in the 2006 Winter Olympics as the brakeman for the Canadian women's bobsled team - Canada 1. They missed a bronze medal by less than 1/10th of a second! Her story begins on page 5. May - June 2006 Volume 8 – Number 3 P h o t o D a v i d B u s t o table of contents n 2 10 22 Letter to the Editor Critically Appraised Papers The acculturation of interna- Re: Do people with schizo- tionally educated health phrenia improve equally in professionals in Canada 3 learning to cook in clinic Claudia von Zweck and at home? Editorial 10 • Structured Abstract Mary Clark 11 • Commentary 25 Catherine Vallée Qualification recognition framework underway for 5 support personnel Sense of Doing 14 Donna Klaiman Pushing the boundaries: In memoriam: occupational challenges and Jocelyn Alexander the drive to reach potential 26 Heather Moyse Tal Jarus arrives at UBC CAOT endorsed courses 7 15 27 In touch with assistive 2005-2006 Mid-year report: News from the Foundation technology Claudia von Zweck An occupational therapist’s intellectual property: FAQs 32 Tapas K. Pain 19 Occupational therapy then: Why government relations Stories from our past matter If these walls could talk, Donna Klaiman what would they tell us? Heather McDonald OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY NOW . MAY 2006 . VOLUME 8 . 3 1 Letter to the editor Occupational Therapy Now is published six times a year (bimonthly beginning with January) by the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists (CAOT). Dear Ms. Clark ence to the treatment of the First I was surprised to read the title Nations people in Canada and also MANAGING EDITOR Mary Clark, BScOT, MDE The Canadian Holocaust- retriev- in how it might be perceived by Tel. (604) 536-4575 (BC) ing our souls. I sympathize with those who feel that the term holo- e-mail: [email protected] the plight of the First Nations caust should be reserved for the COLUMN EDITORS people. However, to use the word atrocities of World War II. This Critically Appraised Papers “Holocaust” is inappropriate. Six information was shared with the Lori Letts, PhD million Jews in addition to hun- author who felt that the term was International Connections Anne Carswell, PhD dreds of gypsies and physically/ appropriate and is used by others In Touch with mentally challenged people were in describing the residential Assistive Technology exterminated, sent to the gas schools and First Nations treat- Elizabeth Steggles, Dip OT chambers. ment in Canada. Sense of Doing Occupational therapist Sincerely Helene J. Polatajko, PhD & Jane A. Davis, MSc Debbie Bauer, CAOT member Mary Clark Tele-occupational therapy Managing Editor, OT Now Lili Liu, PhD and Editor’s Note Masako Miyasaki, PhD Many thanks for your letter of Dear Ms. Clark Watch Your Practice concern. We did consider many The fundamental objection of the Muriel Westmorland, MSc Private Practice Insights definitions of the word holocaust Jewish community to the use of Lorian Kennedy, MScOT in our decision to print the title as this term to describe any genocide written by the author. We found, other than the one which decimat- TRANSLATION De Shakespeare à Molière, that although the term ‘holocaust’ ed the Jewish people can be sum- Services de traduction is most frequently used in refer- marized as follows: ence to World War II, this is not 1. Those who were murdered by COPY EDITOR David Dolsen the only holocaust that has the Nazis were progressively occurred in the history of stripped of their rights, their ON-LINE KEY WORD EDITOR Kathleen Raum mankind. These definitions were humanity and their lives. Even in carefully reviewed in terms of the death they were denied the dignity CAOT EDITORIAL BOARD Chairperson: Catherine Vallée word’s appropriateness in refer- continued on p. 4 Members: Pam Andrews, Emily Etcheverry, Gail Langton, Anita Unruh & Brenda Vrkljan. 8 1 4 Statements made in contributions to COPYRIGHT Ex-officio: Mary Clark, 4 3 Occupational Therapy Now are made solely Copyright of Occupational Therapy Now is Fern Swedlove 0 0 on the responsibility of the author and held by the Canadian Association of 4 # CAOT PATRON unless so stated do not reflect the official Occupational Therapists. Permission must be T Her Excellency the Right N position of CAOT, and CAOT assumes no obtained in writing from CAOT to photocopy, E responsibility for such statements. reproduce or reprint any material published Honourable Michaëlle Jean C.C., M E C.M.M., C.O.M., C.D. E Occupational Therapy Now encourages dia- in the magazine unless otherwise noted. R logue on issues affecting occupational thera- There is a per page, per table or figure Governor General of Canada G A pists and welcomes your participation. charge for commercial use. Individual mem- T CAOT PRESIDENT S bers of CAOT or ACOTUP have permission to O P EDITORIAL RIGHTS RESERVED photocopy up to 100 copies of an article if Diane Méthot A such copies are distributed without charge D Acceptance of advertisements does not imply CAOT EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR A for educational or consumer information N endorsement by Occupational Therapy Now Claudia von Zweck A nor by the Canadian Association of purposes. C Occupational Therapists. RETURN UNDELIVERABLE Copyright requests may be sent to: CANADIAN ADDRESSES TO: Lisa Sheehan ADVERTISING Canadian Association of Occupational CAOT – CTTC Building Lisa Sheehan Therapists (CAOT) 3400 – 1125 Colonel By Drive Ottawa, Ontario KIS 5R1 CAN (613) 523-2268, ext. 232 CTTC Bldg., Suite 3400 2 3 e-mail: [email protected] 1125 Colonel By Drive E-mail: [email protected] 5 5 Ottawa, ON. Tel. (613) 523-2268 - 1 SUBSCRIPTIONS Tel. (800) 434-CAOT (2268) 8 Canada K1S 5R1 4 1 Linda Charney Fax. (613) 523-2552 Tel. (613) 523-2268, ext. 232 : (613) 523-2268, ext. 242 Fax. (613) 523-2552 N www.caot.ca • www.otworks.ca S S e-mail: [email protected] e-mail: [email protected] I 2 OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY NOW . MAY 2006 . VOLUME 8 . 3 Editorial Mary Clark en years ago, when former CJOT Editor reports that challenged the positions of the associ- Geraldine Moore and I presented a paper at ation and shed light on questionable practices of Tthe CAOT Conference in Edmonton, Sue members of other health professions. The result Forwell, the speakers’ introducer, stated that I had was to replace the editors with what the publisher been editor of the National newsletter for over 13 described as “a fresh approach”. years. It threw my entire presentation. Thirteen CMAJ is a peer reviewed medical journal that years – could it have been that long? Well, it was, provides health information to Canadian doctors and now after moving the newsletter to and the public, and which, according to the early Occupational Therapy Now, I’ve pushed it to 23 electronic release on March 16 of an editorial in years and I am in equal disbelief. To grossly the New England Journal of Medicine, is ranked as understate the situation, it’s probably time for a the 5th leading medical journal in the world. In change. addition to peer reviewed research articles, it pub- I’ve always maintained that I have had one of lishes commentaries and news reports. All three the best jobs the profession has offered in Canada. types of articles are quite capable of containing As editor of Occupational Therapy Now, I have information that is contrary to the positions of the had the pleasure of working with both established CMA, so policies concerning editorial independ- and new writers who volunteer their time to write ence require careful consideration. The CMAJ edi- about what matters to them and about what mat- torial board felt that news reporting in the journal ters to the profession. The support that I have is as important as peer reviewed research papers. received from my column editors, the CAOT They placed the two side-by-side. In some ways, National Staff and the CAOT Editorial Board, you could say they popularized their journal. In including the now defunct OT Now Advisory my opinion, they successfully married scholarly Committee, has been outstanding. A special thanks academic writing with acute journalism. Bravo. goes to our translator and colleague Luce Ouellet In doing so they broadened the appeal of the who quietly translates no less than 10,000 words journal, and maintained that it is an important each issue, ensuring that language is not a barrier publication not just for Canadian doctors but also to accessing articles in OT Now. I am leaving at a the Canadian public. The full journal is available very positive time and am happy to pass the red online and thus accessible to anyone with access pen on to my colleague Fern Swedlove, who is to the Internet. It is one of the few, if not the only, transferring her editorial prowess from CJOT to health professional journals to do so in Canada, OT Now. I thank you all very much. and therefore has moved beyond enlightening just Other editors have not been as fortunate. its own to enlightening the public in general. Setting the editorial direction and policies for Unfortunately the CMAJ’s editorial board association publications is not easy. Developing failed to convince the association to move beyond frameworks to ensure editorial independence and serving just its own. The CMA appears to have balancing the public’s right to know with the difficulty with open debate regarding their posi- desire to protect a profession’s reputation, have tions and with responsible journalism that holds been brought to the forefront with the February professionals accountable for unethical practices.