October / November / December • Issue 4 • 2013 March/ April • Issue 9 • 2008 THE communiquéIllinois Occupational Therapy Association Carrie L. Nutter, MS, OTR/L CROR ooves, Paws, Claws and Wings H Animals in the Military Occupational therapy’s roots were Although food was scarce, the needs of the In this issue: implanted during World War I and as horses were a priority and many equine therapistse w have helped many war veterans handlers themselves went into fields to beat over the years. oats and corn for • Student Voice Manyf o the war food. Those in heroes are actually In honor of Veterans Day and those needf o rest and Read about Alejandra animals. relaxation were sent Villanueva’s work with Horses, dogs, cats who have served, currently serve to Convalescent the Urban Allied Health and birds are some of and/or will serve our country - and Home Depots Academy on Page 8 the animals that have where they could and Gina La Ruffa & Hali played a major role in to acknowledge those who help - enjoy the peace and Bednarz’s fieldwork the military efforts please enjoy learning about some of quietf o a grassy at Hamdard Center on during various wars field and good Page 14. and found a place the programs that help veterans. food and water in the hearts of both for brief spells. soldiers and civilians. The Veterinary • Clinical Spotlight Although “War Corps provided Horse”s i a fictional movie, its plot does careo t the horses and mules. A chief horse Discover how Brad resurrect some compilations of events that master was assigned to every unit and these Egan’s field experiences did occur throughout the United States and individuals gave expert advice to the troops have shaped him as a Europe. Horses and mules in the military regarding care of the horses. teacher on Page 10. during this time period (World War I) Unfortunately, many horses and mules were o used t pull heavy artillery as vehicles lost their lives in the war and after the war. were still considered unreliable at this time. • Important Update …Continued on Page 7 An AOTA update on a new Federal law Lorin Lindner, PhD including Occupational Therapy in States’ Quality Mental Health, arriors and Wolves on Page 12. W Veterans often return from combat • Legislative Update not certain of their role in society. This is no less valid for the most recent conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan where – for the first Changes to state turning with an extraordinary incidence of agencies on Page 3. timenS i U history – our men and women in the Armed Forces were seeing upwards of posttraumatic stress disorders, complex stress five o tours t the Middle East. One reason for disorders, and traumatic brain injuries. Of- this is that – also for the first time – veterans ten this impedes their ability to find work. have been facing the highest unemployment But at the Lockwood Animal Res- rates ever seen. Our combat veterans are re- cue Center’s (LARC) Warrior and Wolves …Continued on Page 6 ILOTA Board The Communiqué The Illinois Occupational Therapy Association of Illinois is the official The mission of the Communiqué is to inform Illinois Occupational Therapy representation of the OT professionals in the Association (ILOTA) members of current issues, trends and events affecting the practice of State of Illinois. Occupational Therapy. The ILOTA publishes this newsletter quarterly. ILOTA acknowledges and promotes professional excellence through a proactive, ILOTA does not sanction or promote one philosophy, procedure, or technique over organized collaboration with OT personnel, another. Unless otherwise stated, the material published does not receive the endorsement the health care community, governmental or reflect the official position of the ILOTA. The Illinois Occupational Therapy Association agencies and consumers. hereby disclaims any liability or responsibility for the accuracy of material accepted for publication and techniques described. President Peggy Nelson Deadlines and Information President-elect Lisa Mahaffey Articles and ads must be submitted by the last day of the month prior to the month of Bylaws: Position Open publication. Contact the ILOTA office for more information and advertising submission forms: Officeadvanced Manager Jennifer Dang P.O. Box 4520 Secretary Lisle, IL 60532 Lisa Iffland Phone: 708-452-7640 Archives: Ashley Stoffel & Fax (866) 459-4099 Kathy Priessner Website: www.ilota.org Research Director of Finance Lisa Mahaffey ILOTA Newsletter Editorial Committee Continuing Education Co-Chairs Catherine Brady and Kim Bryze Carrie Nutter • Mara Sonkin • LaVonne St. Amand CE Approval Chairs Katie Polo & Mark Kovic Newsletter design by Holly DeMark Neumann Reimbursement Chair Nancy Richman Conference Coordinator ADVERTISING RATES Anne Kiraly-Alvarez Janet Adcox Vendor ads Professional Development Coordinator Lisa Castle Full page . $535 Half page . $425 1/4 page . $315 1/16 page . $205 Director of Advocacy Robin Jones Public Policy Coordinator Employment Ads Position Open Full page . $480 Half page . $370 Director of Membership 1/4 page . $260 1/16 page . $150 Kylene Canham Retention Coordinator Susan Quinn Continuing Education Ads Activation Coordinator Position Open Full page . $260 Half page . $205 Recruitment Coordinator 1/4 page . $150 1/16 page . $ 95 Position Open Director of Communication Typesetting Fees Carolyn Calamia Website Coordinator Full page . $100 Half page . $ 60 Position Open 1/4 page . $ 35 1/16 page . $ 15 Newsletter Coordinator Carrie Nutter Networking Coordinator Don’t forget to renew your membership online at Position Open AOTA Representative www.ilota.org! Rachel Dargatz Page 2 OctoberAugust / November / September / December • Issue • 3Issue • 2008 4 • 2013 President’s Address: Redefining the Future Peggy Nelson This year’s annual ILOTA settings such as community reintegration, and the growing conference was another great success importance of occupational therapy involvement in mental with over 300 attendees from all health. This is right in line with the goals of our updated over the state. Despite having a practicet ac that will go into effect in 2014 to guide us into firen i the original hotel planned the next ten years. for conference three weeks before Another highlight of the conference was the the event, the conference team discussion around the occupational therapy rules within overcame huge hurdles to create a Illinois. The rules are currently being reviewed for approval seamless experience for our attendees in s 2014 a well to ensure the current language supports and vendors at a new location—the updateso t educational requirements, accuracy of modality Peoria Civic Center. Many thanks to expectations within the state, and addition of components Anne Kiraly-Alvarez, Jennifer Dang, to incorporate utilization of technology in practice as Janet Adcox, and the ILOTA Executive Board for countless appropriate. We continue to welcome feedback from hours of planning to ensure everything fell into place. practitioners across the state on these important topics. Feel “Obstacles don’t have to stop you. If you run into freeo t contact us at [email protected] if you are interested in a wall, don’t turn around and give up. Figure out how to being involved. climb it, go through it, or work around it.” ~Michael Jordan We also announced our newly elected board Our theme “Coloring Outside the Lines… members. Congratulations and welcome to our newest Redefining Practice” was brought to light with our keynote Executive Board Members: addressy b Dan Brown, Senior Policy Analyst from AOTA. Lisa Mahaffey, President Elect He shared insight into future opportunities for occupational Kylene Canham, Director of Membership therapy practitioners with the Affordable Care Act, Robin Jones, Director of Advocacy including occupational therapy presence in primary care, enhanced focus on occupational therapy in non-traditional …Continued on Page 8 Maureen Mulhall Legislative Update: Change is Coming ILOTA Lobbyist Sometimes it seems that the only constant in life individual waivers in hopes of is change. I realize that is a cliché’, and yet it seems ap- reconciling service gaps across propriate with the current state of health care. In the the waivers and to unify ser- casef o occupational therapy, HB 2996, the bill that ex- vice definitions in order to tends the Occupational Therapy Licensing Act for 10 meet the needs of multiple more years, has many changes in it beginning with the populations. The waivers in- very definition of occupational therapy. The changes in cluded in this proposal are: the Act are designed to respond to changes in health care deliverys a a result of the Affordable Care Act. And of Children and Young Adults course once the ACA begins to be implemented in 2014 with Developmental Disabili- we will really begin to notice changes – changes in who ties Support Waiver (DHS- gets care, how much care is delivered and who pays for DDD) the n care. I Illinois we will also experience the expansion Children and Young Adults with Developmental Dis- of Medicaid to new populations as well as the continuing abilities Residential Waiver (DHS-DDD) changef o converting more Medicaid clients to managed Children that are Technology Dependent/Medically care. Fragile (UIC) Yet more changes are on the horizon with some- Persons with Disabilities (DHS-DRS) thing called the 1115 Waiver. This is a new initiative of Persons with Brain Injuries (DHS-DRS) Governor Quinn and will impact several state agencies. Adults with Developmental Disabilities (DHS-DDD) Within the Department of Human Services, the divi- Persons who are Elderly (DOA) sionsf o Developmental Disabilities, Mental Health, Al- Persons with HIV or AIDS (DHS-DRS) cohol and Substance Abuse and Rehabilitation Services Supportive Living Facilities (HFS-BLTC) are involved. The Departments of Aging and Health- care and Family Services are also engaged in this waiver proposal. The Governor is proposing to combine several …Continued on Page 11 Page 3 Why I help people: The animal perspective This e issue, w are doing our photo opinion column a bit differently.