Human Calculator OT

2013 First Post

Bill Wong — Wed, 09 Jan 2013 19:13:38 GMT

This school year has been a coming out party for me. Sure, part of it was that I got my long overdue OTR/L. But the big part I wanted to focus on was me getting outside my comfort zone and having people hear what I do say on record. I got my first taste of that when I participated as a panelist for the Pediatrics Virtual Chat. Then, I did a radio interview through an invitation from Terry Olivas De La O, someone Dr. Karen Jacobs mentioned during her Eleanor Slagle Lecture. My latest adventures was being a guest on the OT Go To podcast, where Dr. Karen Jacobs was also a guest in a previous episode. The link of the episode can be found here. http://www.otgoto.com/e7-interview-with-bill-wong/

To be honest, I think the me of three years ago would have said I was really brave. After all, public speaking was a weakness of mine. I could get rattled if littlest of things go wrong. (I still do, but not as much now.) Some may say I was older and wiser. Some may say it's the professional help I have been receiving, particularly after it was discovered that I have Asperger's. Some may say it's me being motivated on multiple fronts- personal and professional wise. In reality, it was a combination of all these... though a lot have to do with the last factor.

Back on the podcast experience, I actually asked before hand to see if Michelle Taggart, an OT student who is in her final year of OT school in Utah, is interested in having me on the podcast after someone from the OT4OT group shared her work to fellow group members. After a brief chat on Facebook, I came to realize there was a mutual interest. So, we arranged for me to be on recording for the podcast a few weeks later.

The process in making this a little over half an hour podcast took almost 2 hours. It was a very fluid process as we touched on many things about me- as we both had input on what could be great on the podcast. Then, I waited for a little over a month for this episode to air... as I was anxious to hear what the OT community thinks.

As I was on break in Hong Kong, I have been receiving some tweets on my episode on Twitter. Overall, they found it really cool. My comment about Spice Girls was a little bit of a curveball for some people even though it was OT related (as I mentioned it as a "transition music" for me to get going). I decided to include it because I wanted people to see the other side of me... as I wanted people to know some fun facts about me because I can give people a false impression that I am an "all business, all the time" person.

Of course... with this year will be my first working year for me somehow some way. I have not figured out the way part yet. After all, whether I can work in an OT department as mostly a researcher and instructor is a question mark. So, an avenue I am looking at now (through help with my OTD faculty mentor) is Easter Seals. Sure, there are some rare set of intangibles and skills that I bring to the table. But at the same time, it will be a great test to see how effectively I can work with the people who need services there. In a sense, I really wonder how much what have worked for me will work for other individuals with autism. It will be a challenging sequence of trying to use my OT skills, teaching my clients on what I had learned, and being mindful that these clients are not me at times. The last will be a lifelong lesson for me. Sure, I know the principle of "no two cases are alike". But, the constant "unlearning" and "mindfulness" part is the hardest because I push myself to continue to reach great things in OT. YET, I have to fight my thinking sometimes that what I am doing now (or at baseline) maybe unlikely in my clients' present/future. So, my goal this year if I ever face such clients is- I will tell them up front, "If you think I ever push you too hard, let me know. I only say this because I went through some of the things you are going through now. I pushed myself very hard to get to where I am now. I don't expect you to be me. I just want to help you to get to where you want to be. If you need some help, I am here to give you pointers."

Sports Journalism & Mental Illness

Bill Wong — Sun, 25 Nov 2012 01:56:00 GMT

If you are an NBA basketball fan, you might already have heard of the ongoing stories about NBA rookie, Royce White, who bravely disclosed his fear of flying to the media. However, he has since been attacked by sports journalists for the things he failed to do. Unfortunately, I was guilty of making judgment on him too soon. Fortunately, some of my good OT friends pointed out how wrong my thinking maybe (which I need in situations like this). Then, as I read his tweets on Twitter, I realized they were correct and the sports journalists had taken what he said on Twitter and his actions out of context. This brings up my next question is- how do we as OT practitioners and students correct these misconceptions? I think the first thing we have to understand the sports industry perspective. (Disclaimer: I am no expert at this. I am just using my educated guess.) Royce White is a first round draft pick by the Houston Rockets. Veteran players aside, he has bigger expectations than a second round draft pick or some random first year player who came to training camp who was not drafted by any team. Moreover, he is paid more than these two types of players and most likely has a guaranteed contract. Not surprisingly, from a business standpoint (since NBA franchises are also businesses), fans, coaches, and team executives want to see him on the court so that they know whether the team made a good decision on him... as well as any other players who are on the team's active roster. But because he didn't do the things the team wanted him to do according to the reporters, he has since been attacked by reporters... and whenever he tried to defend himself, it only made things worse. That said... how accurate are these stories? As I read some of his tweets, I realized how wrong I was. The question then becomes- Should we in the OT community provide a voice for these athletes? Why? The answer is an obvious yes. The OT community, especially professionals who know a lot about mental health, can help correct misconceptions made by fans, journalists, and any other individuals who might not have as much insights to what an athlete like this is truly dealing with. Second, there are millions of people watching sports every day. It is not surprising to have a wide array of characters who might be making comments on stories like this over the Internet. Third, stories like this sure will be aired by major sports networks such as ESPN and Fox Sports, as well as put it in print on major sports websites. So, their opinions can sway sports fan onto thinking one way or another (and it sure had on me). Of course, in terms of media (at least from observation), the media can be forgiving for an athlete like this as long as he/she displays professionalism and being personable to sports journalists. On the other hand, the media can be unforgiving if a player does things that alienates his/her team and/or the media. In this case, the media has smashed down whatever attempts Royce White tried to defend himself, which are actually legit. What I take away from this is- whenever sports journalists writes something negative against an athlete with a disability, it is important to NOT rush to judgment before seeing the whole picture. There maybe things behind the scenes that these journalists failed to see in context and/or jumped in conclusion too quickly just to make a story. If the journalists provided only a "snapshot" of what happened, take it with a grain of salt. That "snapshot" may portray the athlete much differently than what the athlete him/herself intended to do. Also, it's important to advocate for an athlete like Royce White. The effort he did to bring awareness for people like him and the fact that he cared more about his well being should be something to be praised and respected, not criticized. Yes, the sports industry is a multi-billion dollar business and each roster spot is precious, but these two things should be in the back seat. Instead, the team should think about how to accommodate him the best it can on things that he and the team have control over so that he can have a legit shot at a career. To those fans and reporters who think that the Rockets should waive him so that it can get a player who can help the team near term, this transaction would not have made moral sense even though it may have make some competitive and business sense. At this point, waiving him essentially signals to the sports world that the team is giving up on him... and fining him is also considered as an unjust punishment. The more important point is for he and the team can come up with accommodations both teams can accept so that Royce White can have the opportunity to prove what he can do on the basketball court. Lastly, it's very hard to determine how long is too long (now is no more than 2-3 years, depending on whether the team exercises his option on his rookie contract) in terms of when the Rockets and Royce White should end their relationship if nothing is working out. Next time you read a sports journalist giving bad press to an athlete who are dealing with his/her personal issues, think again. There might be more to the story, even if that journalist is well known and well respected in the industry.

Pushing vs. Nurturing

Bill Wong — Tue, 23 Oct 2012 15:10:00 GMT

I am who I am in OT is a byproduct of some nurturing and some pushing. I say that because it was my parents who got me started. It was my parents who tried to get me to like this field initially. However, once I was in OT school, I blossomed under the nurturing of the wonderful faculty at USC as well as whoever I came to know through OT for the most part. The only exception, however, was that my parents pushed me to go way beyond what the Internet or books said about people with Asperger's are capable of. So, pushing is an important catalyst in my OT journey. However, as I have been doing a brief search on Google, nurturing parenting is now the "in" method. As a person who benefited from a bit of the opposite, it was a little shocking because I think pushing does have some value. Of course, one thing occupational therapy practitioners almost always try in their interventions is to provide their clients a "just right" challenge. As I examined the pushing parenting methods, however, parents instead sometimes may provide an "extreme" challenge... and at least from what I have read from Hong Kong news, more kids and teens are suffering from the side effects of pushing parenting. So, this brings a question- when a caregiver or consumer comes to you for OT, how much pushing/nurturing you think would be best so that the consumer can achieve the maximum progress? The classic answer is it depends. But in reality, this is where you have to understand the consumer, especially on how he/she reacts to challenges that are too easy or too hard. For someone like me, an asset I have is resiliency. So, some pushing from my parents are definitely appropriate... even though I am also the type of person who will gain confidence from success, which the nurturing method brings. However, for someone else, pushing will be a major turn off because he/she may become indifferent or more defiant if the caregiver continue to push for progress, even when the consumer has already reached a plateau. A "classic" pushing advice I sometimes give to caregivers for someone with Asperger's is to get the consumers enrolled into a COTA or OT program. After all, as someone who benefited from such an environment, I just couldn't believe more haven't tried... and the stories that are out there are more like failure stories, not successes (e.g. NPR episode early this year, and a word-of-mouth story from a now COTA on Facebook 1.5 years ago). In my mind, the OT environment could potentially present a "just right" challenge for some of these individuals with Asperger's despite its reputation as a socially demanding profession. Also, I believe that sometimes desperate situations call for desperate measures. But in reality, looking the situation a little bit deeper, there might be dialogues like this- Caregiver: I have heard from someone like you on the Internet that occupational therapy is a great field for you. Consumer: I have never really been comfortable in social situations before. I also enjoy in my own little world. Now you are having me to consider a career where I must socialize with people constantly? Also, you are placing me in environments where I must work in teams a lot? You are putting me in a position to fail, isn't it? Caregiver: Yes, it might sound like it. But, there are people like you who have beaten the odds to succeed and actually make a name for themselves. They have learned to adapt to the environment that might not be comfortable to them, why can't you? Besides, you will be with friendly people and your odds of getting good stable paycheck is great. So, I am putting you there to straighten you up! Consumer: Despite these success stories, you know that you are pushing me to go perhaps way beyond what I am capable of socially. Caregiver: Why can't you be resilient like these guys who succeed do? These guys had encountered failure along the way, but through support they got, they have learned to look past it. If nothing else, I want you to learn appropriate social skills from your future classmates there and make friends with them. Plus, you can potentially be luckier than people like you. After all, a lot of them complain that they don't have a lot of help at your age. But, if you make friends with some of your peers, you don't have to worry about that because you can get help at your finger tips. Consumer: But why? Can't you let me exist in my own little world? Why do you think I even need help in the future? Caregiver: You have been in your little world a lot, and look at where it gets you? I am making this decision out of love even though people like you may not think so. Consumer: It took a lot out of me to engage in social situations for even a few minutes in the past that happened once in a while. Now you are possibly placing me in an environment where I have to do this almost daily for a few hours? Isn't it not smart to ask someone who used to run splints now to run for a marathon without much training? Caregiver: But remember I am doing it for your own good. I don't need you to make a name for yourself in that field. However, think of it as a challenge. In the past, I tried nurturing you. But, have you seen much results? So, I am challenging you this time for a change. Consumer: Yes, it is a challenge alright. But, it's like you are asking me to climb Mount Everest. The rewards might sound great. But, can I even get there? Caregiver: But you also need to know that you are in a situation where you have to choose between sleeping on a rock or a hard place right now. As low the odds you might think you will succeed in that field, I am going to make this decision for you whether you like it or not. So, starting tomorrow, we are going to get you prepped up to get into such a program. Consumer: WHAT? You never even considered my feelings, or what the doctors said about me? I want structure. I want routine. I want to have my own space. I have difficulty with transitions. In that environment, you KNOW I am getting very minimal of these things. You know I have meltdown episodes before in situations like that. Caregiver: Sometimes in life, you have to do some things you don't like to do. There are times where things can't go your way. I am going to look into how you might get into such programs. Consumer: This is the worst life decision you have made for me. *slams room door and plays video games* I still think pushing have some merit, especially when the caregivers and professionals think the consumers can be capable of more. But, "no guts no glory" philosophy is something should generally be refrained from being used in practice with clients. After all, the repercussions might be irreversible. If such a tactic is ever used, caregivers should be warned of the potential repercussions.

Consumer Sharing Their Experiences on the Internet

Bill Wong — Mon, 01 Oct 2012 15:44:00 GMT

In this technology age, we have tons of information available on various diagnosis- blogs, Facebook groups and pages, Youtube video, books, etc, made by consumers. There are some really good sources. (I personally watched a good one about Erb's palsy recently in preparation for my NBCOT exam.) But, there are also some very bad sources. As present and future occupational therapy practitioners, we should definitely applaud the courage any of our clients share information about their diagnosis on the Internet. As someone who has done it regularly, it is actually NOT easy. That said, considering the public's relatively low level of health literacy (88% of people over 16 are below proficient level in health literacy in the US as of 2009, according to National Institute of Literacy), I believe we have a duty to at least be aware when any of our clients share information about their diagnoses/diagnosis on the Internet. If needed be, we have to be ready to point out potentially inaccurate information that they share. After all, some people are not necessarily aware that what they share is incorrect, and that can be potentially do other consumers and caregivers harm in form of providing incorrect information, especially referring to the health literacy statistics earlier. On the flip side, how do we help other consumers and caregivers be aware of potentially inaccurate information? For some consumers and caregivers who are sharing potentially inaccurate information, it's important to point out again and again in a non-offensive manner. They need to understand that our actions are not out of paranoia. Rather, it's for the greater good for the disability community that they are in. Of course, if we see certain caregivers and consumers do a great job, we have to praise these consumers for their efforts and encourage them to continue. On the flip side, it will be good if we encourage our consumers and caregivers keep in constant communication with us about the information that they read on their Internet. Yes, there are no possible ways we can keep up with the new information popping up every day. But if we do our part in helping these caregivers and consumers decipher information, we are going to really make a difference in the disability communities we serve overall.

Transitioning to OTD

Bill Wong — Wed, 22 Aug 2012 02:38:00 GMT

Last academic year was a year where I have to fight my inner demons. Yes, I was done with my classes for my masters. But, fieldwork was what was left. For some of my OT friends, I know they couldn't wait to go out there and show their clinical skills. Me, on the other hand, I was still trying to figuring out whether I was made for the OT profession as a professional. For those who know me well, this may come as a shock. But, even though I was almost a year removed from being in mourning and recovery mode, I was still unsure about my clinical abilities. So, passing through fieldwork was a great accomplishment, as I know it was a major stride towards my recovery- in terms of the improvements I made and the hard work I put in on myself paid off. Now, my next hurdle is to pass the NBCOT exam while I will be waiting to officially begin my OTD journey in less than a week. Yesterday I got a feel of what I would be in for for my OTD experience. As expected, I have met some familiar faces. But, I also knew that I have to get to know some new classmates. For someone like me socially, it will be interesting to see how I progress during this school year. As for my goal after I complete my OTD, I have several. First, I want to become a researcher in OT on autism. My particular focus will be on adults as well as those who are in transition services or close to it. Second, I want to teach my pet course that I will develop for my OTD project. I want to make that course a selling point perhaps to attract prospective students to attend USC for OT school. Next, especially seeing what AOTA has put up on older youths, I want to create a business that will help families of teens and preteens on the autism spectrum in regards to transition services. Then, I also want to assist adults on the autism spectrum (particularly those with HFA, PDD-NOS, and Asperger's). For the last point, I know how lucky I really was. So, I want to equip adults on the autism spectrum to be in the best position to succeed socially, emotionally, and mentally. Lastly, I want to make guest lecture appearances in different OT and OTA programs about autism. Obviously, there is a lot on my plate that I want to do. So, I probably need to sit down and prioritize and see whether these ventures can be combined. Of course, hopefully these experiences can provide me enough experience for one of the items on my OT bucket list- being able to present a Slagle Lecture. Other than that, I am excited to go through my journey this year. After all, I came to my Masters program knowing nothing about OT. But now, I have a great amount of vision for my OT career. I am not aiming to be a "celebrity". I just want what I do can make a difference, particularly in the autism community.

Caregiver Deliberately Changing Her Husband's Medical Report So That He Doesn't Lose His Desire To Live? Is That Legal

Bill Wong — Sun, 22 Jul 2012 01:48:00 GMT

http://hk.news.yahoo.com/%E5%A6%BB%E6%94%B9%E7%99%8C%E7%97%85%E5%A0%B1%E5%91%8A-%E5%8A%A9%E5%A4%AB%E6%A8%82%E8%A7%80%E5%A4%9A%E6%B4%BB-%E5%B9%B4-210520436.html What would you do if a caregiver comes up to you and say, "Don't tell (insert name here) the news straight to him. I fear he/she will never be the same person again, because I know he/she will feel like it's the end of the world for him. If anything, could you give me a copy of his/her report? I want to make some changes so that he/she can feel better about him/herself. I am doing this to help you, too... since that may help him/her being more compliant in your sessions." The link above contains a story of a woman who repeatedly changed her husband's medical report for 15 months. Her husband had terminal stage of cancer and recently passed away. A print store was touched by this attempt, as the store offered to do the services for the woman for free. According to the news article, the husband never knew the real truth. That of course has me thinking. The woman obviously was doing this out of good intentions. However, it also was potentially unethical for the fact that the health team was allowing this to happen. As I was reading this, I think this is where understanding all the things that are in play at the moment is important. First, it'll be the code of ethics, since it's important to understand what is legal first. Then, it is important to get the occupational history from the caregiver(s) and/or the client. After that, it is time for the occupational therapist to think about the appropriate course of action. Of course, this can potentially be a no-win situation because one of two things could happen. First, you keep your license, but you have to live with the reality of what the caregiver said is true. Second, you may have your license suspended (or lose your license completely), but you clearly see the client responding a lot better to your interventions. If I were in the situation, I probably would have to follow the code of ethics and explain to the caregiver about my decision first. Then, we will come up with a plan to deliver the news to the client together. After all, the client should have to know the diagnosis eventually. Also, as present and future occupational therapists, we have the tools to help the client to cope with the situation. Lastly, depending on the diagnosis, health literacy can be a powerful tool (e.g. autism, schizophrenia, bipolar), as we can help the client to eventually manage him/herself and have a great quality of life.

The art and science of our practice

Bill Wong — Wed, 18 Jul 2012 01:14:00 GMT

I got a little "homework" tonight. It is not a class assignment (hence homework in air quotes). But, it is something from a Twitter group where we talked about various occupational therapy and occupational science issues that we deal with. So, this is my little entry here. I don't consider myself an artistic person. I flunked art. I also only consider myself a person with adequate social skills, since I have worked very hard since I started OT school to get there. So, I have a lot to go in being "artistic" in practice sense. That said, I really cherish opportunities that I spend with my peers individually face-to-face. For a person with Asperger's, it is a perfect opportunity for me to practice and learn "new things" in being a better OT at the same time. For the earlier, I know that can be a place where I can make mistakes and learn from them. For the latter, I can go home and reflect how much work I need to put in to get there. My current fieldwork (or placement for some people) experience right now is actually the culmination of what I have done with this process for the almost 3 years. In artful terms, I will say my therapy style is a collage of what I have learned from different OT peers over the last 3 years. I am OK with that because there are some aspects where I must learn and improve in my OT practice. Of course, then there is my lifestyle redesign sessions. That is an opportunity where I got to sit back and enjoy the art of OT practice. For my sessions, I have seen a combination of art and science. I would say the time when I was diagnosed and try to get back on my feet was where I experienced the art part of OT a lot. After all, science alone can't help in the sense of trying to help a person to get over a diagnosis. Art is required here... and that is where an occupational therapist's skill will shine. I say that because while we can use the science to understand where in the stages of grief the person is in. However, the occupational therapist then have to use that knowledge to help the client during the session (in this case me). I think art and science in occupational therapy go hand in hand. The "right mix", however, will be dependent on the therapist, the setting, and the client. For the therapist, it is dependent on not only the therapist's expertise, but also the intangibles that the therapist brings (culture, social skills, etc.). For the setting, time allotted for the session is one example, as some settings require the therapist to spend time efficiently to the minute. For the client, a therapist might use one approach for a person who likes to get down to business. However, another approach is required for a person who needs some time for small talk to get in the mood for the session. Of course, switching gears now, this chat is such beneficial to me because it has given me an idea for a component for the course I will design for my OTD project. I can't disclose all the details yet (since I just started my project). But, it will be something that will test my students' skills as future occupational therapists for adults with autism. I will be curious to see how "artful" they are.

Reading a Non-OT Book As a Change of Pace

Bill Wong — Fri, 13 Jul 2012 18:07:00 GMT

I have not read a Christian book for over a year, which is something I missed doing in a busy last 12 months where I was trying to complete fieldwork, preparing for presentations, getting reading for my OTD program, and making a name for myself in OT in autism. In the midst of all this whirlwind, I decided to take a step back- to take inventory of what I have done, what I will do in the near future, and what I will do over the course of my OT journey- with my student journey soon coming to a close and the professional journey waiting on deck. After reading that book, I felt like someone throwing some cold water at me in a good way. Why? Even though I have accomplished a lot in OT and that I seem to have a clear direction of where I wanted to go, I feel it's a good time to this so that I can make a game plan for the professional phase of my OT journey. After all, I have dealt with some incredible highs and lows. These diverse experiences allow me to connect with the overachieving peers in our profession, as well as those who are struggling to find their ways in our profession. Also, I have come to know and embrace the autism community, even in times of disagreements. Through the 3 years of my student journey (though 1 year longer than wish I have), I have come to appreciate my tough times more than the good times. Not only I endured the typical student struggles (and then some), but that these tough times were what shaped me to be who I am in OT. It is through the tough times that taught me the value of resilience and perseverance. It is through the tough times that taught me to never forget my humble beginnings when I first stepped into OT school, as I came to OT school without knowing anything about what OT is... and that I had thought my dreams of being a licensed occupational therapist was very slim (after having failed 1 level 2 FW and learning my diagnosis of Asperger's a month later). What made me think all that? Well, it was a book called Wake Up Generation: You Have a Life... How Will You Use It by one of my favorite Christian artists- Paige Omartian (formerly known as Paige Armstrong). It is a Christian devotional book mainly targeting teens and young adults. I purposely bought that book because one of her songs played a key role in my recovery experience. Moreover, for someone like me, I feel it's very helpful to hear certain things presented in another way. By reading Paige's book, I am able to get that. Not that I don't like to eat, sleep, and breathe OT all day, sometimes it just helps to take a step back and objectively see what my OT life has transpired since I started OT school. One thing I took a close look at is- the moment I have completed all my OTD requirements a year from now. After all, I know I will be an interesting commodity in the OT community in autism- not that I am not now, but I can help the OT community in this area in more ways than I can now. At the same time, perhaps the greater autism community will take notice of what I am doing in OT. All this will mean more time in the limelight, which is something I have been getting accustomed to since October 2010. In a sense, it is great that I have some perks through my OT fame (since that is how I found my preceptor for my OTD project). But in a sense, this made me more conscious about myself than I want to. In fact, because I have been portrayed as a "superstar" or "OT celebrity", I hate to screw up because I feel people who know me don't expect me to. I asked myself, "When can I truly be me? Sure, I want my peers to be proud of me if I ever do something great. But, I don't want all this 'fame and fortune' change who I am as a person. I just want to be the real me." So, what I have decided is I continue to set my sights high, especially in pursuing things that I believe can inspire the autism community. To me, satisfying both of my occupational roles as autism and OT advocates is the main priority of my OT career. Meanwhile, I will continue to work at providing quality time to those who want to talk to me in person in OT. After all, the OT community has provided me a lot. I also know that I am extremely fortunate comparing to other adults who are on the autism spectrum- in my baseline, prognosis, and the kind of care I have received. What I am aiming to do for my OTD project and for the rest of my career simply are just little payments for the great work OT has done for me from the inside and out. By doing this, I also know that I can provide a positive impact to those who are directly impacted by autism- in not only believe "miracles" can be possible, but also that there is someone in OT who understands them advocating on their behalf. I know Paige will be proud of what I am aiming for, even though I know it is unconventional in comparison to what most (if not all of) my ex-classmates are doing after they get their licenses. I recommend that this "reflection exercise" is a must for those who are counting their last days of their student journey or when their OT lives are in transition. As there is a Chinese saying (using the best of my translation abilities), "You can see how big and wide the sky and the sea is. All you got to do is to take a step back." Of course... one of my bucket list items is to actually meet Paige one day. I am sure we will have a wonderful time- not only talking about our spiritual journeys, but also perhaps introduce her to OT and the great work that our profession does (since I see PT mentioned in the book, but not OT).

Correcting Misnomers

Bill Wong — Sun, 24 Jun 2012 23:59:00 GMT

For those of you who know me well, I am both an OT advocate and autism self-advocate. I mentioned yesterday in another blog that my OTD project is going to be a great opportunity to blend both of these occupational roles into something valuable for both the autism and OT communities. It will be a benefit for the autism community because I am blazing a trail for individuals in autism and show to both caregivers and consumers that individuals with autism can have their place in the OT profession (albeit they have to work extra hard for it because of the demands of the OT profession, particularly socially). For the OT community, it is obviously a great example to showcase the magic of OT on an individual with autism. That said, there is a lot of work for our profession to do. Take a look at this quote by an individual with autism- "I agree that there may be Some who are misdiagnosed as Aspergers...who are just spoiled brats....but I still think that it may be a little under diagnosed. This, in my opinion, is due in part to the lack of awareness and training in the medical world. Also, it is also a problem of the rise in the cost of healthcare, and lack of insurance, especially for adults. I know, for me, if I had insurance that covered most of my costs, it would be a lot easier for me to get an official diagnosis. Mental healthcare costs are way too high, and there are few options in my area. This could also be part of the problem...people who live in smaller areas do not have the specialists and such available to them. They would have to travel quite a distance....and people with limited means, such as myself, may not be able to do that. I also feel that being self aware is in some ways more important than having an official diagnosis. Especially for adults, because if you are self diagnosed, like me, there are so many places, like this one, online where you can find tons of info and support to help you on your journey. While I really want to get an official one....my self diagnosis is enough for me for now....until I get the means to make it official. I am grateful to have found this site and the other ones, people I have talked to here and on the other sites have been so helpful!" When I read the quote, one side of me said that it is great that she is finding means to support her well-being and finding what she wants to find about Asperger's. But, the OT advocate in me is trying to highlight all the misnomers that this particularly consumer claimed. After all, posts like this does mean there are many more consumers from various disability communities who are currently believing in some myths about various allied health professions, including OT. What can we really do? I believe there should be an approach for both students and professionals. For professionals, they have to be more aware of such voices out there and advocate on our profession's behalf. For students, they have to know that they also play a role in increasing the public's health literacy, even as early as in their fieldwork settings to practice advocating for our profession. After all, we ALL have a responsibility to help current and future consumers and caregivers in ensuring they have access to the correct and appropriate information that will help them.

My 3rd OT Conference Experience- Who Says People Don't Remeber Second Place?

Bill Wong — Thu, 03 May 2012 17:08:00 GMT

If you don't know me already, I am a conference freak. AOTA marks my 10th OT conference I have attended overall in my 3 years in OT while I still am in the student stage of my OT career. This year I have an unbelievably busy schedule. I had a lot of people to meet and I didn't have enough time to provide quality time for everyone that I wanted to meet, asides from the workshops I am attending and the festivities after the business side of the event were over. For an introvert like me, I was exhausted because I literally didn't have any "me-time". The "me-time" I had was when I had to charge my cellphone so that it has enough power for me to put up the tweets I posted for the conference. Because of that, I also didn't have much time to tour around the expo. But overall, I did enjoy the people I got to meet, with many where I got to be finally able to associate names with faces. In fact, I met up with all but one of this year's Steering Committee members of the Assembly of Student Delegates. I got to meet Erik Johnson, aka ArmyOTguy on Twitter, for the first time. I got to meet Fiona Fraser, one of this conference's international visitors! I got to meet Susan Burwash and Anita Hamilton, two of people who are part of OT4OT. Last but not least, I met up with Karen Jacobs, our Slagle lecturer this year. The theme of this entry, however, is to address to the folks who have lost out on the Assembly of Student Delegates elections this year. As a person who had been there, it was a tough pill to swallow. But, losing here doesn't mean that your opportunities to make a difference in the profession is over. Rather, it can be an opportunity to think of alternative ways to make a name for yourself AND come back to the leadership arena as a stronger and tougher competitor. Who knows? Maybe you will win next time. Even if you fall short again, more and more of your "fellow competitors" will respect you. The thing is- do you have what it takes to make that "comeback"? What does it takes to make that "comeback"? In my book, these are my pointers. 1. Vision- I have a very strong long term vision. This includes me delivering a Slagle lecture, being a fellow at AOTA, have my name on a few AJOT articles, etc. In order to reach this rather ambitious goal, I have to make a lot of baby steps and earn my stripes. Yes, losing can be a step back. But, it shouldn't be a giant step back that deters your vision. 2. Getting noticed- What you do has to be noticed by the "right people". For example, your state OT association president, AOTA president, and other who's who of the OT profession. 3. Connection- For the last two years, even though I was on the sidelines for the Assembly of Student Delegates elections, I still connected with the candidates through spreading the word about their campaigns to the student body at USC. Seeing some of them succeed motivated me to succeed as well. Of course, it doesn't hurt to know who your competition is early if you know you are interested in leadership. 4. Social media- Part of the reason for my busy schedule this AOTA was because I have arranged some meet up's via Twitter. Social media can get you exposed to the OT community all over the globe. 5. Give yourself opportunities- If you knock on enough doors, some doors will open wide for you. All in all, these pointers all have one thing in common- being proactive. There are opportunities out there. It's just the matter of whether they are for you, and whether you can take advantage of them.

Mentoring... Is This My Future Niche Aside from Autism?

Bill Wong — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 03:54:00 GMT

For the last two ASD Steering Committee elections, I have developed a good bit of friendships and professional relationships with majority of the candidates. I chose to do it because I felt that these folks can very well be the future leaders of the OT profession and I went through what they would be going through (albeit unsuccessfully). Sure, some may say I am "checking out the competition". But considering my own OT career trajectory and knowing the nature of the OT community, there will be opportunities I will collaborate with these very people, as I think I will be a mainstay in the leadership arena in OT for years to come.

Sure, I am doing this in an informal way these two years. I also looked at my almost three years in OT. What I find is- I have achieved a lot, but I also failed a lot (and I think I failed more than my share). The triumphs gave me votes of confidence that I have a place in OT. The setbacks (there are some tough ones) made me appreciative of the opportunities that I am given and helped me relate to those who come up short. In all, I only showed glimpses of what I am capable of so far.

Why did mentoring come to my mind? There are several factors that led me to think that way.

1. I have a love for the OT profession. Without love of the profession, I believe I would not have done what I did in the first place in the last two years.

2. I have the personality to be a mentor. I am friendly and personable. I am not afraid to give people a pep talk (although my introverted nature may suggest otherwise) if I feel they need it. I have a positive attitude that is contagious.

3. I have a mix of successes and setbacks. My experience of setbacks can let the person I am mentoring know that I had been where he/she is. My experience of successes can provide a great example of bouncing back from setbacks.

4. I have emerged from being a nobody to a somebody. Even though that's not my intention, the fact that I am a notable in the OT world does give me some "credibility". Of course, if a person like me can be a somebody, anybody can.

5. Reflections are my strong point. I believe reflections can help both the mentor and the apprentice in becoming better in what they are at.

6. Last but not least, I am beating the odds in my process of being an OT, on top of enduring a tough transition to the field.

Will I consider this as my primary niche in OT? Probably not. Will I consider this as my secondary niche in OT? Absolutely. Of course, I continue need to knock on doors and hopefully have them open wide for me first. The more doors I open, the more I believe I will be that much better of a mentor for somebody.

To my ASD Steering Committee Candidate Friends... (Part 2)

Bill Wong — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 19:50:00 GMT

Finally I can take a big weight of my shoulders. I no longer have to keep my lips sealed on who I am voting for.

Throughout this journey, I got to know a good bit of future leaders of our profession. (In Dr. Clark terms, you can say I am "checking out my future competition"... lol!) Like last year, I have the pleasure to develop some friendships and professional relationships with a good bit of the candidates. But because I didn't go to the Student Conclave this school year, the Internet has become a medium where I get to know almost all the candidates. Overall, I have enjoyed the experience and I can't wait to meet some of you in AOTA this year.

To my friends who won- Great job! Congratulations! May this be an opportunity for you to showcase your OT leadership talents. You all will do great.

To my friends who missed the cut- Don't give up. Don't view this as a detour. Keep knocking on doors and there will be some that will be wide open for you.

Struggling to Come to a Decision

Bill Wong — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 05:31:00 GMT

To go or not to go, that's the question. Even though my mom suggests that I should not go to AOTA this year, I had some sleepless nights about the decision. After all, my mom has no idea why I go for the things I am going for in my state association as well as AOTA. My mom also thinks that a lot of the things I am going for are not as important as my current fieldwork. To a degree, that is true. But, I also don't want to ruin my career trajectory. Deep down, I know it will be much better to start as a student, particularly since I disagree with my mom in that it may not be as feasible to go to AOTA in my future job as she thinks. Also, considering my mom is the type who is on the sidelines a lot, I think she will hardly get what I am doing anyway or the true dilemma I am feeling.

On my birthday yesterday, I still have people call me an OT superstar. Considering the hype is now over almost a year and a half, I know I am becoming a more serious presence in the OT community. In my mind, I also have a host of people I want to meet or see again. So, I have a valid argument on the social standpoint.

Meanwhile, I recalled my own speaking experience in Autism West. I think I got it because it stemmed from the proposals I have submitted presentation proposals at the AOTA and/or my state association, on top of the fact that I am local. So, I know opportunities don't fall from trees. On that standpoint, I think it's important to continue to pursue opportunities.

Next, after I spent a year to get to know what the conference environment feels like, I have gotten more and more out of the OT conferences I go to. Moreover, I got a huge morale boost. This was evident in my two most recent OT conferences where I spoke. I came back to my fieldwork more confident. Of course, I will never forget what happened in AOTA Student Conclave in 2010, which literally was my turning point of my OT journey. So, the impact on my OT journey can't be underestimated.

Lastly, not to criticize my church friends, but I have considered a cheaper alternative in form of a church retreat two months after AOTA conference. The camaraderie is about same, except in a much much smaller scale. Also, I also will be spending 3 days with them at a retreat center. However, I had a very bad experience the day after the conclusion of the retreat I went with them 2 years ago while I was attempting my first level 2. The retreat experience was great. However, I simply couldn't transition back to my work the next day because I felt everything was going at light speed. Considering where I will be in my current level 2 fieldwork in this year's edition of the retreat when I return, I think this alternative will not be as good a choice.

Yes, it does take a good bit of money to attend AOTA conference, and I know my mom won't be happy if I choose to go from a financial standpoint (especially since my dad is now out of a job). But considering the positive intangible factors (aside from the knowledge that I will gain), I have a pretty valid argument. As someone who used to study a bit of Microeconmics, I think the question of going to AOTA conference is not about recommended versus mandatory, like my mom said. Rather, I believe I also need to consider all the tangible and intangible things that I may get out of the experience versus the money I will spend.

I have proven my mom wrong before. I am going to prove her wrong again!

My OTGDS Activity

Bill Wong — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 20:47:00 GMT

For today's OT Global Day of Service, I have tweeted with a few OT students and professionals about social media for professional use. I feel it's a good topic because a lot of members of the OT community uses social media of some form- Linkedin, Facebook, Twitter, etc.

It was per the usual crowd who participated in this Twitter chat. As probably the only American in the crowd, it was another wonderful opportunity to chat with my UK colleagues. During the 1+ hours on the chat, we talked about the pros and cons of using social media as well as professionalism on them. Apparently, one interesting conversation we talked about was professionalism on social media. For some people like me, I am rather open on my social media usage. However, for some people, they are more close to the vest and are more particular about what they say or share online. So, the discussion became the following-

1. What is considered professional behavior?

2. What is considered unprofessional behavior?

3. What are some gray areas, if any?

For the first two questions, apparently each person has his/her own definition. Hence, when we moved on to the third question, there were some debates. Back in the days of me as an OT student (which is not so long ago), I remembered I vented a few times on Facebook. Moreover, I saw a good bit of my classmates vented, too. I brought the question up to my UK colleagues. One of the instructors in the audience was surprised by that, as it became an ethical dilemma question. On one hand, we all agree that the behavior is not very good on a professional standpoint. However, the "gray area" comes from the consequences and the context of the situation. After all, OT is a close knit community. If we are very nit picky about professionalism, it is not a way to win many friends in our OT or OTA programs. However, if the action is considered as a serious breach of professionalism, we have to be the whistle blower (or support the whistle blower) in such situations. So, we have to be the judge, even though the action should not be done rashly.

However, as the participants agree, more and more OT professionals are using social media- whether it's connecting with one another, or looking for some pointers. There are some unwritten rules about social media. But, there are some that are open for interpretation.

This caps my summary for my OT Global Day of Service Activity.

Initially Old Syndrome- New "Frontier" for the OT Profession?

Bill Wong — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 03:41:00 GMT

(Please visit the site to view this video)

I apologize this video is in Cantonese. But anyway, what the clip was saying that people can develop something called "initially old syndrome", where the origin of this diagnosis is from usage of iPhone and/or iPad (or other similar devices) for a prolonged period of time on a regular basis. This term was developed in Taiwan after a study about usage of these devices over there.

Now, why do I bring this topic? Well, part of this diagnosis is related to stress from the day to day lives in modern society. So, OT's are actually capable in addressing this area because part of health and wellness does deal with stress management. Then, there's also the ergonomics element, since I bet almost everyone in OT would have an idea of the posture required in using these devices. Next, how about self esteem? As the clip mentioned, people who got this syndrome are more prone to get wrinkles at an earlier age (from constant muscle contractions with the face). Finally, with the way technology is going nowadays, using a smart phone and/or other smart devices for multiple purposes is becoming a more and more common occupation for people. (Heck, the bishop who came to my church last Sunday for a bishop visit presented her sermon via an iPad!) Simply put, our profession is very capable to help a lot of people in "slowing their lives down" and be aware of the potential consequences of using it for a period longer than they are supposed to. I believe that once the name of this diagnosis become more well known, our profession could be in high demand if we truly advocate for it.