The reflections of two OT students on placement with the ICACBR

| 1 April 2024 | 63 views

OT students Annelise Jahnke and Megan Toi reflect on their placement with the Mastercard Foundation project team in winter 2024.

First, Annelise's reflections:

I was fortunate to have the opportunity to complete my Master of Occupational Therapy Level 1 Placement at the ICACBR working on the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program. This placement provided learning beyond what I imagined and allowed me to develop a unique perspective that I think will greatly benefit me as I go forward with my studies and career as an occupational therapist (OT). Observing how change can be achieved at a systems level and what communication and relationship-building looks like internationally was both eye-opening and rewarding.

The focus in OT is often placed on the individual and helping them overcome personal barriers to meaningful occupation. Something this placement highlighted for me were the systemic barriers that exist to meaningful occupation and how to overcome them. Part of the project’s goal is to utilize OT to improve accessibility and inclusion for individuals with disabilities in Ethiopia. Prior to this project, OT was not an established profession in Ethiopia, therefore much of the work was targeted at a systems level. It was incredible to see the progress the project had made over the last seven years, such as educating individuals in OT at Queen’s to further share their expertise at the University of Gondar, creating and implementing a Bachelor of Occupational Therapy program at the University of Gondar, and promoting awareness about OT in Ethiopia at a government level and with other healthcare professionals. It was also amazing to be a part of the ongoing work, such as pioneering OT services for scholars with disabilities at the University of Gondar in different areas including career services and the student wellness center.

Additionally, I was able to observe how to collaborate successfully across cultures. Disability and, therefore, the services offered to aid individuals with disabilities vary across locations and cultures. I observed how the ICACBR recognized these differences and supported the University of Gondar in establishing these services while always deferring to the University of Gondar’s expertise in what is relevant and valuable in their own context. Something my preceptors communicated to me was that we can bring value in our OT expertise, but ultimately, the knowledge and resources we share must be adapted and enacted in a way that is relevant to the Ethiopian context. This is something that I will carry with me as I go through my career as an OT as it is relevant in virtually all contexts. Each client has their own lived experience, and it is so important to recognize their expertise in that and adapt based on their context.

This placement not only gave me the perspective to think about systems-level change and cultural sensitivity, but to be an advocate for both as I continue in my education and career.

Megan added:

During my placement at the Queen’s University ICACBR, I gained clarity about the role of occupational therapy (OT) in a non-traditional, systems-level context. This experience broadened my perspective of the client base of OT, and how it can extend from individuals, to populations, to organizations. This placement also expanded my understanding of how OT can manifest beyond clinical settings. Prior to this experience, I don’t think I fully understood the impact that systems have on clients. In recognizing this, I now understand the significance of having occupational therapists working at the system’s level. Stepping into this unfamiliar setting challenged me to grow personally and professionally. As I continue in my OT education, I will carry the lessons learned from this placement, knowing that they will shape my future practice.

A notable highlight of my experience at the ICACBR was creating a presentation on newer OT models/practice frameworks (the CanMOP and COTIPP), which have been shared with the University of Gondar as a learning resource.

School of Rehabilitation Therapy