The Association between LGBTQIA+ Self-Identification and Factors Facilitating Homelessness: A Scoping Review of the Occupational Therapy Peer-Reviewed Literature.

The purpose of this paper was to perform a scoping review examining the occupational therapy peer-reviewed literature regarding the LGBTQIA+ community to (a) determine what types of scholarship have been generated and (b) whether the association between LGBTQIA+ self-identification and homelessness has been identified and addressed in occupational therapy practice. A database search of seven peer-reviewed, health care publication indexes, with 19 key search terms was performed. The database search targeted articles published prior to January 2020. Fifty-three articles were identified within the occupational therapy literature and addressing the LGBTQIA+ community. The majority of this literature (n = 40) was exploratory studies through which researchers sought to better understand the unique needs of subgroups within the LGBTQIA+ community. Only three articles addressed the link between LGBTQIA+ self-identification and homelessness with no articles that addressed evaluation and intervention of the factors predisposing this population to homelessness. As occupational therapists have a unique skill set that could be used to help LGBTQIA+ community members transition from and remain free from homelessness, occupational therapy researchers must develop and assess interventions that target these factors. Occupational therapy educators should develop and assess curricular programming to heighten student comfort and preparedness in service delivery to this community.

SPOTS: A Model for the Creation of Sustainable, Population-Based, Occupational Therapy Fieldwork Sites.

This paper describes a model for the creation of sustainable, population-based, occupational therapy fieldwork sites (SPOTS). An example of a population-based fieldwork site was created with Appalachian Mountain People in Kentucky and its outcomes are presented. Outcomes were gathered using a wide variety of evaluation feedback forms. The results indicate that all staff, student, and college feedback were extremely favorable as detailed and suggest that others may use the SPOTS Model to develop population-based occupational therapy services that address public health issues for people with disabilities identified in Healthy People 2020 and create scholarly opportunities for students and faculty.

Expert witness evaluation of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and return to work.

This author was hired by a defendant's attorney as an expert witness in the evaluation of a plaintiff who filed a lawsuit for the loss of her job and concomitant income due to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms acquired after sustaining a traumatic injury. This writer evaluated her symptoms, level of function, roles, and interests using a variety of assessments. This case study is a report of the evaluation. The results indicated that the plaintiff developed adequate coping mechanisms to manage her symptoms of PTSD in order to function in her diverse and chosen roles of worker, mother, care giver, wife, family member, volunteer, home maintainer, and religious participant even though she did not return to her prior place of employment. Because of these results, the case was settled out of court in the favor of the defendant.

The use of visual imagery to enhance sequencing of work tasks.

OBJECTIVES: This case study report investigated the use of visual imagery to enhance sequencing of a work task in an individual with executive functioning impairment due to Asperger's Syndrome. PARTICIPANT: This individual's job was at risk due to his inability to correctly sequence his assigned work task in a busy pizza parlor. METHODS: Visual imagery training was administered to the client at work by a therapist employed as a job coach. RESULTS: After six 15 minute daily sessions of visual imagery training, the client was able to perform the work task independently. CONCLUSIONS: The use of visual imagery may have been associated with the ability of this individual to perform more independently on this job task.

An aggregate fieldwork model: interdisciplinary training/intervention component.

An aggregate fieldwork model, a level two fieldwork model that combines cooperative learning, interdisciplinary training and intervention, and research or clinical project publication, was implemented over a two-and-a-half year period on an acute inpatient psychiatric setting with a multidisciplinary staff and interns at a metropolitan hospital. This study describes the interdisciplinary training/intervention component of the aggregate fieldwork model. Efficacy outcomes based on 50 occupational therapy interns' (OTIs') logs and verbal reports in supervision and staff surveys are reported. The purpose of this paper is to educate OTI supervisors about interdisciplinary training/intervention through a description of a successful program in hope that they will be stimulated to incorporate this component into their fieldwork training.