Muhammad Ali was a famous boxer diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease (PD) at the age of 41. Up until his diagnosis, not much was known about PD. But thanks to his previous fame and philanthropy involvement in raising awareness and money for PD, this disease has received a lot of attention and research in treatment options. As an OT, the focus should primarily be on promoting occupational performance in areas of interest such as public speaking and traveling. Education on managing a schedule and medication should be taught not only to Ali but also to his caregiver. Big and Loud treatment for Parkinson's Disease is a therapeutic measure that integrates the profession of OT, PT and SLP in an attempt to promote health throughout the body. Thanks to the tireless work of Ali, awareness of PD is growing in the public.
The older I have grown the more I have seen the crippling effects of societal mindsets. Simply looking at the various changes in roles of women, men, children, and races has revealed the side effects of societal norms. From working on plantations without rights to their own bodies to finally becoming integrated and viewed as equal, African Americans have suffered the stigma associated with their race. Alongside this is the issue of women's rights and their desires to become involved in the workforce. Over time and gradual mindset changes equality and rights have been achieved, but I believe the real issue behind societal expectations can be found in the definitions of words and how they are used. Aimee Mullins does an incredible job emphasizing the importance of word definitions and how they are used in her Ted Talks about the demeaning impact of the word "disabled" to refer to an individual with special needs. By reading the synonyms listed with this...
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