These abstracts of conference presentations are intended to serve as a record and reference of current clinical practice, program planning, and research ideas and results in the field of occupational therapy. Abstracts are grouped in the following categories: (1) preconference institutes; (2) general interest; (3) administration/management; (4)…

This document brings together four papers from the American Occupational Therapy Association Forum, authored by individuals affiliated with the Trace R & D Center on Communication, Control and Computer Access for Handicapped Individuals. "The Critical Role of Occupational Therapy in Augmentative Communication Services," by Jenifer…

The article focuses on neurodevelopmental/sensory integration treatments for the profoundly retarded, multiply handicapped child. (JS)

An approach to occupational therapy (OT) in a rural school is described which utilizes a combination of direct service, monitoring, and consultation. A collaborative style of OT consulting is used, which calls for the therapist to join the child study team when motor-related problems are identified. The approach provides continuous and…

The importance of including an occupational therapist in an interdisciplinary team to assess learning disabilities is demonstrated with the case of an 8-year-old boy who was evaluated and diagnosed as having severe reading disabilities and perceptual dysfunction. (MC)

The report, over half of which consists of appendixes, describes the development and implementation of a program in Dorchester County, Maryland, to integrate into a public school 23 emotionally handicapped students (ages 6-13) who had been attending school at a state mental institution. Services provided to the children in the public school…

Personality traits of women students in medicine, pharmacy, medical technology, physical therapy, dietetics, and occupational therapy were examined. Medical students were found to be guided more by thinking than feelings; pharmacy students prefer well-planned, routine work; occupational therapy students, changing situations and flexibility.…

Alumni of professional (691) and postprofessional (235) Master's programs in occupational therapy were given the Master's Program Graduate Level Self-Assessment. Postprofessional alumni perceived their program to be of higher quality in environment for learning, scholarly excellence, teaching quality, faculty concern, curriculum, and resources.…

A model is proposed for developing home occupational/physical therapy programs for parents of children with physical disabilities, based on naturally occurring teaching opportunities in the family's daily routine. Potential barriers to the collaborative development of such programs are highlighted, and a case study illustrates the application of…

In the United Kingdom, no outdoor practitioner is working as a professional therapist and little formal training in outdoor therapy exists. Practice of this type requires supervision and professional accreditation. Interested undergraduates should check social work, probation, mental health, educational psychology, or occupational therapy…

A survey of 45 severely disabled high school students and their parents and teachers found that students and parents perceived that the students' greatest need was for social development and vocational competence. Teachers indicated that some independent living skills were not adequately covered in existing courses. (JOW)

A survey of occupational therapy, physical therapy, respiratory therapy, and health-information education programs revealed the most important admission criteria were overall grade point average and GPA in foundation courses. Low priority was given to the need for student diversity or students' interest in working in underserved areas. (SK)