The role of occupational therapy managing disabilities

December 3 is the international day of persons with disabilities. Every year this day is observed nationally and internationally. The main theme of this year is "not all disabilities are visible". It focuses on some disabilities which are not apparent like mental illness, sight or hearing impairment, diabetes, brain injuries, neurological disorders, learning disabilities etc. Stigma and discrimination both have increased in this pandemic situation. Especially disabled people are more discriminated in society. Disability day is observed for increasing awareness among people about disability.

According to a study, there are 9% - 16% of people who have a disability in Bangladesh. World Health Organisation (WHO) estimated that 8.4 million of Bangladesh's 111 million people suffer from a psychological problem. There are 13 million people who are suffering from hearing impairment. Most of the people do not take medical treatment due to social stigma and discrimination. The main causes are disconnection, isolation and negligence.

Disability inclusion is an essential condition to upholding human rights, sustainable development, and peace and security. It is also central to the promise of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development to leave no one behind. The commitment to realising the rights of persons with disabilities is not only a matter of justice; it is an investment in a common future.

Occupational therapy started in Bangladesh after the liberation war. They firstly rehabilitate war-wounded freedom fighters. Occupational therapists have a great role to rehabilitate disabled people. Occupational Therapy is a health care profession whose aim to ensure the functional independence of a patient through physical, social or psychological rehabilitation.

Disabled people are treated through a multidisciplinary team approach. The team often includes the following professionals depending on the need of the person: occupational therapists, physiotherapists, speech and language therapists, specialised physicians, psychologists etc.

According to the patient's problem, an occupational therapist can provide the following treatment options: activities of daily living (ADL) training, functional Range of motion and strengthening exercise, environmental modification, balance and coordination training, emotional support, psychosocial counselling, ergonomic consultancy and cognitive retraining etc.

The writer is an occupational therapist at the department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, National Institute of Neurosciences and Hospital (NINS&H), Dhaka. Email: rabeya1988@gmail.com