Disability Day and Occupational Therapy

Every year, 3rd December is observed as the International Day of Person with Disability. It was firstly stared in 1992. From that day it is celebrate all over the world. This year's theme is "Not all Disabilities are Visible." Some disabilities like mental health conditions, chronic pain and fatigue are invisible.

According to Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS), some 47.42 lakh people which is 2.4% of the total population in the country are physically or mentally challenged. Among them, there are some invisible disabilities where their brain wired differently from their able-bodied counterpart. These are called neurodiversity. These include ADHD, Autism, Dyslexia, Dyscalculia, Dysgraphia, Tourette's syndrome.

Occupational therapist works for making independence to disable people into their everyday activities. Occupational therapist not only treat physical problem, they also work for psycho-social, community and environmental factors.

The main purpose of Occupational therapy is to enhance functional activities of disable people. An occupational therapist works for disable person in following ways:

1. Provide treatment on how to do things with the abilities they have. Occupational theray treatment includes:

• Memory training

•Teaching one handed techniques

•Teaching money management techniques

•Teaching the uses of public transport to disable people

• Stress management training

• Anger management training

2. Provide treatment for improving the abilities like:

• Improve coordination

• Improve coping skills

• Increase concentration

• Improve confidence level

People with disabilities face different problems. Stigma and discrimination are most common for them. Some people say, disable  people are curse of Allah. Some say if they see any face of disabled people, it spoils their whole day. This way people discriminate disabled people everywhere.

Disabled people do not get equal opportunities to participate in social activities. They are neglected from every steps in life. Bangladesh government provides different opportunities to make them independent. Despite, their facilities  are not enough to fulfil the demand. There should be a significant increase in the facilities.

The writer is an Occupational Therapist. E-mail: rabeya1988@gmail.com