HELPING PATIENTS WITH DISABILITIES NAVIGATE WAITING ROOMS: NAVIGATION WR
Role of Occupational Therapy
MAINTAINING THE PROGRAM:
Occupational Therapists can aid The Helping Patients with Disabilities Navigate Waiting Rooms: NAVIGATION WR, by providing in-services about the program and its information. Not only will occupational therapists be the ones responsible for the carry out of NAVIGATION WR, but additional health professionals, educators, and parents/guardians are encouraged to contribute to the information and materials provided in order to keep them up to date and available. Updates will be continually made to both the sensory board brochure and the website.
CHALLENGES:
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Funding for materials (plywood, sensory objects, hardware, etc.)
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Sanitization (Who will clean the materials? How often will they be cleaned? What will be used to clean them? Can all materials be cleaned?)
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Waiting room requirements/rules (space demands, policies of the setting)
To create NAVIGATION WR, the role of occupational therapy and the Occupational therapy practice framework: Domain and process (3rd Ed.) (2014), were looked at closely when creating this program. This program modifies and adapts existing waiting room environments to meet the sensory needs of children with disabilities, specifically those with ASD. Through education and training, health professionals and staff members will learn the knowledge and information needed to promote a positive waiting room experience for patients and their families. This program relies heavily on the education and training aspect that occupational therapists provide. Education and training can be done through in-services, online resources, or handouts provided by occupational therapists. Occupational therapy provides information about a client’s participation and well-being that enables a client to function in their everyday lives. NAVIGATION WR aims to improve the overall experience in waiting rooms through the use of sensory strategies, such as proprioceptive, visual-motor and tactile activities in order to improve self-regulation and coping skills.