Whats on in May 2021 - Occupational therapy, brain injury and neurorehabilitation events
What’s on in May 2021? Occupational therapy, brain injury and neurorehabilitation events.
We’ve rounded up some of the main events on offer this month for anyone interested in occupational therapy, brain injury and neurorehabilitation – as a service provider or user!
Calling all carers!
It’s time to pay tribute to the crème de la crème of carers this month as the regional nominations for the Great British Care Awards 2021 get underway.
Anyone involved in any care sector can be nominated, including care workers, care managers, unpaid carers, trainers and innovators.
The only requirement is that they show ‘outstanding excellence’ in their field. Nominations close in September. [2]
SOS research
The Stroke Association’s annual Make May Purple campaign makes way for a ‘Save Research’ rally cry this year after the covid pandemic caused funding cuts.
The UK charity had to slash its 2021 research budget in half due to warnings that 1 in 5 researchers are facing increased funding needs due to the pandemic’s impact.
To ensure the work goes on to make further breakthrough findings in stroke prevention, treatment and rehabilitation, everyone is being urged to help raise funds in any way they can throughout May. [1]
Light on encephalitis
A UK charity built around the lived experience of a young encephalitis survivor will be sharing expert knowledge of the complex condition and subsequent acquired brain injury (ABI) at a study morning this month.
The Eden Dora Trust supports children, families and carers affected by encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) and the other life-changing problems it can cause.
Experts speaking at the event include:
- Education Consultant, Beth Wicks of the International Paediatric Brain Injury Society.
- Consultant clinical psychologists Dr Emily Bennett and Dr Emily Talbot of Nottingham Children’s Hospital.
- Dr Heather Elphick, Consultant in Paediatric Respiratory and Sleep Medicine, and Dr Santosh Mordekar, from Sheffield Children's NHS Foundation Trust.[3]
Scientifically creative
Australian occupational therapist (OT) Brock Cook weighs up the balance between science and creativity in securing positive results during an RCOT webinar this month.
The Associate Lecturer for James Cook University in Townsville will also be exploring the best ways to incorporate creativity into occupational therapy practice.
The event is being hosted by the Children, Young People and Families (CYPF) specialist section of the Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT). [4]
A must-attend event for healthcare and associated professionals working in this field.
The Children’s Trust
Nature’s way
According to research by the UK's Mental Health Foundation, one of the top covid pandemic coping strategies is heading outdoors to get closer to nature.
So, it’s only natural that ‘Nature’ should be the theme of the charity’s 2021 Mental Health Awareness Week this month.
Events include a ‘Take Action, Get Active’ challenge to spend regular ‘quality time with nature, plus an invitation to share experiences on social media using #ConnectWithNature and #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek. [5]
Childhood ABI
The UK’s rescheduled National Paediatric Brain Injury Conference this month focuses on five key factors affecting outcomes after a child suffers an acquired brain injury (ABI):
- Family.
- Transition.
- Mental health.
- Education.
- Technology.
Headed by The Children’s Trust, the virtual one-day event - ‘Connections and Collaborations’ - will enable leading medical and allied health professionals, along with case managers and medico-legal experts, to share expertise in supporting young ABI survivors and their families. [6]
Canada conference
Occupational therapists in Canada will be convening online for their 2021 conference offering ‘countless networking opportunities and innovative ideas to engage and stimulate delegates’.
The Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists (CAOT) will be hosting over 200 sessions and providing 30 recorded webinars during the four-day CAOT Virtual 2021.
Along with OT experts, speakers will also include occupational therapist assistants, educators, researchers and thought leaders worldwide. [7]
Covid-19 has been tough on everyone. Repeated lockdowns have left people isolated and lonely, often harming their mental wellbeing.
Headway – the brain injury association
Action ahead
Headway - the brain injury association will be offering top tips to help tackle social isolation among brain injury survivors during its 2021 Action for Brain Injury Week this month.
Even before the added constraints of the covid pandemic, over 70% of survivors said they had seen their social life crumble after their brain injury, with a similar number feeling misunderstood by those who knew them, the charity reports.
So, throughout the event this month, survivors and carers will be sharing their experiences in a bid for better understanding, while Headway will be offering top tips to help everyone make a difference. [8]
In this months featured talking heads article, we meet David and his partner, Ruth, who gave us a unique insight into their relationships following Davids brain injury, hoping it might help others walking the same path; you can enjoy the article and explore talking heads here.
May events continued...
Scaling justice
Consider the conflict faced by lawyers encouraging post-traumatic growth in clients while dutifully depicting them at their worst to support a legal claim.
How do they reconcile this?
Consultant Clinical Neuropsychologist Richard Maddicks of Psychology Chartered draws on 20-plus years in medico-legal work to help answer that at a webinar organised by UK specialist network, The Brain Injury Group, this month.
The event is aimed at clinical negligence and catastrophic injury lawyers but could also prove useful to case managers and therapists supporting clients linked to personal injury claims. [9]
Parkinson’s on point
Occupational therapists (OTs) are being offered a May masterclass in managing Parkinsonism in acute and community settings.
The class will be led by OT, Ana Aragon who co-authored the recently updated Occupational therapy for people with Parkinson’s: Best Practice Guide (2010, 2018)
The course content, aligned with the Royal College of Occupational Therapists’ career development framework, is suitable for level 6 and above. [10]