Response to Ted Talk-Aimee Mullins

     The Ted Talk by Aimee Mullin's was extremely inspirational and important to watch as a student becoming a health care professional in the future.  I have never looked up the definition of "disabled" in the dictionary, and I was shocked to find some of the adjectives that were used to describe the word. It was disheartening to hear that these words are being used to describe someone with a disability.  These words limit the person to their disability, and I found it hard to believe that some of the words used were still used recently in this time period. Aimee discussed how she was thankful that she did not see these definitions when she was younger. Instead, her doctor told her that she was strong and powerful. She discusses that those words could have influenced who she is today. It makes you realize how big of an impact words can have on an individual, no matter the age.

      As an occupational therapy student, it is important to remember that a disability does not describe a person. A person is a person; not a condition. I wish that this could somehow be portrayed in the definition of "disabled" as well as using other words and person-first language. Like Aimee Mullins discussed, everyone faces challenges and adversity. The key is how a person is able to adapt.

     In addition, I thought it was really cool that Aimee's doctor gave her a "clinical carrot" during her physical therapy session. She talked about how she dreaded going to physical therapy sessions. One day, during the session, her doctor came in and said that he would give her $100 if she could break the band she was using to strengthen her muscles. She discussed that this gave her a new goal for her therapy, and it seems that it made her therapy sessions a little less dreadful. This is important to remember as an OT to be. Motivation is important in a client's occupational performance, and it is a key for occupational therapy.