Welcome to Navigating Multiple Sclerosis (MS) with Confidence
Living with multiple sclerosis can impact many aspects of your daily life; however, with the right resources and tools, you can increase your self-efficacy and confidence to manage your condition and maintain greater independence in everyday tasks.
WHAT IS OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY?
Occupational therapy is a healthcare profession that helps individuals at all stages of life participate in meaningful 'occupations,' such as volunteer work, employment, school, household tasks, self-care, and social gatherings.
WHAT DOES AN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST DO?
An occupational therapist uses a holistic approach to support their clients's needs by addressing their physical, emotional, cognitive, and social well-being. The occupational therapist's primary goal is to help individuals return to their everyday tasks and activities that they want to do, as independently and safely as possible. They are able to assess your emotional health, cognition, vision, mobility, and social and physical strength. An occupational therapist can create an individualized treatment plan that focuses on many areas.
Here are some examples:
- Creating exercises that help improve physical strength
- Modifications for the home, work, and school environment
- Teach energy conservation techniques
- Provide education on how to use assistive devices (adaptive utensils, adaptive cutting boards, dressing sticks, writing tools, button hooks, and toilet commodes)
ABOUT THIS WEBSITE
This website was created by a doctoral student of occupational therapy as part of her capstone project.
The purpose of this website was to increase awareness and advocacy about the role of occupational therapy services. Individuals who are diagnosed with MS were asked to complete a survey to get a better understanding of how to further support them with their needs. The results of the survey helped shape the website's focus by highlighting four main areas of assistive devices that can further enhance their quality of life.
KEY FEATURES OF THE WEBSITE
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Mini Screening Tools: A brief questionnaire designed to help individuals find assistive devices that can be helpful for them.
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Assistive Devices List: A tailored list of assistive devices based on the results of the survey.
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Educational Videos: Video demonstrations on how to use certain assistive devices.
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Resources: Providing credible and reliable links that support the MS community.
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Contact an OT: Steps on how to connect with an occupational therapist in your area.
DISCLAIMER:
The information provided on this website is for educational purposes and is not intended to substitute any professional medical advice. diagnosis, or any individualized therapy. Please consult with your primary healthcare provider or a licensed occupational therapist regarding any questions/concerns about your plan of care before using any assistive device.