Hayley Meredith

Portfolio Occupation-Based Practice Reflection

One aspect of my program at Touro University Nevada (TUN) that I was very pleased
about was how we were encouraged to explore and create our own definitions of occupational
therapy (OT). My definition is continuously changing as I learn more and become more
comfortable in my new role as an occupational therapist. This theme is especially important to
my portfolio because occupations are the foundation and roots of my profession. I have learned
that occupation-based practice is what separates OT from any other method of rehabilitation.
The Roll and Wrap Yoga Mat is an adaptive device I created for OCCT 649. It was
designed to benefit people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who participate in yoga. The Roll and
Wrap Yoga Mat assists in rolling the yoga mat up, replaces repetitive hand movements, and
encourages engagement in yoga as both an occupation and exercise program. Yoga has many
health related benefits for people with RA and can enhance their functional performance which is
supported by evidence-based research. There is no other product available for purchase like this
adaptive device. A consultation with Caren Strait, a gentle yoga instructor in Henderson, Nevada,
was conducted for this project and she supported the potential for this device with her yoga
students. The evidence-based research review proved that yoga is a feasible and safe exercisebased treatment program for women with RA. Women with RA suffer from decreased grip force
and increased pain in their hands and wrists that affect their functional daily activities.
Furthermore, the Roll and Wrap Yoga Mat is a practical solution to ensure continued engagement
in yoga for clients with RA without fear of generating pain when operating their yoga mat. This
was one of the most rewarding projects I completed at TUN. It was challenging to create an

original device, but was proof of my creativity and ability to adapt occupations to fit my clients
needs.
One of my favorite memories from my first level II fieldwork experience at Summerlin
Hospital was when I was able to put my crochet skills to use in a treatment session. For my
portfolio, I was able to demonstrate the use of occupation-based treatment with a hat that I
assisted a patient in making for her grandson. My patient told me that over the holidays she
enjoys crocheting and knitting scarves and hats for her friends and family. However, this was
exceedingly difficult after she experienced a stroke and had hemiparesis of her right upper
extremity. She was very motivated to make a hat for her grandson who had started at UNLV as a
freshman. It took a bit of trial and error but she was able to complete the project during her stay
in inpatient rehab. It was a wonderful therapeutic activity because she was working on fine motor
coordination, in-hand manipulation of the crochet hook and yarn, and fine motor endurance
among other things. It was the perfect example of how occupations can be utilized as
rehabilitation and the final product was a tangible milestone of her recovery. According to the
fieldwork performance evaluation questions 20-24 my fieldwork educator Joe determined I met
expectations in the categories of; chooses occupations that motivate and challenge clients, selects
relevant occupations to facilitate clients meeting established goals, implements intervention
plans that are client-centered, implements intervention plans that are occupation-based, and
modifies task approach, occupations and the environment to maximize client performance. I
think that I will continue to improve in creating interventions that are occupation-based. I saw
myself evolve during my first level II from a student therapist into an up-and-coming entry-level
occupational therapist. I am looking forward to my next level II fieldwork experience and
discovering how I can improve my interventions even in an acute setting.