WGS Jaguar Scout Group - MINDS

Occupational Therapy in MINDS EDCs
Text by Manikandan Palanivel
The Occupational Therapist in MINDS EDC takes on roles
such as assessments of the clients and
implementations of appropriate treatment interventions for the
clients.
Areas of assessment include productivity skills, Activities of
Daily Living (ADL) skills, leisure skills, sensory assessment,
and community mobility skills and physical assessments.
Areas of intervention include on-the-job training, job site
and task modification, work simplification, ergonomics,
community mobility training, ADL skills training, physical
skills training and conducting programmes such as relaxation
training, falls prevention and community mobility programme.
Occupational Therapy Programmes
The Occupational Therapist is also involved in planning and
delivering programmes to the EDC clients.
One such programme is the Vocational Skills Training
programme, which provides physical skills training, on the job
training, education on good work behaviour and ergonomics
(proper body posture at work) to our trainees.
We also use Physical Fitness Training Programme to help
clients lose weight and provide endurance training. The
frequency of the sessions is two to three times per week.
Activities include Gym Exercise Programme such as treadmill,
static cycle and aerobics. There will be pre-assessment and
post-assessment reports and monthly review of clients’ BMI
and quarterly review of clients’ weight.
Relaxation Training Programme is also used to teach our
clients the appropriate way of relaxation and stress and anger
management. Techniques include deep breathing exercises,
listening to relaxation music, guided imagery, stretching,
aerobics, Squeeze-and-Breathe exercise and visualisation.
Falls Prevention Programme was implemented to target
ageing clients with balance issues, poor physical skills which
affects his/ her functional mobility area and has poor safety
awareness. The programme educates on potential hazards and
safety at home, in the community and in the workplace.
Occupational Health and Safety Programme was put in place
to educate clients on hazards identification in the workplace,
eliminating and minimising the hazards, environmental
modification and safety education.
And lastly, we have Community Mobility Programme which
targets independent travelers and educates them on road
safety and safety on the bus and train.
17 mindspeak: the heartvoice of special people
Open Employment (OE)
The Occupational Therapist also helps in placing clients out in
the mainstream society for open employment. The objective
is for the clients to attain a life of quality and maximise their
participation in society.
Our selection criteria:
• Potential vocational skills
• Client’s interest In Open Employment
• Independent in traveling (at least
between home and the centre)
• Independent in their daily living skills
• No serious medical problems
• No major behavioral issues
Our present employment
placement includes:
• Hospitality
• Food and Beverage
• MINDS Car Wash
• House keeping
• General Cleaning
Job Placement / Job Support Programme
• New Programme launched in early this year (2010)
• Supports clients with ID on job placement and job support
• Involves a team of Job Placement Officers,
Occupational Therapists and Psychologists
• Job sourcing – SNEF
• Funding – NCSS / MCYS / Tote Board