Evolved Living Podcast

Why this Occupational Science series mattersIf you are an occupational therapy practitioner in the United States, chances are you are already using occupational science.You just might not have been given the words for it yet.That gap is part of why I created this Occupational Science Alphabet Series, a public learning series designed to make occupational science more accessible and more visible in everyday life and traditional practice settings.This first composite series begins with A for Occupational Apartheid.Recording Timestamps:00:00 “Occupational Apartheid Analysis”06:01 “Occupational Apartheid Challenges”16:11 “Systemic Barriers in OT”18:04 “Enhancing Accessibility through Advocacy”25:20 “Defining Occupational Apartheid”33:06 “Occupation and Systemic Inequality”39:23 “Advocating Equity in OT Practice”45:04 “Occupational Therapy for Healing”48:04 “Advancing Occupational Justice”54:55 “Occupational Ethics Evolution”58:50 “Occupational Apartheid Ethics”01:03:58 “Justice and Veracity”01:10:17 Healthcare Bias and Scientific Integrity01:15:59 “Addressing Maternal Health Disparities”The phrase can feel intense at first.It should.Because it names something real.It gives language to the ways people are systematically denied access to meaningful participation in everyday life, not simply because of individual impairment or diagnosis, but because of how social, economic, political, and cultural systems are organized.And that matters deeply for occupational therapy.Because when we only look at barriers inside individual bodies, we miss the wider context shaping participation.We miss the insurance policy.The school policy.The zoning code.The inaccessible architecture.The transportation gap.The labor condition.The funding cap.Occupational science helps us see those patterns clearly.And once we can see them, we can respond more ethically and more effectively.The Secret of OccupationOne of the most powerful insights of occupational science is that occupation always transcends the individual.Yes, participation includes personal capacity, motivation, and health status.But occupation is also shaped by:environmentculturepolicyhistoryeconomicssocial relationshipsWhen occupational therapists work with clients, we are rarely working with bodies alone.We are working with people in systems.Occupational science simply gives us a language to describe those systems more clearly.Why Occupational Apartheid MattersThe concept of occupational apartheid helps us name situations where social systems restrict access to meaningful participation in everyday life.Frank Kronenberg describes occupational apartheid as:“systematically enacted negations of humanity that divide and subjugate collectives of people to the benefit of some at the expense of others.”(Kronenberg, 2018) These restrictions can occur through intersecting social mechanisms such as:racismclassismsexismableismxenophobiaeconomic inequalityThese forces shape who has access to resources that sustain dignified living.They shape who can participate fully in everyday life.And they show up in everyday occupational therapy practice more often than we might initially realize.When Systems Become HabitOne of the most profound insights connected to occupational apartheid comes from the concept of occupational consciousness, developed by Elelwani Ramugondo.Occupational consciousness invites us to examine how systems of power become embedded in everyday activity.Because the truth is:Systems do not reproduce themselves automatically.They reproduce themselves through what people do every day.Policies become habits.Beliefs become routines.Social hierarchies become normalized through everyday actions.Over time, these patterns become so familiar that they operate below the level of conscious awareness.This is where occupation becomes incredibly important.Occupation is the point where ideas turn into action.And when those actions become automated habits, they can quietly reproduce systems of inequality, even after the laws that created them have been formally abolished.When Systems End but Patterns PersistHistory shows us that oppressive systems rarely disappear completely when policies change.Segregation in the United States was formally dismantled decades ago.Apartheid in South Africa was officially abolished in the 1990s.And yet racial disparities, inequities in access to housing, healthcare, education, and safety persist in both societies today.Why?Because systems do not only exist in policy.They exist in everyday occupations.They exist in patterns of:where people livewho receives serviceswho gets referred to carewhose needs are believedwho feels welcome in public spaceswho has access to transportation, education, and healthcareThese patterns often persist through habits and assumptions that operate subconsciously.Occupational consciousness asks us to notice those patterns.Occupational apartheid helps us name their structural origins.Rehumanizing the Collective After WarAnother important dimension of occupational apartheid is its relevance to collective recovery from war, violence, and social division.Many of the social systems that shape our institutions today were forged in contexts of conflict, colonial expansion, and geopolitical competition. Even when wars formally end, the habits, infrastructures, and relational patterns shaped by those conflicts often remain embedded in everyday life.Occupational apartheid helps illuminate how the aftermath of war can continue to shape participation in subtle ways, through segregation, displacement, institutional distrust, unequal resource distribution, and inherited patterns of fear or exclusion.If left unexamined, these patterns can reproduce division across generations.Occupation is where these patterns are maintained, but it is also where they can be transformed.Through shared activities, community participation, creative practice, caregiving, education, and everyday collaboration, people rebuild relational life.Occupational therapy historically emerged in part from this very context, helping individuals and communities reconstruct meaningful life after the disruptions of war and institutionalization.Engaging with occupational apartheid and occupational consciousness today invites us to continue that tradition.Not by reproducing new forms of division or tribal harm, but by helping cultivate conditions where people can participate in humanizing, compassionate, and sustainable forms of collective life.In this way, occupation becomes a pathway toward healing.Not only individual healing.But collective healing.Occupation as a Tool for LiberationIf occupation can reproduce systems of injustice, it can also help dismantle them.Because occupation is also the place where change becomes possible.When we change everyday patterns of doing, we change systems.This is why occupational therapy has always been connected to movements for human dignity and social participation.From the moral treatment movement to disability rights advocacy, occupational therapy has been concerned with helping people return to meaningful life within their communities.Occupational science expands that mission.It invites us to see how everyday activities can either reinforce systems of harm or help create environments where people can live with dignity, belonging, and agency.Why This Perspective Strengthens Occupational TherapyUnderstanding occupational apartheid and occupational consciousness does not weaken clinical practice.It strengthens it.When therapists understand the systemic barriers affecting participation, they can:design more realistic interventionsadvocate for appropriate equipmentcollaborate with community resourcesidentify policy barriersdocument environmental constraints clearlyIt also helps us articulate what makes occupational therapy distinctive.Our profession studies human beings as occupational beings.That means we look not only at physical function, but at how environments and systems shape the possibilities for everyday life.This perspective integrates insights from:health sciencessocial sciencescritical social sciencescommunity knowledgedecolonial scholarshipTogether, these perspectives create a robust and integrated understanding of participation.What This Series ExploresThis Occupational Science Alphabet Series explores concepts that help illuminate the broader context of occupation, including:occupational apartheidoccupational consciousnessoccupational justicecollective occupationsecological approaches to healthEach concept will be translated into examples from real-world practice contexts.The goal is simple:To help occupational therapists, students, and the public better understand the unique scientific foundation of our profession.Subscribe for OS 101If this conversation resonates with you, I invite you to subscribe to this Substack.Here I share:Occupational Science 101 explanationspodcast conversationsinterdisciplinary scholarshipreflections on ethics and policyexamples from everyday clinical practiceMy hope is to make occupational science more accessible so that occupational therapy can be better understood both within our profession and by the broader public.Stay tuned for the Forthcoming Learning CommunityI am also building a forthcoming Skool community where free OS 101 content will be hosted.This space will include:introductory occupational science coursesa journal and book clubcommunity discussion forumsreflection spaces for practitioners and learnersTogether we will explore how occupational science can support:collective liberationecological balanceoccupational wellbeinghumanizing care across the lifespanClosing ReflectionIf you have ever felt that occupational therapy is bigger than the narrow boxes it is often placed in, you are not imagining that.If you have sensed that participation barriers often arise from systems rather than symptoms, you are not imagining that either.Occupational science gives us the language to understand those realities.And occupational therapy gives us the tools to transform them.This series is an invitation to explore that together.Primary Sources📚 Ramugondo, E. L. (2015). Occupational consciousness. Journal of Occupational Science, 22(4), 488–501.https://doi.org/10.1080/14427591.2015.1042516https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14427591.2015.1042516📚 Kronenberg, F. (2018). Everyday enactments of humanity affirmations in post-1994 apartheid South Africa: A phronetic case study of being human as occupation and health (Doctoral dissertation, University of Cape Town).https://open.uct.ac.za/handle/11427/29441ReferencesHammell, K. W. (2019). Building globally relevant occupational therapy from the strength of our diversity. World Federation of Occupational Therapists Bulletin, 75(1), 13–26. https://doi.org/10.1080/14473828.2018.1529485Kronenberg, F. (2018). Everyday enactments of humanity affirmations in post-1994 apartheid South Africa: A phronetic case study of being human as occupation and health (Doctoral dissertation, University of Cape Town). https://open.uct.ac.za/handle/11427/29441Kronenberg, F., Pollard, N., & Sakellariou, D. (Eds.). (2011). Occupational therapies without borders: Towards an ecology of occupation-based practices (2nd ed.). Elsevier.Ramugondo, E. L. (2015). Occupational consciousness. Journal of Occupational Science, 22(4), 488–501. https://doi.org/10.1080/14427591.2015.1042516Wilcock, A. A., & Hocking, C. (2015). An occupational perspective of health (3rd ed.). SLACK Incorporated. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit josiejarvisot.substack.com

When I first learned about evidence-based practice, I remember staring at that glossy triangle, the research hierarchy pyramid, with meta-analyses gleaming at the top like sacred scripture.It was comforting at first. Finally, a clear map of what counts as truth.But once I entered practice, that tidy hierarchy started to crumble under the weight of real people’s lives.Human beings aren’t controlled variables, and occupation doesn’t fit neatly into double-blind trials.The Trouble with the Old PyramidThe traditional Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) pyramid was built for biomedical and pharmaceutical research, where the goal is to test isolated variables across large populations (Duke University Medical Center Library, n.d.).That works beautifully when you’re measuring how a medication lowers blood pressure.But occupation is not a pill… it’s a process.It’s meaning, context, motivation, and environment woven together.In OT, our “data set” is often one person at a time, a life lived in context.Trying to flatten that into a universal protocol often means losing what makes our work effective and human.The Tomlin & Borgetto Research Pyramid: A Model That Fits Our FieldIn 2011, George S. Tomlin and Brandon Borgetto published Research Pyramid: A New Evidence-Based Practice Model for Occupational Therapy in The American Journal of Occupational Therapy (Tomlin & Borgetto, 2011).They didn’t just redraw the pyramid, they reimagined what evidence could look like.Their four-sided model includes:* Descriptive research: defining and observing occupational phenomena (the foundation).* Experimental research: asking causal questions under controlled conditions.* Outcome research: measuring effectiveness and impact in practice settings.* Qualitative research: exploring lived experience, culture, and meaning.Each side contributes uniquely to a full picture of occupational reality.Rather than stacking these methods into a hierarchy, Tomlin and Borgetto framed them as mutually reinforcing, like the faces of a pyramid that meet at the top…where evidence becomes practice.“Rather than ranking designs by hierarchy, the research pyramid encourages practitioners to evaluate rigor based on the type of question being asked.”- Tomlin & Borgetto (2011, p. 190)Why This Matters in PracticeIn home health, I’ve seen firsthand how rigid hierarchies undervalue the evidence that actually drives change.An RCT can tell me which exercise statistically improves shoulder flexion …but not whether my client can now garden with her grandchildren, or return to painting without pain.Occupational therapy lives where biology meets biography.To serve people well, we need research frameworks that make room for both.The Critiques That Strengthen UsScholars such as Whiteford and Wright-St Clair (2004) argue that the old hierarchy often silences the very forms of knowledge that make OT powerful- narrative, context, creativity.When we measure success only by quantitative control, we risk missing the human story.Occupational science reminds us that people are meaning-making beings.Our science must be capable of holding that complexity.How I Apply the Tomlin & Borgetto Pyramid* For mechanical reliability, I turn to experimental studies.* For real-world effectiveness, I consult outcome research.* For understanding experience, I value qualitative inquiry.* And at the root of it all, I rely on descriptive studies to ground my reasoning.Each approach has a place.Evidence becomes less about hierarchy and more about harmony, a dynamic ecosystem of knowing.Reclaiming Evidence as a Living PracticeEmbracing this model isn’t about lowering standards; it’s about broadening the lens.It validates community programs, arts-based methods, trauma-informed care, and culturally grounded interventions that might never fit into traditional RCTs.When we expand what counts as evidence, we expand what’s possible: for our clients, our profession, and the world we’re helping to rebuild.🌿 Learn More: Foundations of Occupational Science for U.S.-Based OTPsIf this conversation sparks something in you, the urge to better understand why occupational therapy feels different from other disciplines and how to ground that difference in research and policy… I invite you to join me inside Foundations of Occupational Science for U.S.-Based OTPs.This self-paced capstone learning experience bridges theory and practice, guiding practitioners and students to:* Decode the real meaning and application of the Tomlin & Borgetto Research Pyramid.* Integrate occupational science concepts into documentation, advocacy, and program design.* Reclaim OT’s creative and psychosocial roots while navigating contemporary U.S. systems.* Build confidence in articulating the full scope of practice, in language policymakers, payers, and interdisciplinary teams understand.You can explore the course and all current offerings here:👉 engage.evolvedlivingnetwork.comTogether, we’re building a movement of practitioners who see evidence as a living, liberatory practice…one that honors both the science and the soul of occupation.ReferencesDuke University Medical Center Library. (n.d.). The evidence-based practice pyramid. Retrieved from https://guides.mclibrary.duke.edu/ebmtutorial/ebp_pyramidTomlin, G. S., & Borgetto, B. (2011). Research pyramid: A new evidence-based practice model for occupational therapy. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 65(2), 189–196. https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2011.000828Whiteford, G., & Wright-St Clair, V. (2004). Occupation and practice in context (1st ed.). Churchill Livingstone Australia. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit josiejarvisot.substack.com

Last week I reacted live to a powerful post shared by Bill Wong in our community. The article in question — “Occupational Therapy and the ‘Seat at the Table’ Fallacy” by ABC Therapeutics — suggests that the push for higher credentials in OT (e.g., mandatory OTD) has been mis-directed:“A degree doesn’t grant influence. Credentials open doors, but they don’t dictate what happens once you step through them … A ‘seat at the table’ means very little if the table itself was built by someone else.” ABC TherapeuticsIt’s a critique worth hearing. But it’s also an invitation—not to retreat—but to re-vision how we approach our profession.The core tensionThe article argues:* Many OTD programs replicate existing content under new credentials, without generating genuine contribution. ABC Therapeutics* Visibility campaigns (hashtags, social media posts) risk being “toothless” when they lack scalable frameworks or evidence. ABC Therapeutics* We have long sought a seat at others’ tables rather than designing our own tables.You’ll hear echoes of that critique in my video: I reflected on how OT education, biomechanics-dominated models, and reimbursement systems have siloed us—and how that matters for people with disabilities, for social justice, and for innovation.My take: Let’s build AND sit1. Building our own tablesYes—the article is right: credentials alone don’t guarantee influence. But I take that as a call to action. We need to:* Design models where OT is not just invited, but indispensable (policy, systems, community, creative arts)* Co-create the future with interdisciplinary, cross-cultural, and justice-oriented partners* Use our degrees (OTD or otherwise) to contribute—not just credential-inflate2. Recognizing the invisible tables people actually builtOT’s lineage includes folks who built their own tables: moral treatment movement, arts & crafts interventions, community-based rehabilitation, disability justice activism. In my video I referenced how we’re responding to human rights crises, climate, trans / disability access barriers—these aren’t “outside” OT—they’re core.3. Expanding practice beyond the “biomechanical king of the castle”The article critiques that OTD programs default to clever “hobbie” capstones (“OT in football”, hashtag activism) without rigor or depth. My sympathy to the students who poured their hearts and best work in to their first major OT project. Perhaps some encouragement and support for the potential of their future work is also in order. I can’t tell how much more difficult contributing to the advancement of one’s field without the support or encouragement or belief in possibilities from one’s elders also want to offer what depth and rigor can also look like:* Confronting systems of oppression (transphobia in toileting access, disability justice, policy literacy)* Measuring participation, identity, belonging—not just ROM, strength, task time* Using community arts, folk craft, cross-generation dialogue as legitimate knowledge translation pathwaysWhy this matters—especially now* People with disabilities face occupational deprivation, systemic barriers, and need OT thinking that goes beyond physical rehab.* The U.S. health-human services system is stressed; OT’s value-add includes bridging discipline silos, addressing context, and enabling participation.* New generations (Gen Z, Gen Alpha) bring fresh epistemologies. If we insist on “sit at the table”, we risk boxing their potential. My mantra: “Make room for the next table-builders.”An invitation to youIf you resonate with any of these questions:* How might OT design a new table rather than merely trying to sit at one?* What kind of praxis (not just theory) can we commit to that spans social justice, policy literacy, community arts, and cross-cultural collaboration?* Can we mentor and co-create with newer cohorts, rather than gate-keep?Then join me. Let’s build Evolved Living OT/OS Collaborative as a space for these conversations and creations.ReferenceABC Therapeutics. (2025, October 17). Occupational Therapy and the ‘Seat at the Table’ Fallacy. Retrieved from https://abctherapeutics.blogspot.com/2025/10/occupational-therapy-and-seat-and-table.html This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit josiejarvisot.substack.com

I hopped on live this week after a rich conversation in the Practical OT Facebook group (hi Chris! 🙌).Chris shared The Intentional Relationship Model — Renee Taylor’s seminal text on therapeutic use of self and the relational core of practice (and yes, the IRM lineage connects to Gary Kielhofner and MOHO).That post opened a door I care deeply about:Why do so many of us still feel hesitant—or “naughty”—bringing the psychosocial domain into “traditional” OT settings?Short answer: our systems trained us to separate what OT was never meant to split.🧠 Our Roots Were Never Split: OT = Psychobiological IntegrationEarly psychiatrist Adolf Meyer, who co-founded the American Occupational Therapy Association alongside Eleanor Clarke Slagle, coined the term psychobiology — a framework for understanding human beings as integrated systems of mind, body, and environment (Meyer, 1922).He argued that disturbances in this balance—not isolated mental or physical “defects”—were the source of illness. The therapeutic goal was to restore rhythm and meaning in daily life through occupation.“It is the proper rhythm and balance of activity and rest, of work and play, of day and night, that constitute the very basis of health.” — Adolf Meyer, 1922This psychobiological lens is the taproot of occupational therapy’s foundations in the moral treatment and arts and crafts movements — where engagement in creative, purposeful occupation supported emotional regulation, identity reconstruction, and social participation.Our profession was born as a psychosocial intervention, long before it became entrenched in the biomechanical model.That continuity remains explicit in the Occupational Therapy Practice Framework: Domain & Process, 4th Edition (AOTA, 2020): occupation is not just biomechanical task performance.It is meaning- and purpose-laden activity shaped by volition, identity, roles, and context.If we leave out the psychosocial domain, we’re not fully addressing or assessing occupation — our primary protected and skilled domain across all U.S. practice settings.📌 Fun fact: The 2020 revision of the OTPF-4 intentionally removed preparatory activities and exercise-centered approaches as stand-alone interventions to reaffirm that occupational therapy is grounded in occupation itself—not in isolated physical techniques. Even physical therapy is now shifting toward functional outcomes-based reimbursement per CMS guidance.🩺 The Policy Playbook (So You Can Feel Confident)You don’t need permission to practice holistically — you already have it.Here’s language you can cite and stand on:“Occupational therapy services are... medically prescribed treatment concerned with improving or restoring functions... or, where function has been permanently lost or reduced... to improve the individual’s ability to perform those tasks required for independent functioning.”— Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, §230.2ANotice: this doesn’t say only when function is lost due to a physiologic cause.CMS explicitly recognizes psychosocially oriented activity as skilled occupational therapy.“The planning, implementing, and supervising of individualized therapeutic activity programs as part of an overall active treatment program for a patient with a diagnosed psychiatric illness; e.g., the use of sewing activities which require following a pattern to reduce confusion and restore reality orientation in a schizophrenic patient.”— (CMS, 2014, §230.2A)That’s not fringe OT — it’s federal definition of practice.📎 Take-away: Skilled OT that restores or compensates for ADL/IADL performance — including interventions addressing motivation, affect, cognition, behavior, and role disruption — is squarely within coverage expectations.Psychosocial isn’t “extra”; it’s how independence is achieved — and how readmissions are prevented.🖇️ Direct link to CMS formal guidelines for covered OT services⚖️ Mental Health Parity and OT’s Expanding RoleSince the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA) of 2008, federal law has required that insurance coverage for mental health and substance-use services be comparable to coverage for physical health conditions.This means psychosocial dysfunction cannot be treated as less legitimate than biomechanical dysfunction.However, implementation remains uneven. Many payers still reimburse only for “physical” goals — despite federal parity law and the CMS definition of OT practice.Parity isn’t optional—it’s our ethical mandate.It ensures that the mental, emotional, and social determinants of participation receive the same respect as physical rehabilitation.🎥 Seeing It in ActionWatch this short video:🎬 How Behavioral Health OT Can Be Integrated into Post-Acute Settings to Reduce Hospital ReadmissionsIt shows how embedding occupational therapy into post-acute care reduces readmissions, enhances safety, and improves long-term outcomes.When OT is practiced through a psychobiological and psychosocial lens, it bridges the gap between physical and mental health care — just as our founders intended. This Bill to cover community behavioral health OT passed unanimously by the way! 💠 Integrating Trauma-Informed Care PrinciplesTrauma-informed care (TIC) isn’t a specialty — it’s a lens for every setting.It re-centers safety, collaboration, and empowerment as therapeutic outcomes themselves.Core Principles (SAMHSA, 2014; AOTA, 2022):1️⃣ Safety: Prioritize emotional and physical safety.2️⃣ Trustworthiness & Transparency: Explain procedures and expectations in plain language.3️⃣ Peer Support & Collaboration: Center co-regulation and shared decision-making.4️⃣ Empowerment, Voice, & Choice: Build agency and autonomy into every session.5️⃣ Cultural, Historical, & Gender Awareness: Acknowledge systemic trauma and intersectionality.6️⃣ Resilience & Recovery Orientation: Focus on strengths, regulation, and rhythm—not deficits.📊 Tip: Download SAMHSA’s full framework and integrate it into your onboarding or staff education packets.Image placeholder suggestion:🖼️ “Trauma-Informed Care Principles in OT Practice” infographic🔧 How to Integrate Psychosocial—Anywhere You Practice* Begin with the Occupational Profile → Roles, routines, values, supports, identity, grief, neurodivergence, social determinants.* Use Quick Screens → GDS, anxiety scales, cognitive/attention checks.* Build Relational Skill → IRM, ACT-informed OT, trauma-informed micro-skills.* Document What Only OT Does → Connect psychosocial factors to function, safety, and GG outcomes.* Advocate Like a Clinician → Cite parity, CMS, and OTPF.📄 Chart Example:“Psychosocial factors (grief, role loss, low activity drive, attentional dysregulation) are limiting safe, consistent engagement in ADL/IADL tasks. Skilled OT will address motivation, pacing, environmental fit, and compensatory routines to restore participation and reduce risk of decline/readmission.”🪞 Why Many Clinicians Still Hesitate (and How We Move)A lot of OTPs graduated before our frameworks were widely taught—during times of mass systemic divestment from mental health supports in the U.S. Add decades of underfunded infrastructure, and it’s no wonder psychosocial practice gets sidelined.But we must also name the intersectional discrimination that continues to marginalize clients with mental-health diagnoses within physical-health systems.People with psychiatric disabilities often experience sanism — discrimination that pathologizes, dismisses, or silences those perceived as “mentally ill” — leading to diagnostic overshadowing, reduced access to care, and poorer health outcomes (Poole et al., 2012; Faissner et al., 2024).Sanism compounds when layered with racism, ableism, sexism, classism, and ageism — shaping who receives empathy, time, and quality care.For example, Black, Indigenous, and LGBTQ+ clients with co-occurring mental-health and physical-health needs are still less likely to be referred for rehabilitation or receive equitable discharge planning (Faissner et al., 2024).The fix isn’t shame—it’s shared literacy and everyday translation.✅ Talk OTPF-4 in plain language with your team.✅ Bring CMS §230.2A into in-services and appeals.✅ Connect psychosocial barriers → ADL/IADL limitations → utilization risk.✅ Track and report outcomes that matter: falls, LOS, GG codes, readmissions.🌱 Keep Learning (and Un-Gatekeep)📘 The Intentional Relationship Model (Taylor)📘 Model of Human Occupation (Kielhofner)📘 ACT-informed OT (Carlyn Neek)🎨 Trauma-informed Creative Practices (A Window Between Worlds)📜 CMS Pub. 100-02, Ch. 15, §230.2A – our shared evidence base🌿 Final WordIt doesn’t make us “better” clinicians to ignore neurodivergence, mood, trauma, identity, or role loss — it makes our work less effective.OT’s power is helping people rebuild lives that work, not just bodies that move.Let’s practice like the profession we are: psychobiological, trauma-informed, relational, creative, and policy-literate.📚 References* American Occupational Therapy Association. (2020). Occupational Therapy Practice Framework: Domain and Process (4th ed.)* Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2014). Medicare Benefit Policy Manual, Chapter 15 – Covered Medical and Other Health Services, §230.2A – Occupational Therapy Services* Faissner, M., Stahmeyer, J. T., & Hoffmann, F. (2024). Intersectional discrimination and its health consequences: A systematic review. Frontiers in Public Health, 12, 1350670.* Poole, J., Greaves, L., & Riach, L. (2012). Sanism, “mental health,” and social work education: A review of the literature. Intersectionalities, 1(1), 20–36.* Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). (2014). Concept of Trauma and Guidance for a Trauma-Informed Approach.* U.S. Department of Labor. (2022). Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA). This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit josiejarvisot.substack.com

Send us a textThis multi-generational podcast discussion is brought to you by the occupational power of music linking the intersectional life paths of Miles Davis, Taylor Swift, Kendrick Lamar, John White, Josie Jarvis, Jian Jones, and Avery Geata with an invitation to explore music as a powerful medium for developing and expanding our collective Occupational Lens both within and outside of the Occupational Therapy Classroom & Clinic! This episode will provide powerful inspiration for exploring the ongoing evolution of Occupational Science and the power of music to heal and restore the collective human spirit across generational differences amid the landscape of historic and contemporary intergenerational challenges. Music and occupation link us all in our path toward meaning and wholeness. Support Those Impacted by Hurricane Helene SSO:USA 2024 Conference Oct 17-19 in Durham North Carolina:Art and Occupation: Creativity, Critical Theory, and Social TransformationVideo/Text Summary of: Occupations in the Extreme, Life History, Theoretical Perspectives on the Life of Miles Davis by John White, PhD, MA, OTR/L Life History of Dr. John White, PhD, MA, OTR/L FAOTA2021 Folk Ballard of SSO:USADr. Jian Joans, PhD, MA-OTR/LTwo-Fifteens: The Podcast Where Hip-Hop, Occupation, and Identity Collide make connections related to Hip-Hop culture, the science of doing, and the shaping of the identity of people.Not Like Us by Kendrick LamarDr. Avery Gaeta, OTDAll Too Well Taylor's VersionCapstone Research: Exploring the Health Management of Neurodivergent College StudentsEvolved Living Network Instragram @EvolvedLivingNetworkFree Occupational Science 101 Guidebookhttps://swiy.co/OS101GuidePodcastOS Empowered OT Facebook Grouphttps://www.facebook.com/groups/1569824073462362/Link to Full Podcast Disclaimer https://docs.google.com/document/d/13DI0RVawzWrsY-Gmj7qOLk5A6tH-V9150xETzAdd6MQ/edit This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit josiejarvisot.substack.com

Send us a textThis Podcast discusses a conversation with Angel, a Tacoma Area tattoo artist, about her journey into the tattoo industry, the skills required, the therapeutic aspect of her work, the need for more diversity and representation in the field, and her community work with the Hundredth Monkey art organization, with future steps including sharing resources on trauma-informed practices, promoting body art in professional spaces, and continuing the conversation about making art more accessible and inclusive. Check out and support Lil' Angel's Ink Artisty: https://m.facebook.com/lilangelink/?locale=hi_INSupport the 100th Monkey Tacoma Art Event: https://www.facebook.com/Tacoma100thMonkey/ https://www.facebook.com/events/6804563089672218/?ref=newsfeedGender Diversity & Gatekeeping in Art IndustriesJosephine explores gender diversity within artistic communities while discussing gatekeeping practices that have historically affected women in various industries. Angel shares insights into challenges faced by women in male-dominated spaces like heavy metal music culture and traditional views within certain segments of the tattoo industry. Both hosts emphasize creating more inclusive environments by supporting diverse artists while addressing issues related to cultural appropriation. Evolution of the Tattoo IndustryThe interview discusses the evolution and growth of the tattoo industry, highlighting the increasing diversity and inclusivity within the community. Angel shares her experience as a female tattoo artist and emphasizes the importance of an open-minded approach to different artistic styles and artists. The conversation touches on historical aspects, acknowledging that tattooing has been a significant art form across various cultures for centuries. Trauma-Informed Tattooing and Personal Storytelling through TattoosAngel’s experiences working with clients who have had traumatic medical experiences or seek to cover scars with meaningful tattoos. Josephine’s exploration of how tattoos can serve as a form of storytelling, reclaiming personal narratives, especially for marginalized communities. The role of trauma-informed care within occupational therapy paralleled with trauma-informed tattoo practices. Collaboration in Art WorkshopsThere was a focus on trauma-informed community art workshops as a means to make different art forms accessible to people with disabilities while fostering collaboration between occupational therapists and tattoo artists. Occupational Therapy and ArtThe conversation delved into the historical connection between occupational therapy and the arts, exploring how creating art can be naturally therapeutic for individuals and communities. Evolved Living Network Instragram @EvolvedLivingNetworkFree Occupational Science 101 Guidebookhttps://swiy.co/OS101GuidePodcastOS Empowered OT Facebook Grouphttps://www.facebook.com/groups/1569824073462362/Link to Full Podcast Disclaimer https://docs.google.com/document/d/13DI0RVawzWrsY-Gmj7qOLk5A6tH-V9150xETzAdd6MQ/edit This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit josiejarvisot.substack.com

Send us a textThis thought-provoking podcast brought together Dr. Jian Jones, Dr. Josie Jarvis and special guest Dr. Arameh Anvarizadeh to discuss the power of hip hop culture in advancing occupational therapy. They explored how hip hop represents activism, creativity and driving positive change through storytelling and community.Dr. Arameh shared her vision of bringing more diverse voices into leadership conversations at AOTA to address gaps and decrease barriers. Her approach aligns with hip hop's focus on opportunity, access and mobilizing through activism. She aims to reconnect members to AOTA's core values through authentic, community-focused leadership.Check out our Hip Hop Pedagogy and AOTA Election Resource Compilation Here! Now also includes the Disorienting Dilemma Toolkit For Culturally Mindful Dysregulation Support with New Learning! Free! Dr. Jian Jones, PhD, OTR/L, ACSM-CEP, is the host of Two Fifteens: The Podcast Where Hip-Hop, Occupation, and Identity Collide where she and guests make connections related to Hip-Hop culture, the science of doing, and the shaping of the identity of people. She is an Occupational Therapist, life coach, 500-HR yoga teacher, professor, and scholar who offers culturally relevant mental, emotional, social, spiritual and physical well-being techniques that assist you in uncovering your potential to live your best life. Jian blended her passion for wellness, nature, purpose and Hip-Hop into a personal development company, Jian Jones, LLC with a mission to transform lives one mind, body, and soul at a time. Jian encourages you to Press+FLY™: 'press through your obstacles so that you can fly toward your destiny'. Jian uses her personal evolution to serve others and looks forward to their individual growth and success as they cross the bridges of life.Dr. Josie Jarvis, PP-OTD, MA-OTR/L, BA, BS is a part-time Occupational Therapist and full-time Open Science activist with a focus on translating Critical Occupational Science Literacy to the field through mechanisms of informal publishing and holistic and transparent implementation science that is inclusive to social, physical, and indigenous sciences in the field as well as in the academy. She is the host of the Evolved Living Podcast a podcast dedicated to coming together and sharing multidisciplinary and multicultural wisdom from diverse perspectives to support adapting to change holistically and ecologically together with honesty about the messy and imperfect process of ongoing growth, change, and adaptation to the contemporary world. Dr. Arameh Anvarizahdeh, OTD, OTR/L, FAOTA has already made history as the youngest and first African American/Iranian woman to become Vice President of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA). She is also the youngest woman Evolved Living Network Instragram @EvolvedLivingNetworkFree Occupational Science 101 Guidebookhttps://swiy.co/OS101GuidePodcastOS Empowered OT Facebook Grouphttps://www.facebook.com/groups/1569824073462362/Link to Full Podcast Disclaimer https://docs.google.com/document/d/13DI0RVawzWrsY-Gmj7qOLk5A6tH-V9150xETzAdd6MQ/edit This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit josiejarvisot.substack.com

Send us a textThis is a very meaningful podcast discussion for me as I not only get to catch up with a dear college friend I also get to deeply explore the occupational impact of how one's life path can evolve after acquiring a profound neuro divergence early in life. Ashley and I's paths in our early twenties crossed quite a bit however I never would have guessed I would ever become a therapy colleague with her over a decade after moving away from Olympia, WA. When I last was actively connected to Ashley's life she was the most prolific fiction and play writer I had ever met. She was destined to become a professional editor and facilitator of creative wonder. Her momentum as a writer was however stunted as it is for many of us with the sudden acquisition of a disabling experience. At age 25 Ashley acquired a cerebral vascular accident impacting her left side. This occupational disruption ended up fueling Ashley's passion to go back to school. She not only regained her motor function, but she also regained her voice, and new gifts, however, she could not develop these ambitions on her own, it took a village including occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech therapy, brain injury support groups, vocational rehab, and the fight to self advocate for her educational accommodations. Connecting with Ashley I couldn't avoid the correlations between her life path and the challenges my friend Paul Johnson a leader in the WA disability rights movement in how hard he had to fight to access the ability to write in general and to access formal publishing in particular. His life story took over a decade to write and I was his support volunteer intern where it took over 2.5 years of active letter by letter word by word typing a revising. Because of Paul, I have learned to never take my voice and mobility for granted. I am so glad I was able to share Paul's work with Ashley with a new foundation of shared meaning as we all interconnected in our experiences of rare young adult neurodivergence and how that impacts and changes access to writing and our relationship to our own voice when you depend on supported communication to express yourself. Paul's family offered consent to continue sharing his story and our time together publically with the goal of inspiring others to tell their stories. Ashley's Request for community support for survivors of acquired brain injury! Please help save this wonderful organization through donations and volunteering. Sarah Bellum's Bakery launched in 2017 and officially opened its doors in Multnomah Village in SW Portland in 2018. They provide job training support for adults with acquired brain injuries. They also have volunteer opportunities in speech, occupational therapy, and rehabilitation psychology for students here at Pacific University. Check out the links below. Together we can save Sarah Bellum's!acquired brain injury workshop/community and nonprofit at risk of closing.Paul's Publically Published Writing in Evolved Living Network Instragram @EvolvedLivingNetworkFree Occupational Science 101 Guidebookhttps://swiy.co/OS101GuidePodcastOS Empowered OT Facebook Grouphttps://www.facebook.com/groups/1569824073462362/Link to Full Podcast Disclaimer https://docs.google.com/document/d/13DI0RVawzWrsY-Gmj7qOLk5A6tH-V9150xETzAdd6MQ/edit This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit josiejarvisot.substack.com

Send us a textAnnouncementsThe first 3 modules of my Online Doctoral Capstone Course Foundations of Occupational Science is available now for free for a limited time: https://engage.evolvedlivingnetwork.com/If you are in the Tacoma Area or are a fan of the Social Justice Sewing Academy and would like to be involved in supporting the adaptation of their workshops to focus on disability justice and to be accessible to people with disabilities in more heavily institutionalized spaces consider joining in our community event virtually or in person with AOTA President Alyson Stover on Monday, October 16 [6-8pm] Get details on how to register here: https://www.facebook.com/events/706895548119940/?ref=newsfeed In-person capacity: 60, Live virtual: 150, Recording: Unlimited Episode Show NotesThis important conversation explores the complexity of making our work as health and human services providers accessible across various contexts including both collaborative clinical work and in academic scholarship. We also explore some of the complexities and nuances around accessing mental health providers and the costs of lack of mental health care literacy and systemic patterns of misdiagnosis and how that intersects with disability and structural sexism etc. Be sure to check out Part 2 as well! Jennifer Pearlstein, PhD, is a post-doctoral fellow in rehabilitation medicine at the University of Washington and completed her graduate work in clinical science at the University of California, Berkeley. Jen strives to improve the well-being of people with disabilities across her research, clinical work, and advocacy. She has received funding from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) and National Science Foundation (NSF), published work related to disability and mental health and training, and has gained specialized clinical training in evidence-based practices for diverse psychological presentations, including how to support populations experiencing illness or disability.She also writes about her personal experiences navigating academia with a disability and strives to increase the representation, equity, and inclusion of people with disabilities in academia and in medicine.Connect with UW's Behavioral Health ECHO Project: (How Josie met Jennifer without expense of a fancy conference) https://bhinstitute.uw.edu/events/?trumbaEmbed=view%3Devent%26eventid%3D163336444 Accessible Mental Health Support Resources:https://openpathcollective.org/As long as there is a financial need, our lifetime membership will allow you to see anyone in our network for the rates listed above. This is our guarantee. A lifetime membership to our nonprofit only costs $65.Employee Assitance Programs:https://www.insperity.com/blog/employee-assistance-programs/Holistic Wellness foEvolved Living Network Instragram @EvolvedLivingNetworkFree Occupational Science 101 Guidebookhttps://swiy.co/OS101GuidePodcastOS Empowered OT Facebook Grouphttps://www.facebook.com/groups/1569824073462362/Link to Full Podcast Disclaimer https://docs.google.com/document/d/13DI0RVawzWrsY-Gmj7qOLk5A6tH-V9150xETzAdd6MQ/edit This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit josiejarvisot.substack.com

Send us a textTrailblazing OTs: Neurodivergence, Mentorship, and Building Inclusive CommunitiesDescription: In this thought-provoking and insightful podcast episode, Dr. Bill Wong, a trailblazing occupational therapist (OT), and the host Josie Jarvis engage in a candid conversation about the intersection of neurodivergence and OT. They dive into the importance of mentorship and the role it plays in supporting and empowering neurodivergent OTs and students. Dr. Wong shares his personal journey and experiences with Autism while engaged in OT leadership, shedding light on the need for representation and diverse perspectives within the OT field.Key Points:Neurodivergence and OT: Dr. Bill Wong discusses his experiences as an OT with Autism highlighting the importance of representation and diverse perspectives within the profession. Josie explores how these intersections connect with her experiences of neurodivergence with ADHD and NVLD as well. The Power of Mentorship: Both guests emphasize the significance of seeking mentorship as a sign of strength rather than weakness. They explore how mentors can empower neurodivergent OTs and help them navigate challenges in their careersBreaking Traditional Boundaries: The discussion explores the need for strategic disruption in the OT profession to foster growth and inclusivity. Both guests challenge the status quo and advocate for a more diverse and open-minded approach to OT practice and leadership.Embracing Passion Projects: Dr. Wong shares his experience with organizing TEDx events and how passion projects can provide a creative outlet for OTs to explore and utilize their talents and skills beyond traditional practice.Low-Cost Alternatives for Conferences: The conversation delves into the high costs of attending conferences and explores the potential for low-cost alternatives and inclusive approaches to knowledge sharing and professional development.Building Inclusive Communities: Both guests stress the importance of building communities that welcome and support individuals from diverse backgrounds, including ethnicity, disability, and socioeconomic status.Amplifying Voices: The podcast advocates for partnering with other disability communities to amplify their voices and advocate for accessibility and inclusion in various spaces, including OT practice and academia.Join this inspiring conversation as they challenge the norms, celebrate diversity, and encourage the next generation of OTs to embrace their unique strengths and talents. Whether you're an OT, a student, or simply interested in promoting inclusivity and mentorship in healthcare professions, this podcast episode is a must-listen!Evolved Living Network Instragram @EvolvedLivingNetworkFree Occupational Science 101 Guidebookhttps://swiy.co/OS101GuidePodcastOS Empowered OT Facebook Grouphttps://www.facebook.com/groups/1569824073462362/Link to Full Podcast Disclaimer https://docs.google.com/document/d/13DI0RVawzWrsY-Gmj7qOLk5A6tH-V9150xETzAdd6MQ/edit This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit josiejarvisot.substack.com

Send us a textTaylor Wilmot, AMFT brings in to this dialog a lens developed as an active student in non-traditional learning environments cultivated since 2007. She offers a lens as emerging practice mental health counselor with an educational background that focused on developing skills to support multicultural approaches to counseling.It's normal to feel emotions like grief, anger, and confusion when our worldview is challenged by something new. In order to support ourselves and others through this process, we should allow space for feeling without judgment, try to recognize and validate our emotions, and seek towards expression and exploration.1. Josie and Taylor both went to an interdisciplinary college and are now working as therapists in different fields.2. They discuss the challenges and benefits of learning in an educational community that is intentionally non-hierarchical.3. They are exploring how different modes of learning can be used to benefit the inclusion, well-being, and empowerment of diverse humans.Josie and Taylor discuss the challenges of creating a safe space for emotional expression in an online learning environment. They note that it is important to be aware of the difference between emotions and information and that emotional reactions are not necessarily acts of violence. They also suggest that it is important to be prepared for the possibility that people may show up in a state of hyperarousal and that it is important to have grace for those who are in that state.The scapegoating dynamic can lead to a blind spot in terms of understanding the full problem and potential solutions. It can also create a sense of division within a group.It can be helpful to think about your own culture and how it might be different from the dominant culture when you are trying to learn about and be sensitive to other cultures. It is also important to be curious and humble when asking questions about other cultures.This conversation between Josie and Taylor is about the importance of approaching education with an openness to all different types of perspectives, and the role that educators can play in de-institutionalizing some of the harmful beliefs that are perpetuated in society. They discuss how everyone has a role to play in creating a more just and equitable world, and how we can all learn from each other by engaging in dialogue and critical inquiry.Supplementary Learning Referenced in Guest Interview (20EP)Supplementary Learning Referenced in Guest Interview (20EP)Information on Hyperarousal and Zone of Tolerance https://www.nicabm.com/trauma-how-to-help-your-clients-understand-their-window-of-tolerance/Information on Victim-Rescuer-Perpetrator Triangle https://www.heatherhayes.com/overcoming-the-drama-triangle/Information on Scapegoatinghttps://www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/2022/07/19/scapegoating-causes-reasons/Self-Reflection Excercise: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ZIhR1t8qlkfEXn077fSJ8qSeeNGPgu3RxvfhSaqPIOo/copyEvolved Living Network Instragram @EvolvedLivingNetworkFree Occupational Science 101 Guidebookhttps://swiy.co/OS101GuidePodcastOS Empowered OT Facebook Grouphttps://www.facebook.com/groups/1569824073462362/Link to Full Podcast Disclaimer https://docs.google.com/document/d/13DI0RVawzWrsY-Gmj7qOLk5A6tH-V9150xETzAdd6MQ/edit This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit josiejarvisot.substack.com

Send us a textFree Occupational Science 101 Guidebookhttps://beacon.by/evolved-living/occupational-science-101-guide-podcastOS Empowered OT Facebook Grouphttps://www.facebook.com/groups/1569824073462362/One of the core themes of this module is contextualizing the inseparable connection we have as OTs to the history of the United States and the opportunity we have today to author our legacy and to expand and repattern the legacies of our past foundation to be an active part of constructive change and multilayered intergenerational healing. This discussion highlights how the Arts and Crafts movement can be connected to navigating contemporary social challenges and how OTs can practically build partnerships with community stakeholders such as the Social Justice Sewing Academy and use artistic expression and occupation as a medium to build connections across differences and repair divisions, and harm brought about through system injustice and marginalization. Today we as OTPs have the opportunity to connect to, build off of, and expand the legacy of resistance, resilience, and repair we have inherited in response to current challenges.Information on Arts and Crafts Moment in OT HistoryWilliam Dunton's connection to simplified quilt blocks for occupational intervention in mental health asylums in the turn of the century United States Context.Social Justice Sewing Academy:https://www.sjsacademy.org/Social Justice Sewing Academy Free Antiracist Guidebookhttps://www.sjsacademy.org/antiracist-guidebookSocial Justice Sewing Academy Learning Community Facebook Grouphttps://www.facebook.com/groups/sjsaclc Recent Book Published on the Social Justice Sewing Academy Remembrance Quilt ProjectStitching Stolen Lives: Amplifying Voices, Empowering Youth & Building Empathy Through Quiltshttps://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09F2XWCKY/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_tkin_p1_i0Trail, S., & Wong, T. D. (2021, September 25). Stitching stolen lives: Amplifying voices, empowering youth & building empathy through quilts. C&T Publishing.Evolved Living Network Instragram @EvolvedLivingNetworkFree Occupational Science 101 Guidebookhttps://swiy.co/OS101GuidePodcastOS Empowered OT Facebook Grouphttps://www.facebook.com/groups/1569824073462362/Link to Full Podcast Disclaimer https://docs.google.com/document/d/13DI0RVawzWrsY-Gmj7qOLk5A6tH-V9150xETzAdd6MQ/edit This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit josiejarvisot.substack.com

Send us a textFree Occupational Science 101 Guidebookhttps://beacon.by/evolved-living/occupational-science-101-guide-podcastOS Empowered OT Facebook Grouphttps://www.facebook.com/groups/1569824073462362/Katie Caspero, MS, OTR/L is the founder of OT Graphically where she uses infographics to help researchers share their work, supports occupational therapists with staying up to date on evidence, and empowers clients to be more engaged in their care. Katie describes herself as an entrepreneur, pediatric occupational therapist (OT), research assistant, and knowledge translator. Katie has completed an Advanced Practice Certificate in Implementation of Evidence in Clinical Practice at The University of Pittsburgh. She has been a research assistant for over 10 years and a clinical OT for 8 years. Katie's work focuses on taking complex topics and synthesizing them down into easy-to-understand visuals, especially of research articles through her membership community called The OT Graphically Library This coming fall you can join me along with Katie who is partnering with Randi W. Aas, PhD, OT of Sense of Science to offer an interactive online two hours international digital workshop for Occupational Therapists, Occupational Scientists, Students, Teachers, OT academics, and Retired OTPs supports in how to turn their practice and academic wisdom into knowledge translation business to empower awareness of our power field and science base! Here is some info for their upcoming event! I hope to see you there! Learn more and sign up here: https://www.senseofscience.no/become-ot-infopreneur-2023"We need more OT voices out thereCurrently, there are more than 633,000 occupational therapists worldwide. Many of them are going beyond to share their powerful and evidence-based message with the world on how activity and participation are crucial for health and living a meaningful life.However, there is a need for more such voices, that can solve the threat of occupational disruption and deprivation, along with the competence to secure occupational justice for more people worldwide. Are you ready for a career boost?This event will be a motivational and an encouraging boost to think outside the box for your future career. In this workshop we will give you 15 examples of new ways to share your knowledge, and we are sure you will be suprised when learning to know these oportunities that you can apply yourself. You will be inspired to learn how many OTs already are spreading their crucial OT competence in new ways, worldwide. We look forward to share stories about OTs that will inspire your future career."Evolved Living Network Instragram @EvolvedLivingNetworkFree Occupational Science 101 Guidebookhttps://swiy.co/OS101GuidePodcastOS Empowered OT Facebook Grouphttps://www.facebook.com/groups/1569824073462362/Link to Full Podcast Disclaimer https://docs.google.com/document/d/13DI0RVawzWrsY-Gmj7qOLk5A6tH-V9150xETzAdd6MQ/edit This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit josiejarvisot.substack.com