Occupational Therapy in Popular Culture

 OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY IN POPULAR CULTURE

After hearing that our objective for this week's post was to find a portrayal of our chosen career in popular culture, my first thought was immediately "uh-oh." However, it didn't take me long to find what looks like a very interesting movie that is related to Occupational Therapy. Although I wasn't able to watch the entire film, I was able to find summaries and trailers to get an idea of what it might be like. "The Intouchables" is a French movie based on a true story about a millionaire, Phillippe Borgo, who becomes a quadriplegic after a tragic paragliding accident and is in need of a live-in caretaker. A young, African American/Muslim ex-convict, Driss, was one of the many people being interviewed for the job. Having had no intentions of being hired, and only wanting a paper signed that said he was looking for a job and was rejected in order to keep receiving unemployment benefits, he was surprised to find that he got the job. Driss learns the extent of Borgo's disability and spends every moment by his side as his occupational therapist, psychologist, matchmaker, and many other roles. Together they bring excitement, meaning, and love back into Borgo's life.

If you'd like to watch the trailer, check it out here! > http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34WIbmXkewU 

LEARNING THE LANGUAGE

In Occupational Therapy, it isn't surprising that their language consists mostly of medical terminology. First there is the obvious abbreviation OT, which stands for occupational therapy, and live-in carer which was used in "The Intouchables." There are also many other terms that pretty much mean the same thing in any medical field. But then, there are simple words that may not be specific to the world of occupational therapy, but I find they have a totally different meaning to therapists and patients in the field. Words like "Free." What does "free" mean to an average American?  Maybe being able to buy a home, get a job, and live the life that they want for themselves. For an occupational therapist, helping a patient feel free might mean teaching them to walk again, or just be able to feed themselves once more. In "The Intouchables," Driss helps Phillippe Borgo feel free again simply by treating him as if he was a normal person and not showing any pity towards him. They also use the word self-care, something Borgo could no longer do for himself. To a healthy American, the ability to care for themselves might be something they take for granted or wish someone else could do for them. I know I wake up in the morning wishing someone could dress me, feed  me, do my hair and make-up, and carry me to class. But, for someone like Phillippe Borgo, being able to care for himself again might be his biggest dream. So, while they may not be words specific to OT's, they certainly bring about a whole new meaning when dealing with a person in need.

WORKS CITED 

"What Can A Movie Teach Us About Occupational Therapy?" Centra Healthcare Solutions. N.p, 29 June 2012. Web. 18 January 2013.

"The Intouchables." IMBd. N.p, 17 January 2013. Web. 18 January 2013.