Title of article :
A Service User Perspective Informing the Role of Occupational Therapy in School Transition Practice for High School Learners with TBI: An African Perspective
Author/Authors :
Jacobs-Nzuzi Khuabi , Lee-Ann Division of Occupational Therapy - Stellenbosch University - Cape Town, South Africa , Swart , Estelle Department of Educational Psychology - Stellenbosch University - Stellenbosch , South Africa , Soeker, Mogammad Shaheed Department of Occupational Therapy - University of the Western Cape - Cape Town 7500, South Africa
Abstract :
IntheSouthAfricancontext,therearenospecificguidelinesregardinghowtoprepareandsupportadolescentsforthe
transitionfromahealthcaretoahighschoolsettingpostTBI.Thisraisesquestionsabouttherelevanceandresponsivenessofthe
currenttransitionpracticesinoccupationaltherapyintermsofadequatelypreparingandsupportingtheseadolescentsto
participateinschoolandhenceexercisetheirrighttoaqualityeducation.Method.Thisstudyexploredadolescentsandother
keyroleplayers’perspectivesonandexperiencesofthehighschooltransition(i.e.,schoolreentryandcontinuedschool
participation)postTBI.Itwasanticipatedthatthiswouldprovideanincreasedunderstandingoftheenablersandbarriersto
highschoolreentryandparticipationpostTBI.Thisservedasabasistoexplorethemainaimofthisstudywhichwastohelp
occupationaltherapistsidentifywhereeffortsintermsofservicedeliveryareneeded.Thisstudywassituatedintheinterpretivist
qualitativeparadigmandusedamulticasestudydesign,whichincludedsemistructuredinterviewswitheightadolescentlearners
withTBI,theirprimarycaregivers,teachers,andprincipalsaswellasobservationsanddocumentationreview.Results.This
paperwillfocusonacentralthemeintheresearch,namely,thenatureandextentofsupportneededtofacilitatethehighschool
transitionofadolescentswithTBIwithinadevelopingcontext.Similartothefindingsofstudiesconductedindeveloped
contexts,participantshighlightedthattheyfeltthatadolescentsneedsupportatvariousstagesoftheschooltransition.
Participantsfurtheralludedtosupportthatshouldbecollaborative,coordinated,flexible,andmonitoredtoensureitisrelevant
andresponsivetotheseadolescents’changingneeds.Conclusion.Thestudyfindingsconcludethatoccupationaltherapistshave
acrucialroleinfosteringanenablingenvironment(directlyandindirectly)throughfulfillingvariousrolesincludingthatofa
facilitator,intermediary,coach,collaborator,supporter,andadvocator
Keywords :
Service User Perspective Informing , Role of Occupational Therapy , School Transition Practice , High School Learners , TBI , An African Perspective
Journal title :
Occupational Therapy International
