- Email: [email protected]
Parent Involvement
813
Parent Involvement MADAM - I was extremely interested to read the research report ‘An evaluation of parents’ involvement in the management of their cerebral palsied children’ by K Ross and D Thomson (August, pages 561 - 565). We have, coincidentally, just completed a similar study with 100 parents attending our services in Calcutta. Despite the different environment (the services are centre, not community based), culture and country the results are remarkably similar. Many parents in the study had the same feeling that more professional input would mean more improvement in their children’s ability. About one-third of the parents felt that they were equal partners in their children’s management programme. It was interesting to note that many of the parents who expressed this feeling have undergone training programmes themselves. The parent training programmes vary from general courses covering all aspects of cerebral palsy to specific topics which have been requested by parents. The training together with the parents’ regular therapy with their children has improved their confidence immensely. The other area where we lay great stress is the daily routine of the family. We find that if this is carefully recorded as the initial
The Social Model of Disability
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MADAM I was interested to read the article by Ros Johnson ‘Attitudes don’t just hang in the air . .’ (September, pages 619 627). There has been considerable discussion in recent years on the social model of disability which most organisations endorse to a greater or lesser extent, although it could be argued that the model does not take account of all aspects of the lives of disabled people. Indeed, had your author read Morris’s book Pride Against Prejudice: A personalpolitics of disability, which she quotes, she would have gained a greater understanding of the limitations of the social model from somebody who is a strong advocate of it. The article refers to Radar. Perhaps I can correct the errors it contains. Radar, as its Memorandum and Articles of Association show, was established by disabled and able-bodied people. The article states that the Radar framework assumes disabled people are incapable of taking control of their own lives and require the services of professionals, the goodwill of voluntary workers and the aid of charity. This rather neatly ignores a few facts. Approximately 25% of Radar’s staff of 40 people are disabled. 60% of Radar’s Executive Committee are disabled. The two most senior members of staff are disabled. Of the 500 organisations which are members of Radar, 150 are controlled by disabled people. Radar entirely agrees that disabled people should be given civil rights and much of the legislation which grants rights
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step in assessment we can accurately formulate a realistic programme for the parents to follow. I feel that parents often fail to follow a management programme not because they find the therapy too difficult but because they find it too demanding on their time and energy. I recently read an article in a newsletter published by a parent group for children with a specific physical disability. In one of the articles a mother described her early experience in coping with her child’s disability. She was full of praise for the support she received from her physiotherapist. However, she mentioned that she had found it difficult to carry out the 3 am exercise session1 When such demands are still being placed on parents it is no wonder that some of them lose confidence. Because in India we have always had the problem of a dearth of trained personnel we have had to make our intervention programmes parent and family oriented. I feel that this has benefited not only the parents, but also the professionals, in making their approach to intervention programmes both functional and realistic. Tessa Hamblin MCSP Director, Rehabilitation and Training Spastics Society of Eastern India Calcutta
to disabled people has been fought for and obtained by Radar and similar organisations. It is not the role of Radar or other organisations which have charitable status to threaten social, economic or political systems. In a democracy the voters can reelect or change their government at a general election. I am pleased that Physiotherapy is covering issues such as those raised by Ms Johnson and if she would like to contact me I would be happy to provide her with information of Radar’s work so a more accurate picture can be presented in future. Bert Massie Director Radar 25 Mortimer Street London W1N 8AB
Work In Hand MADAM - On behalf
of the student membership I would like to draw the attention of qualified members to information related to Motion 3 at the Representative Conference. Some delegates seemed unaware of the work already in hand to inform students of industrial relations issues. An article in ‘Student Briefing’ by Mike Chisholm in this issue shows what is being done and I would urge all members to read it. Richard Leaver Chairman Student Executive Committee
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Massage The Case Continues MADAM - So what’s wrong
with massage? Except that it is now called ‘soft tissue work’. Margaret E Preston GradDipPhys MCSP High Hurstwood Uckfield East Sussex
Learning Disability
MADAM - I read with interest the Forum article ‘Massage: The roots of our profession’ in the August Journal, and then with dismay I read ‘Down with massage’ on the letters page of the September Journal. In the field of learning disability, where the clients present with all manner of physical handicap and challenging behaviour, a physiotherapist without her/his massage skills would be much the poorer. The management of chest conditions, stress and violence, chronic constipation and indeed postural deformity, all require different massage techniques as part of the overall treatment. There are still many treatments that have yet to be validated by research, which practising therapists will use because they are of benefit to patients. Massage is an ancient art, it runs parallel to our skills of palpation and handling. We throw it away to our cost. Other hea!th professionals such as nurses are perhaps more perceptivethan some of us, and are eager to ‘own’ massage for better patient care. Marian Emly MCSP Leeds West Yorkshire
A Patient’s View
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MADAM Colette Murphy’s article ‘Massage: The roots of our profession’ (August, page 546) was of particular interest to me. I am not a physiotherapist but a private patient receiving wonderful hands-on treatment assisted by small doses of ultrasound. This combination of treatments is unavailable to me on the National Health although Ihave requested it, on the grounds of it being uneconomic1 Interestingly, both physiotherapistsam in the same age group, 55-65, and trained to use massage. There is no comparison between the relief I get from massage and my four to five minutes of straight ultrasound at my local cottage hospital. Sadly, since retirement I have to limit myself to occasional treats of massage and settle for what little relief the NHS gives me. This is a sad reflection of standards being sacrificed to save the Government money, when such skills will become available only to those who can pay. Yours in admiration of your profession. J Patricia J Chapman Ashby de la Zouch Leicestershire This correspondence is now closed.
Physiotherapy, November 1993, vol79, no 11
Parent Involvement MADAM - I was extremely interested to read the research report ‘An evaluation of parents’ involvement in the management of their cerebral palsied children’ by K Ross and D Thomson (August, pages 561 - 565). We have, coincidentally, just completed a similar study with 100 parents attending our services in Calcutta. Despite the different environment (the services are centre, not community based), culture and country the results are remarkably similar. Many parents in the study had the same feeling that more professional input would mean more improvement in their children’s ability. About one-third of the parents felt that they were equal partners in their children’s management programme. It was interesting to note that many of the parents who expressed this feeling have undergone training programmes themselves. The parent training programmes vary from general courses covering all aspects of cerebral palsy to specific topics which have been requested by parents. The training together with the parents’ regular therapy with their children has improved their confidence immensely. The other area where we lay great stress is the daily routine of the family. We find that if this is carefully recorded as the initial
The Social Model of Disability
-
MADAM I was interested to read the article by Ros Johnson ‘Attitudes don’t just hang in the air . .’ (September, pages 619 627). There has been considerable discussion in recent years on the social model of disability which most organisations endorse to a greater or lesser extent, although it could be argued that the model does not take account of all aspects of the lives of disabled people. Indeed, had your author read Morris’s book Pride Against Prejudice: A personalpolitics of disability, which she quotes, she would have gained a greater understanding of the limitations of the social model from somebody who is a strong advocate of it. The article refers to Radar. Perhaps I can correct the errors it contains. Radar, as its Memorandum and Articles of Association show, was established by disabled and able-bodied people. The article states that the Radar framework assumes disabled people are incapable of taking control of their own lives and require the services of professionals, the goodwill of voluntary workers and the aid of charity. This rather neatly ignores a few facts. Approximately 25% of Radar’s staff of 40 people are disabled. 60% of Radar’s Executive Committee are disabled. The two most senior members of staff are disabled. Of the 500 organisations which are members of Radar, 150 are controlled by disabled people. Radar entirely agrees that disabled people should be given civil rights and much of the legislation which grants rights
-
.
step in assessment we can accurately formulate a realistic programme for the parents to follow. I feel that parents often fail to follow a management programme not because they find the therapy too difficult but because they find it too demanding on their time and energy. I recently read an article in a newsletter published by a parent group for children with a specific physical disability. In one of the articles a mother described her early experience in coping with her child’s disability. She was full of praise for the support she received from her physiotherapist. However, she mentioned that she had found it difficult to carry out the 3 am exercise session1 When such demands are still being placed on parents it is no wonder that some of them lose confidence. Because in India we have always had the problem of a dearth of trained personnel we have had to make our intervention programmes parent and family oriented. I feel that this has benefited not only the parents, but also the professionals, in making their approach to intervention programmes both functional and realistic. Tessa Hamblin MCSP Director, Rehabilitation and Training Spastics Society of Eastern India Calcutta
to disabled people has been fought for and obtained by Radar and similar organisations. It is not the role of Radar or other organisations which have charitable status to threaten social, economic or political systems. In a democracy the voters can reelect or change their government at a general election. I am pleased that Physiotherapy is covering issues such as those raised by Ms Johnson and if she would like to contact me I would be happy to provide her with information of Radar’s work so a more accurate picture can be presented in future. Bert Massie Director Radar 25 Mortimer Street London W1N 8AB
Work In Hand MADAM - On behalf
of the student membership I would like to draw the attention of qualified members to information related to Motion 3 at the Representative Conference. Some delegates seemed unaware of the work already in hand to inform students of industrial relations issues. An article in ‘Student Briefing’ by Mike Chisholm in this issue shows what is being done and I would urge all members to read it. Richard Leaver Chairman Student Executive Committee
-
Massage The Case Continues MADAM - So what’s wrong
with massage? Except that it is now called ‘soft tissue work’. Margaret E Preston GradDipPhys MCSP High Hurstwood Uckfield East Sussex
Learning Disability
MADAM - I read with interest the Forum article ‘Massage: The roots of our profession’ in the August Journal, and then with dismay I read ‘Down with massage’ on the letters page of the September Journal. In the field of learning disability, where the clients present with all manner of physical handicap and challenging behaviour, a physiotherapist without her/his massage skills would be much the poorer. The management of chest conditions, stress and violence, chronic constipation and indeed postural deformity, all require different massage techniques as part of the overall treatment. There are still many treatments that have yet to be validated by research, which practising therapists will use because they are of benefit to patients. Massage is an ancient art, it runs parallel to our skills of palpation and handling. We throw it away to our cost. Other hea!th professionals such as nurses are perhaps more perceptivethan some of us, and are eager to ‘own’ massage for better patient care. Marian Emly MCSP Leeds West Yorkshire
A Patient’s View
-
MADAM Colette Murphy’s article ‘Massage: The roots of our profession’ (August, page 546) was of particular interest to me. I am not a physiotherapist but a private patient receiving wonderful hands-on treatment assisted by small doses of ultrasound. This combination of treatments is unavailable to me on the National Health although Ihave requested it, on the grounds of it being uneconomic1 Interestingly, both physiotherapistsam in the same age group, 55-65, and trained to use massage. There is no comparison between the relief I get from massage and my four to five minutes of straight ultrasound at my local cottage hospital. Sadly, since retirement I have to limit myself to occasional treats of massage and settle for what little relief the NHS gives me. This is a sad reflection of standards being sacrificed to save the Government money, when such skills will become available only to those who can pay. Yours in admiration of your profession. J Patricia J Chapman Ashby de la Zouch Leicestershire This correspondence is now closed.
Physiotherapy, November 1993, vol79, no 11