Hello, my name is...

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Hello! My name is Kylie Dunavan, and I am pursuing a Master’s Degree in occupational therapy at The University of Tennessee - Heath Science Center. Follow me as I navigate OT school and life. It is sure to be a grand adventure!

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History of Disabilities - A Reflection

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All my life, I have seen family members and friends live with various disabilities. I, too, have been challenged with injuries and diagnoses that have made me adapt and change in order to live a functional life. However, I have never given much thought to how different my concept of disability is compared to that of someone in my same shoes just one decade ago-- until hearing from Dr. Keisling, Ph.D. Disability can be viewed in various ways. Someone recovering from a torn ACL is likely to view their disability as transient, or simply a phase. A girl facing a diagnosis of autism, however, may see her diagnosis as an intrinsic part of her identity. Moreover, a young boy diagnosed with Down Syndrome may feel that his diagnosis is not a disability at all, but an innate difference or strength. The history and concept of disability is ever-evolving.  Before Tuesday's lesson, I was aware of the model of institutionalism that once confined those with disabilities, but I had no idea that...
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Imposter Syndrome

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I had never heard of imposter phenomenon when I first entered OT school. Nonetheless, I had definitely experienced it before and would continue to throughout my graduate school journey. One instance of imposter phenomenon occurred in the summer before I came to UTHSC. I had taken a job as a tech at a developmental preschool back home. I was fresh out of college and was anxiously awaiting the results of my OTCAS application. In addition to my daily duties at the preschool, I was asked to serve as the volunteer coordinator of the facility's hippotherapy program on Tuesday nights. I jumped at the opportunity for overtime pay and exposure to such a unique form of OT and PT. At the same time, I had never even heard of this hippotherapy program and had no idea how it worked. The first assignment I was given involved creating an Excel sheet outlining the dimensions of the whiteboard I would use to write volunteer assignments on for each riding session. As a psychology major, SPSS was the ...
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"Man from the South" Reflection

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After reading the chapter from "Man from the South," I was intrigued by the life of the wife of the South American man. All we know of her is divulged in a few short lines at the end of the chapter, yet the story of her life quickly becomes complex. Unfortunately, the woman cannot even take the time to wash her hair without having to fear that her husband is engaged in dangerous and costly schemes. Moreover, she has lost at least three digits having to "un-do" the bets that her husband has lost. If the soldier had lost the bet, the woman's livelihood would have become even more unstable. For example, the couple may have had to move once again to prevent the southern man's incrimination. However, I will focus on her occupation as "care taker" of her scheming husband. If the bet had ended badly, the wife would assume that she could go absolutely no where without her husband -- even to shower, to sleep, to eat, or to shop alone. One strategy that co...
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