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An Unforgettable Mother with ALS: Pearl shares a powerful story of being able to help a young mother tell her children she loved them for the first time in 10 months. She realized that she could make a huge impact by using technology to unlock these peoples lives.
Helping Clients and their Families with Technology: Pearl describes how her clinic operates in terms of setting up the technology and helping people afford it. Although frame of reference is Ontario, similar opportunities for support are available in most regions.
How Her Involvement Began?: Pearl describes how her initial exposure to ALS patients made her realize that these people needed a means to communicate in order to improve their quality of life. On her own initiative, she began working on assisted communications devices.
How She Helps Clients through the Journey: As ALS progresses, many patients grieve over the loss of a function and resist the use of assistive technology. Pearl and her team work with the patient and their family to train them, give them hope and just be there to support them.
How She Views Her Clients with ALS: Pearls approach, as an OT, is to engage her clients as people and to find out what they want to do, not what theyve lost. They are an important part of the team.
The ALS Clinic Experience: Most people are overwhelmed and confused when they first become involved with their ALS professional team. The approach is to try to stagger the appointments and give them what they need when they need it.
The Emotional Challenges and Rewards of Working with ALS Patients: The Emotional Challenges and Rewards of Working with ALS Patients Pearl shares a profoundly moving perspective on how she views working with her ALS patients. They give her strength, they give her comfort and support. She views it as a privilege to be with them.