“You’re not disabled — you have a disability.”

In this episode of the Upstroke Podcast, I sit down with the two occupational therapists who worked with me for seven months after my stroke—and who helped me rebuild my arm and my independence.

Colleen (Occupational Therapist) and Jamie (Occupational Therapy Assistant) open up about what occupational therapy really looks like behind the scenes: the emotional weight, the small wins, the hard days, and the moments no one prepares you for.

We talk about:
• Why they prefer “having a disability” over “being disabled”
• What occupational therapists actually do in stroke and brain injury rehab
• how therapy is personalized for each patient
• Why goals matter (and what happens when they’re unrealistic)
• The emotional burden therapists carry home with them
• Why the kitchen can be one of the most dangerous rooms in recovery
• Humour, humanity, and the power of connection in rehab
• And yes… the infamous bath brush story 😅

YouTube channel www.youtube.com/@UpstrokePodcast