Lifestyle By Design: Helping You Solve Everyday Challenges | Occupational Therapy | Health and Well-Being | Self-Help

This episode joins Karen on a service-learning trip to Morocco lead by Dr. Said Nafai and Dr. Mohamed Brahimi. Karen met occupational therapists and students from around the globe at the first Occupational Therapy conference in Morocco organized by Dr. Said Nafai and Elizabeth Stevens-Nafai. Said also joined our episode to discuss service learning and was present during a powerful visit to a transitional care home for women in breast cancer treatment. Find out more about Said’s work at otmorocco.org.

Nicole Kelly and Sarah Tuberty are the hosts of a new podcast launching this week called Disarming Disability. Their goal is to deconstruct social stigma on disability and to voice, educate, and empower individuals to generate a more knowledgeable, understanding, and inclusive society. Their weekly podcast will authentically discuss topics related to disability on the societal platform. You can find out more online at disarmingdisability.com, on Facebook at @disarmingdisaiblity, and on twitter at @disarmdisable.

Samora Kasmir joins us for a conversation at Boston University on how she became an Occupational Therapist with the US military as part of the US Public Health Service and how others can do the same.

In this episode, we meet Shelley Francis, an audiologist and author of No Child Left Unwrapped. Shelley has been practicing audiology for over 25 years and specializes in working with highly sensitive children. Shelley believes everyone is born with their own unique gifts that can go unnoticed or undeveloped due to developmental differences and societal beliefs. Shelley discusses how empathy and compassion can help sensitive children cultivate and develop their gifts.

While at the Assistive Technology of NE conference in RI, we meet Tracy Lee Allard, Mary Anne Lewis and Patrick Lewis. Tracey was the keynote speaker of the conference and is an actress with Asperger’s Spectrum Disorder who hopes to change misconceptions about Autism/Asperger’s. Tracy got her start public speaking at 8 years old and can be seen in Sam and Mattie's teen zombie movie. Patrick is a 27 year old who is blind/cognitively challenged. His mom, Mary Anne, who is an occupational therapist and his other family members helped him create a business called, Purely Patrick where he makes specialty food items. You can learn more at www.purelypatrick.com

Our guest Helene Vincent discusses her decision to run for City Council in Boston's 8th district.

In this episode we hear from Vanessa Grijalba on her personal and professional journey toward incorporating occupational therapy into the practice of treating obesity.

In this episode, we meet Richard Mangino. He was the first person in Massachusetts to obtain a hand transplant when he was 65.

In this episode, our guests, Rivka, Robie and Amy share their lived experiences living with or caring for someone with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME)/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS)/ and Fibromyalgia (FM). Often considered a hidden disease, these women are helping to shine a spotlight on the issue, for there is currently no treatment for those who suffer from its debilitating effects.

In this episode, we meet Nick Adkins, founder of the Pinksocks tribe. Pinksocks began as a viral movement and quickly evolved into a worldwide community united in changing the world from the ground up, with heart speak, hugs, and gifting. Learn more at pinksocks.life.