Adolf Meyer Adolf Meyer

andand

George BartonGeorge Barton

Adolf MeyerAdolf Meyer::BackgroundBackground

Born on September 13, 1866 in Born on September 13, 1866 in Niederweningen, SwitzerlandNiederweningen, Switzerland

1892:1892: Received his medical degree from the University Received his medical degree from the University

of Zurichof Zurich Emigrated to the United StatesEmigrated to the United States

Wrote Wrote The Philosophy of Occupational The Philosophy of Occupational TherapyTherapy in 1922 in 1922

Died March 17, 1950 at his home in BaltimoreDied March 17, 1950 at his home in Baltimore

Connection to OTConnection to OT

Influence on OT

•One of the founders of occupational therapy

•Healthy living is a blend of “work and pleasure”

•Occupation is therapeutic

•The “work cure”

•Mental problems are “problems of living”

•Fundamentals of Life: “Work and play and rest and sleep”

•“Our role consists in giving opportunities rather than prescriptions. There must be opportunities to work, opportunities to do, to plan and create, and to use material.” (Gordon, 2009).

Major Contributions

George BartonGeorge Barton::BackgroundBackground

Born 1871- Brookline, MABorn 1871- Brookline, MA Died 1923Died 1923

Connection to OTConnection to OT

ArchitectArchitect Boston Society of Arts and Crafts Boston Society of Arts and Crafts Little formal medical experienceLittle formal medical experience Experience through personal illness, nursing, Experience through personal illness, nursing,

and independent studyand independent study First exposure to OT in Clifton Springs First exposure to OT in Clifton Springs

Sanatorium- Reverend Elwood Worcester Sanatorium- Reverend Elwood Worcester

Influence on the ProfessionInfluence on the Profession 1914- Consolation House1914- Consolation House Work as rehabilitation: Work as rehabilitation: “He used his own body as a “He used his own body as a

clinic to work out the problem of rehabilitating clinic to work out the problem of rehabilitating himself” himself” ((Quiroga, 1995, p. 118).Quiroga, 1995, p. 118).

Grading occupations, energy conservation strategies, Grading occupations, energy conservation strategies, efficiency efficiency

1915- coined the term “occupational therapy”1915- coined the term “occupational therapy” ““If there is an occupational disease, why not an occupational If there is an occupational disease, why not an occupational

therapy?”therapy?” (Reed & Sanderson, 1999) (Reed & Sanderson, 1999) 1917- NSPOT- President and chair of Committee on 1917- NSPOT- President and chair of Committee on

Research and EfficiencyResearch and Efficiency Treat the “whole person” Treat the “whole person” Occupation as a drugOccupation as a drug

Major ContributionsMajor Contributions

Rehabilitation can be achieved through work Rehabilitation can be achieved through work and productivity and productivity

Used OT to work with the physically disabledUsed OT to work with the physically disabled Energy conservation practices Energy conservation practices Founded NSPOTFounded NSPOT

Additional AccomplishmentsAdditional Accomplishments

Cured his paralysisCured his paralysis Consolation HouseConsolation House

““He wanted to ‘raise the cry that it is time for humanity He wanted to ‘raise the cry that it is time for humanity to cease regarding the hospital as a door closing upon a to cease regarding the hospital as a door closing upon a life…’”life…’” ( (Reed & Sanderson, 1999Reed & Sanderson, 1999))

Value of OTValue of OT Medicine only healed illness and patients left hospital Medicine only healed illness and patients left hospital

completely dependent- OT gives people a purposecompletely dependent- OT gives people a purpose Productive and meaningful activity speeds recoveryProductive and meaningful activity speeds recovery A good occupation is one that “promoted physical A good occupation is one that “promoted physical

improvement, clarified and strengthened the mind improvement, clarified and strengthened the mind and could become the basis or the corollary of a new and could become the basis or the corollary of a new life upon recovery” (Peloquin, 1991). life upon recovery” (Peloquin, 1991).

Injury or illness does not mean life is over. Work can Injury or illness does not mean life is over. Work can create a new meaningful and purposeful life. create a new meaningful and purposeful life.

End of LifeEnd of Life

1918-Resigned from presidency1918-Resigned from presidency 1918- married 1918- married Continued as chair of Research and Efficiency Continued as chair of Research and Efficiency

Committee of NSPOTCommittee of NSPOT 1923- died from tuberculosis 1923- died from tuberculosis

ReferencesReferences

AOTA: A historical perspective. (2009). In the American occupational therapyAOTA: A historical perspective. (2009). In the American occupational therapyassociation, inc. Retrieved from http://www.aota.org/About/39983.aspx association, inc. Retrieved from http://www.aota.org/About/39983.aspx 

Bing, R. (1981). Occupational therapy revisited: A paraphrastic journey. Bing, R. (1981). Occupational therapy revisited: A paraphrastic journey. AmericanAmericanJournal of Occupational Therapy, 35, Journal of Occupational Therapy, 35, 499–518. Retrieved from http://www.aota. 499–518. Retrieved from http://www.aota.

org/ org/ Practitioners/Resources/Slagle/1981.aspxPractitioners/Resources/Slagle/1981.aspx Founders image. (1917). Retrieved November 9, 2009, from: Founders image. (1917). Retrieved November 9, 2009, from: http://www.nysota.org Gordon, D. M. (2009). The history of occupational therapy. In E. B. Crepeau, E. S. Cohn, &Gordon, D. M. (2009). The history of occupational therapy. In E. B. Crepeau, E. S. Cohn, &

B. A. Boyt Schell (Eds.), B. A. Boyt Schell (Eds.), Willard & Spackman’s Occupational TherapyWillard & Spackman’s Occupational Therapy (11 (11thth ed.) (pp.202-215). Philadelphia: ed.) (pp.202-215). Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.

Peloquin, S.M. (1991). Looking Back--Occupational Therapy Service: Individual and Peloquin, S.M. (1991). Looking Back--Occupational Therapy Service: Individual and Collective Understandings of the Founders, Part 1. Collective Understandings of the Founders, Part 1. American Journal ofAmerican Journal of Occupational Occupational Therapy, 45,Therapy, 45, 352-260. Retrieved from http://www1.aota.org/ajot/ 352-260. Retrieved from http://www1.aota.org/ajot/ abstract.asp?abstract.asp?IVol=45&INum=4&ArtID=9&Date=April%201991IVol=45&INum=4&ArtID=9&Date=April%201991

Quiroga, V.A.M. (1995). Occupational therapy: The first 30 years 1900-1930. Maryland: Quiroga, V.A.M. (1995). Occupational therapy: The first 30 years 1900-1930. Maryland: The The American Occupational Therapy Association, Inc. American Occupational Therapy Association, Inc.

Reed, K. L., & Sanderson, S. N. (1999). Reed, K. L., & Sanderson, S. N. (1999). Concepts of occupational therapyConcepts of occupational therapy (4 (4thth ed.) ed.).. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. http://www.nndb.com/people/022/000119662/ image of adolf meyer image of adolf meyer