What’s In A Name?
With so many naming options available, why did we choose "Weave"? It turns out there are several reasons, but the key lies in paying homage to the origins of Occupational Therapy (OT) in the United States. This topic has piqued the interest of many professional colleagues, and this post aims to provide further information and context.
Let's rewind to 1910-1920, a period when the foundations of the OT profession were being established. Notable figures such as Herbert Hall and Susan Tracy were pioneering the use of occupation as a therapeutic method to treat poor health and physical outcomes, particularly for those diagnosed with neurasthenia (a condition characterized by fatigue, headache, and irritability, often linked to emotional disturbance). This approach, known as the "work cure," was in stark contrast to the prevailing practice of enforced bed rest.
Hall operated a healthcare clinic in Massachusetts where patients with neurasthenia were treated through engagement in arts and crafts, including pottery, basketry, and, of course, weaving. Tracy expanded this concept to patients in a mental health asylum, which led her to write "Studies in Invalid Occupations" in 1910 and introduce the "work cure" into general hospital settings. Recognizing the benefits of this approach, other professionals began to adopt and spread it throughout the United States, leading to the establishment of the first professional OT board and registration.
The advent of World War I saw an increased need for healthcare to support veterans' physical and mental rehabilitation. During the 1920s and 1930s, "reconstructive aids" were assigned to military hospitals, where arts and crafts were used to engage veterans physically, mentally, and socially. This work, along with OT's alignment with medical physicians, helped solidify the profession's legitimacy. Today, OT is a core member of the allied health team, working alongside professions such as physiotherapy, exercise physiology, speech pathology, social work and associated allied health assistants.
Soldiers recovering from severe wounds learn basket weaving as a form of occupational therapy. These efforts were led by the World War Reconstruction Aides Association, a group of civilian women who provided treatment to recovering servicemen in the form of occupational and physical therapy.
So why specifically choose the name "Weave"? Critics of the profession, and some playful colleagues, have referred to OT as the "basket weavers" of the healthcare world. By choosing the name "Weave," we honor our origins, growth, and development, and we take ownership of these historical roots.
In the modern world, the concept of weaving is highly relevant to the work we do. As healthcare professionals, we must weave together clients, support coordinators, suppliers, builders, and other allied health professionals into each individual's care plan with respect, care, and consideration.
By embracing the name "Weave," we celebrate the rich history and ongoing evolution of Occupational Therapy, while highlighting the intricate and interconnected nature of our work today.
—
All information sourced from Schell, B. A. B., Gillen, G., & Scaffa, M. E. (2014). Willard and Spackman's occupational therapy (12th ed.). Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
Post image sourced from National Museum of Health and Medicine, Otis Historical Archives, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?search=occupational+therapy+basket+weaving&title=Special:MediaSearch&go=Go&type=image&haslicense=attribution
Cover image sourced from National Museum of Health and Medicine, Otis Historical Archives, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?search=occupational+therapy+basket+weaving&title=Special:MediaSearch&go=Go&type=image&haslicense=attribution