Students learn from wheelchairs
By CHRIS COTTRELL
Up the stairs... helpfullu Staff photo by JAY KOELZER
Staff Writer
as part or ner project for Occupational Therapy, Susan Goddard, Des Moines, Iowa junior, spend much of Wednesday and Thursday traversing the campus by wheelchair. Goddard said that even people she knew would walk by without saying anything, while Goulder planned to help up the steps of Strong Hall, though a group of students finally came to her assistance.
The frustrations and inconveniences of wheelchair confinement become a brief reality for occupational therapy students at the University of Kansas.
Occupational Therapy 228, General Treatment Techniques of Occupational therapy, is a required course for all students in occupational therapy.
"In class, the students have learned about the various pieces and equipment that are part of the wheelchair and how to use the wheelchair." Sue Meredith, assistant professor of occupational therapy and in part of the class this semester, said recently.
"Then they are asked to spend eight hours as a 'patient' in a wheelchair."
"IT MAKES THE students aware of the problems some of their patients might be facing and how to prepare their patients for dealing with these kinds of problems."
Meredith that occupational therapy was geared toward relationships between individuals and between people within groups. She said occupational therapists worked with the physically disabled, ill children, and children who had learning disabilities
Mereidith that therapists often dealt with wheelchair patients, and that the wheelchair assistance enabled students to view the world through the patient's eyes.
"THE STUDENTS can see a little of what the patient faces," she said. "The advantage on the student's part is that the student can always get up and walk, and he knows it."
"So it's really not a true-life experience,
but it's probably as close as we can get to
Jane Underwood, assistant professor of occupational therapy, formerly taught the class and will teach it again next semester. She said the wheelchair exercise made students more aware of the problems of the handicapped.
"When the students are in the wheelchair, they're really aware of architectural barriers," Underwood said. "These are doors and windows when the student is in the wheelchair."
UNDERWOOD SAID that the KU cam-
sels its main arm for lifting and sufi-
tioned for the trucking, wheeling. But she
said architectural barriers gradually were beint corrected.
Underwood said the assignment was valuable for students who assisted as well as for those in the wheelchairs. She said many assisting students acquired an awareness of the problems of a wheelchair patient's family.
have the responsibility for seeing that another individual gets where he needs to be.
"They see just how confining it really is to
THE ASSISTING student also learns how to operate a wheelchair, she said.
Diane Doty, Shawne Mission sophomore who recently completed the wheelchair assignment, agreed that it was a learning experience.
"You can get in most of the buildings" "do said, 'but you have to go around the door.'"
"A LOT OF THE buildings need to have a restroom for the handicapped because the doors are so thin that you can't get the wheelchair in there. All the buildings need cement灌ations in and out the doors, and some of the buildings need elevators."
"There was no way they could get to the elevator because of all the construction," Meredith said. "So one of the maintenance people got up on a service elevator, which he did.
The wheelchair assignment isn't without its lighter moments. Two of Meredith's students recently visited the Kansas Union while doing the assignment.
"THE NEXT DAY, those two girls changed places. The patient became the assistant and the assistant became the patient. Then they went back to the Union for lunch and bumped into the same maintenance man.
"He couldn't quite understand how one recovered so quickly."
BEST WISHES FALL BRIDES
A free gift waits for you at Alexander's. Visit Alexander's Bath Shop, receive your free gift, and register your gift selections for your bathroom, bridal showers and wedding. Bridal Registry
Alexander's Bath & Gift Shop
826 Iowa 842-1320
SUA BRIDGE CLUB
Now Playing
WED., 7—11 p.m. Pine Room of the Kansas Union
SUN., 4—8 p.m. Pine Room of the Kansas Union
Everyone Welcome
3
CHEF STEAK SPECIAL
Steak Platter, Salad
and Drink
all for only $1.99
with coupon
Offer good thru Thurs., Oct. 21
Going to the game in Manhattan this Saturday? Dine at a World Famous Restaurant
McDonald's is In Manhattan (right on the way to the stadium) at 3rd and Vattler. Before and after the game be sure to stop and get your favorite McDonald's goodles.
1518 W. 23rd 842-8078
McDonalds of Lawrence, 901 W.23rd
K-STATE VS. K.U.
--on a springy crepe sole.
Coats with a touch of class . .
from
the VILLAGE SET
922 Massachusetts
University Daily Kansan Wednesday, October 20, 1978
OPEN HOUSE
COLLEGE OF VETERINARY
MEDICINE
KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY
Oct. 23, 1976 9:00 a.m.—6:30 p.m.
Cherry Cheesecake
75¢
Offer good the entire month of Oct.1976
CLIP THIS AD
FOREIGN AUTO PARTS
25%
OFF EVERYTHING
IN STOCK (Not included)
Go North across bridge to stoplight, turn right, go one block.
Go North across bridge to stoplight, turn right, go one block.
JAMES GANG
M - F - 8 -
304 Locust
5:30
SATURDAY
843-8080
FOREIGN AUTO PARTS
8:00 - 5:00
The Going's Easy in OLDMAINE trotters
Kick-off.
Trotters
new
slip on.
Rosewood Brown, and Nutan Rawhide Leather.
Judy, Buttery soft leather tie, puffed and stitched like quilting on a spring
Rally.
Soft
Rawhide
Leather.
Wedged crepe soles.
Navy Blue, Natural and Rosewood Brown.