Uruguay synopsis and how my Experience and OT coincide and how the need for OT specialty in rural areas are reflected across the continent
I spent a week in the northern section and border of Uruguay, Artigas. Artigas is a small town within the department of Artigas (Denoted as department) with a population of more or less 100,000 residents. Artigas is a reflection of rural living and majority of low-income households. Within the scope of practice, barriers are commonly financial and Quality of Life is subject to opportunities and Policy in favor of the impoverished/working class.
Conspicuously, Artigas is a city with a border to Brazil. Within a bridge I saw the community interdependence of trade across borders and ADL's. I attended church on the other side of the bridge with my family, I visited Family on the other side of the bridge, I even bought necessities on the other side of the bridge due to its financial leverage. Additionally I had to look at accessibility, and although a bias is keen to be brought up as there is a standard unequivocally held for those who benefit from special services, it was clear there is a divide on the bridge. In the streets across the bridge there were occasionally these Lego like tiles that I commonly saw in South Korea for its intention for the visually impaired or visually absent population. It was seen at this same bridge that it is inconsistent; inconsistency seemed to be the only consistent aspect in accessibility and back home was no better. For instance, Artigas does not have access to many individualized specialties neither do they have it across the bridge. I saw in Artigas that roads are not ADA-equivalent of permissible design. A wheelchair ramp was often cracked, broken, or non-existent in some roads. It was common to see the wheelchair ramp lead to a curb with no ramp; how could someone cross if they moment they cross they have to surmount themselves over a curb? Sidewalks were uneven, a lack of education on fall prevention and fall risk factors would benefit massively. In a brief conversation over accessibility, my cousin is a Uruguayan native and is in the education system; she mentioned that accessibility intent is everywhere and its execution is poor at best. Within the scope of education, Inclusion is key and considerations for ID/DD are in the same classroom can met issues like sensory input and problematic behaviors like bullying and neglect. On the other side of this, Disabilities and Occupations are being met with some kind of Occupational Therapy philosophy. Local highschoolers attend residencies(
Assisted living facilities usually meant and intended for those who happen to have mental or physical disabilities which require the need of care greater than the family may or can provide) and have painting courses as well as sewing courses with the residents and highschoolers. I saw no handicap spaces in my time in Artigas nor any instance of handicapped parking. It is to be said, that for generations beyond my own and those belonging to baby boomer era, Occupational Therapy and its utility is obscure. A city with holistic approaches and an open-approach backed by evidence, culture, and experience, could greatly impact the town. I observed many individuals with impaired gaits, gait-impairments due to environment (lifted, dropped, and cracked sidewalks), and individuals with typical age-related barriers to very specific ADL's. Of course, advocacy is needed because the greatest resistance seen in my time there is the ignorance. Ignorance in the sense of not knowing, and that individuals who can, adapt and modify to their own accord. Observing this made me wonder if Occupational Therapy was prominent and compensated fairly in rural areas, would it be possible to make a significant shift in the community based on agricultural exports, differing levels of adherence to policy, beliefs, and concepts around occupation or disability? As I travel back my mind remains curious and I hope to eventually see if there is an answer behind this, if the constructs and barriers around loved ones and passersby are met with occupational therapy and changes occurs? why has the profession not expanded further? I conclude with the following: Occupation and Occupational Therapy from a perspective in rural areas and All concepts coinciding with OT, are seeds for better Quality of Life and for a more competent and DEI-derived society.