FAPADAG - GE-OTA: Introduction

Summary Concise overview of the Curriculum The project Management of the project Reports GE-OTA ARMETA

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Georgian Occupational Therapists Association (GE-OTA)

History of and prerequisites for the development of the Georgian Occupational Therapists Association (GE-OTA)

Development of Occupational Therapy education in Georgia

From 1996-2000 the Center of Child Neurology and Neurorehabilitation (CCNNR) undertook the initiative of implementing a multidisciplinary team approach for working with children with disabilities. This effort soon revealed the need for including an occupational therapist in the multidisciplinary team. Occupational therapy represents one of the most rapidly developing rehabilitation professions in United States and Europe. In 2001 CCNNR in cooperation with and the support of the European Network of Occupational Therapy in Higher Education (ENOTHE) initiated an educational process in occupational therapy - "Introduction of occupational therapy in Georgia" by CORDAID, with a group of 11 Georgian students (previously qualified in psychology, medicine, and educational studies).

Environmental scanning/analyzing (general needs in education, health and psycho-social care in Georgia)

In 1993, after regaining independence, the Georgian government signed an international convention which guarantees the rights of disabled people for development, education, and social care. The new economic, social and political conditions dictate new management concepts in all areas of society

Execution of law reforms, which bring to an end the deprivation and disintegration of handicapped persons.
Acceptance of internationally approved models in social, educational, health care and labor system settings.
Integration of persons with disabilities in educational, work and recreational institutions
Revision of the list of professions to include new specialties, corresponding to market/society requirements.
Modernization of the higher education sector to give it a more international profile.
Increase the number of international contacts and establish links with the international networks.

But all the above are still in the process of development.
This is mostly due to lack of government funds, the attitude of the society towards persons with a handicap, and the use of a medical model of treatment.
The introduction of the education and profession of occupational therapy could play an important role in this ongoing reform process.

Foundation of the Association

As a result of analyzing each particular need and demand, for promoting development, use and practice of Occupational Therapy in Georgia in 2004 national Georgian Occupational Therapy Association - GE-OTA was founded.
The first 10 occupational therapy students are founders of the Association.

Vision and Mission of Association

Vision:
To live in an occupationally "just" society, where everyone has equal opportunities to apply fully his/her skills in a safe and supportive environment, enabling participation and improved quality of life for all.
Mission:
The association aims to enable participation, function and inclusion of people with disabilities in society by promotion and development of the occupational therapy profession at micro, meso and macro levels of the community.

Objectives and Strategies

Association Objectives:

To promote the occupational therapy profession and develop occupational therapy practice serving persons with disabilities
To contribute to the development of occupational therapy education
To develop and enhance a professional occupational therapy network throughout Georgia
To promote professional collaboration with related international and local agencies
To collaborate with national and international client groups

General strategic planning GE-OTA for 2004-2007 years:

Dissemination of information regarding occupational therapy in the community
Getting official recognition of occupational therapy and its enrolment into the profession list (Lobbying for the occupational therapy profession at the level of Georgian State Education, Health and Social Welfare Ministries)
Contributing to the implementation of occupational therapy education and fieldwork practice
Implementing joint projects with partner states and community organizations in favor of the target groups
Conducting fundraising to enable the above mentioned strategic directions to be successfully undertaken.


Using occupational therapy intervention in Pediatric practice


Social action with IDP and street children		Participating within the TEMPUS project in Armenia and Georgia

Established cooperation and implemented field work

In the process of education many dissemination seminars; meetings, trainings, and field work were conducted with the partnership between Georgian occupational therapy students and the related professionals on local and international basis.

Examples of this type of working experience and collaboration:

International Organization "Every Child", and Georgian Ministry of Education-"Deinstitutionalization Project: family support and foster care for children with disabilities " (2002, July).
The "Mercy Corps" project - "Introducing Occupational Therapy in the child disability management process in different Regions of Georgia" (2003, April)
Norwegian Refugee Council project: "Providing assistance to Chechnya Refugees in Pankisi" (2003, June) "Education -teacher's training program "(2004, March).
Contribution to the Occupational Therapy book(in the process of publishing) "Spirit of Survivors Without Boarders" about the working experience with marginalized population in Georgia (2003).
Publishing article referring the Occupational Therapy work with street children and internally displaced children in Georgia, in Romanian journal "Today's Children are Tomorrow's Parents" (No.12, 2003, May).
Working as co-teachers within the TEMPUS project MP-JEP-23154-2002 - "Developing occupational therapy (education) in Armenia and Georgia"(2003, September).

Contact address:
Dgebuadze street #1
0102 Tbilisi
Georgia
Tel./fax. +995 32 527889, 995 32 372366
E-mail: ge_ota@gol.ge