History and development of Ergo Therapy in Armenia
In 2002 the project FAPADAG (Facilitation and Participation of Persons with Disabilities in Armenia and Georgia) was developed by ENOTHE (European Network of Occupational Therapists in Higher Education) in close collaboration with the Armenian State Pedagogical University and ARBES Day care centre and official approved by TEMPUS under project nr. MP-JEP-23154-2002. One of the aims of the project was to establish a full time Bachelor Education in Occupational Therapy.
The coordinator of the project was Hanneke van Bruggen, who was as well the executive director of ENOTHE, furthermore different European teachers and Georgian co-teachers were involved in educating the first occupational therapists in Armenia.
In March 2004 the first accelerated Bachelor course in Ergotherapy was initiated with support of ENOTHE and through active collaboration with Armenian State Pedagogical University (ASPU) after Kh. Abovyan on behalf of rector A. Ghukasyan and the Dean of the faculty of Pre-school, Elementary and Special education S. Palikyan and ArBeS Day Care Center on behalf of executive director M.Eritsyan. In total 13 participants took part in the educational process.
In September 2005 the first department of Ergo Therapy in Armenia was opened in the faculty of Pre-school, Elementary and Special education in ASPU and a four year full time BA-curriculum started with 12 students.
Ergo Therapy profession
Ergo Therapy is a health and social care profession based on the knowledge that purposeful and meaningful occupations can promote health and well-being in all aspects of daily life.
The aims are to promote, develop, restore and maintain abilities needed to cope with daily activities to prevent dysfunction. Programs are designed to facilitate maximum use of function to meet demands of the person’s working, social, personal and domestic environment. The essential feature of occupational therapy is the active involvement of the person in the therapeutic process. Occupational therapists receive education in social, psychological, biological, medical and occupational sciences, professional skills and methods. Fieldwork studies form an integral part of the course.
Established cooperation and implemented field work
During the educational process many dissemination seminars; meetings, trainings, and field work were conducted with the partnership of Armenian Ergo Therapy students and the related professionals on local and international basis.
Collaboration was established with the following institutions:
Foundation of the Association
In 2007 the Armenian Ergo Therapists’ Association – ARM-ETA was founded as a result of analysing each particular need and demand for promoting and developing, the use and practice of Ergo Therapy in Armenia.
The first 8 Ergo Therapy students are founders of the Association.
Mission of ARM-ETA Association
The association aims to enable participation, function and inclusion of people with disabilities in society by promotion and development of the Ergo Therapy profession at micro, meso and macro levels of the community.
Objectives and Strategies of ARM-ETA Association
ARM-ETA general strategic plan for 2007-2011 years:
Contact Address:
Armenian Association of Ergo Therapists
(ARM-ETA)
Armenian State
Pedagogical University
after Kh. Abovyan (ASPU)
Tigran Mec ave.17
Republic of Armenia, Yerevan
Tel: +374(010) 526-492
Tel: +374(091) 552-152
+374(093) 555-982
E-mail: armenia.ot@gmail.com / armeta.2007@gmail.com
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Questions or remarks to Hanneke van Bruggen