PEO Model

In Lynne Oberle's article, Putting OT Theory Into Action: Knowing and Applying Frames of Reference, she discusses the frustrations her students have with learning theories in occupational therapy.  In our Foundations class, I had a similar experience: I first thought that this information was not really important in performing OT services.  I have gained a little more insight as to why these theories actually matter.  One of the more interesting theories to me is the Person-Environment-Occupation (PEO) Model.  I like this model because it stresses the importance of environment in occupational performance.  I believe that as occupational therapy students, we tend to neglect the impact that environment has because we focus on the disability or illness! In order to be successful practitioners, it is absolutely imperative that we have a holistic approach to practice: that includes looking at a person's environment.  This became even clearer to me when Oberle discussed how someone will need modifications in a home that was built in the 1800s; when someone has trouble getting around, the home must be a safe environment in order for occupational performance to be successful in that person.