Good morning, Mr. Chair and members of the committee.
I'm Dr. Elizabeth Taylor, president of the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists. I am an occupational therapist, academic, and psychologist. I work primarily in the mental health field in developing programs in the community for those who live with mental illness and their families. My experiences have given me a first-hand understanding of the issues facing the Canadian military.
Today with me is Dr. Claudia von Zweck, occupational therapist and executive director of CAOT.
I recently met a veteran on the streets of Edmonton. He was young, homeless, and addicted. But once trust was built he shared with me a story of life before war. As an occupational therapist, I recognized the symptoms of PSTD and realized he had fallen between the cracks of service--cracks that I'm sure this committee will address as part of your study of the Veterans Charter.
Veterans Affairs Canada, despite such issues mentioned above, are delivering quality services to our valued veterans under the existing terms of the new Veterans Charter. This charter, identified as a living document, is built on the same principles on which occupational therapy is based. These are the principles of wellness, personalized case management, rehabilitation, and finally job placements--best known to occupational therapists as return to work. All of these are critical elements in defining the professional skill sets of occupational therapy. We believe that as you study the strengths and weaknesses of the charter, the recommendations we put before you will enhance the work of VAC and support excellence in rehabilitation in a more cost-effective manner.
Occupational therapists are highly trained health professionals who work in hospitals, clinics, workplaces, homes, schools and communities. Occupation in our context relates not just to the job that someone would write on their annual tax form, but rather all aspects of daily living from personal care to work requirements. Occupational therapists find creative solutions to enable people to perform to their best abilities in their everyday tasks. In simple terms, when an injury, illness, disability, or other problem limits the ability of one to function within the environment that defines them, an occupational therapist can provide solutions to support the individual in ways that will enable them to re-engage in their daily activities--for example, to fully function in the career of their choice and maintain self-reliance.
Occupational therapists have been involved with the military community since the inception of the profession. Occupational therapists do more than provide direct service. Their holistic training gives them expertise in developing and supporting sustainable practices, managing caseloads, allocating resources, and demonstrating accountability to both the public and funders, all of which makes them an asset to Veterans Affairs Canada.
We continue to play a role in the care of veterans. However, we believe that our profession is being underutilized in the care of veterans, and the care of injured soldiers who, without proper management of their illnesses or injuries, will eventually join the ever-growing ranks of VAC. Occupational therapists promote the wellness of veterans by enhancing occupational performance, treating post-traumatic stress disorders, and reducing the number of Canadian soldiers discharged for medical reasons. They identify solutions for occupational performance that ensure resilience and full recovery. All of these are components listed in the charter.
One area that has provided concrete results is the return-to-work project developed by occupational therapist and reservist Major Chantal Bérubé at CFB Val Cartier. It has had a positive impact on the well-being of military members returning from deployments. Prior to her work there was a 10% return to active duty, whereas with the implementation of her program nearly 70% of injured soldiers returned to active duty within a short period. This significantly reduced the number of soldiers on disability and the numbers who would have transitioned to civilian life and then hopefully accessed the many services offered by VAC. We have other examples of how we can enhance the care of veterans, and we would be pleased to address these during our discussion.
In closing, we are concerned that the full potential of occupational therapy is underutilized. Therefore we suggest the following recommendations to you in your review of the charter. Occupational therapists could contribute more through (1) being included on all inter-professional assessment teams at VAC to ensure that the best and most cost-effective decisions and services are provided from the very beginning of treatment; and (2) more comprehensive return-to-work plans using occupational therapists in order to reduce the number of military transferred to civilian life and to the care of Veterans Affairs Canada.
Thank you for providing this opportunity to speak. We welcome your comments, questions, and concerns and we will provide any support we can in addressing them.
Thank you.