Mothers in Occupational Therapy

Abstract

Tannis M. Zink is a “mother O.T.” herself with two children aged two and four. She is a graduate of the University of Manitoba (1966) and has worked in New Zealand and Canada. She is currently Director of Occupational Therapy, Children's Centre, Health Sciences Centre, Winnipeg.

The author explores the current trend of therapists returning to work after entering motherhood. The factors both positive and negative of utilizing “Mother O.T.‘s” in an Occupational Therapy Department are delineated with an emphasis on those particular contributions encountered when such an O.T. is employed. Her conclusion is a resounding endorsement for employing “Mother O.T.'s” because of their added maturity, stability and responsibility. Suggestions such as “Be flexible with vacant positions restructuring the job if necessary to accomodate part-time therapists”, are offered in order to encourage such O.T.‘s to return to their profession thus alleviating our manpower shortage.