Beatrice Wade: Occupational Therapy

Beatrice D. Wade, OTR, FAOTA (1903–1994), was considered a second generation of therapist, redefined occupational therapy and practiced the initial theory upon which today practice is based upon. She guided the field of occupational therapy to understand the importance of supportive care, concerned with behavioral aspects that impact the patient’s response to the rehabilitation. Wade developed the baccalaureate program, “The Illinois Plan”, combining didactic education with clinical practice when she was the head of the occupational therapy program at the University of Illinois at Chicago. She worked to advance recognition of and services for people with mental illness. She worked with veterans groups to amend the 1920 Federal
This legislation offers a variety of services for persons with physical and cognitive disabilities. It is the federal law that authorizes the formula grant programs for vocational rehabilitation, supported employment, independent living, and client assistance. Vocational rehabilitation (VR) services of the Rehabilitation Act help eligible persons with a disability pursue post-secondary education, employment, and independent living. Services include medial and psychological services, counseling, job training, and other services based on person’s needs that help them become qualified for employment. State VR programs are funded by the federal Rehabilitation Services Administration. Also, the employment provision for the Rehab Act requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities if it is not an undue hardship for them. If employment accommodations are expensive, state VR program can help reduce the financial hardship for an employer by paying the costs of accommodations that are beyond employer’s own resources. Section 501 of the Rehabilitation Act requires the federal government to practice affirmative action to to hire and promote workers with disabilities, including workers who are deaf. Section 504 of Title V of the Rehabilitation Act is a civil rights law, which provided the foundation
Wade worked with veterans groups to amend the 1920 Federal Vocational Rehabilitation Act because it excluded persons with mental illness. In 1943, she successfully petitioned Congress to change eligibility for vocation services which allow persons with physical and cognitive disabilities to qualify for the benefits of the vocation rehabilitation services. Wade had a profound impact on the push for recognition of the rights of individual with disabilities. The Rehabilitation Act prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities, extends rehabilitation services to all persons with disabilities, and coordinate federal disability programs to help individual with disabilities become qualified for employment. It is designed to help the advancement of vocational rehab services to people with