Supporting Occupational Therapy
in low & middle income countries
Presentations
Thought-provoking presentations from our past conferences
A Retired Paediatric Occupational Therapist’s Journey at Kyaninga Child Development Centre, West Uganda
Helen Cooper
Helen Cooper reflects on her experience of volunteering at Kyaninga Child Development Centre over several months, sharing insights into the work of the allied health team and supporting children with disabilities and their families in a low-resource setting.
The presentation also includes perspectives from staff across a range of disciplines working at the centre, as well as an introduction to the local bamboo wheelchair initiative.
The Impact of the Fliss Akehurst Grant on Occupational Therapy in Bangladesh
Presenter:
Md. Habibur Rahman
Context/date:
Presented at the OT Frontiers meeting on 18 July 2026.
The Impact of the Fliss Akehurst Grant on Occupational Therapy in Bangladesh – Md. Habibur Rahman
Md. Habibur Rahman shares insights into the impact of the Fliss Akehurst Grant and its contribution to occupational therapy practice and development in Bangladesh.
Watch the presentation on YouTube
Michael Sy – Occupational Therapy in the Philippines
A presentation at the OT Frontiers Meeting on 17 January 2026
We were delighted to be joined by Michael Sy for this OT Frontiers guest presentation, which explored occupational therapy practice in the Philippines.
Michael’s talk offered a rich and reflective overview of progress, challenges, and opportunities shaping occupational therapy within the Philippine context. The session also prompted valuable discussion around global perspectives, contextual practice, and learning across settings.
Watch the recorded presentation
Related publication
Michael is also the lead editor and author of:
Occupational Therapy in the Philippines: Theory, Practice, and Stories
This book offers a Filipino perspective on occupational therapy, bringing together theory, education, and practice through case studies, narratives, and practice-based insights. It provides an important contribution to understanding occupational therapy in the Philippines, while also offering learning that is relevant to occupational therapists and students working across diverse global contexts.
[View / purchase the book via Routledge]
Presentation slides (handout)
A PDF copy of the presentation slides shared during the session is available below:
OT Frontiers Handouts Jan 17th 2026 symi[...]
Adobe Acrobat document [7.0 MB]
Project HEAL: Mental Health for All
Rod Charles Delos Rayes
A presentation at the OT Frontiers General Meeting on 21.1.23
Rod Charlie Delos Reyes is a young licensed occupational therapist based in the Philippines. He believes that an inclusive society is possible within his lifetime, hence he participates and leads movements towards disability awareness and non-binary acceptance. He is currently finishing his PhD from the University of the Philippines Manila. He is also the Executive Director of a non-profit called the Open Arms Organization.
Charlie spoke about OT in the Philippines and his work within his organisation, Open Arms. He also spoke about the project which took place to raise awareness of Mental Health issues and management and which was able to take place after he received a small grant from OT Frontiers.
AHP Competencies
Lucie Hogger and Natalie Bryan
(Communication Therapy International)
A presentation at the OT Frontiers AGM on 22.10.22
The special competencies for practice in low-and-middle income countries and Humanitarian work. Developed by Communication Therapy International (CTI) by their members to provide a document which can be used to help those SALT therapists looking to work in LMIC and those who are looking to employ professionals.
Discussion after the presentation initially focused on how the SALT competencies have been found useful so far. The relevance of these competencies to OT was acknowledged and so interest in having something similar for OTs inferred. There was also discussion about whether commonly required competencies could be included in the Working in Low Resourced Settings document. Find more information here.
The Artistry of OT Practice
Dr. Wendy Bryant
A presentation at the OT Frontiers AGM on 22nd October 2022
An exploration of the meaning of “Artistry of Practice” was followed by how this applies to the OT profession: looking at where artistry stands as part of our experience, knowledge, practice and evidence. The relevance of this in an international context was then discussed.
YouTube Link: https://youtu.be/jelJ_GZkzA4
WHO rapid assessment of assistive technology survey in Guatemala/Global Projects and Tools
Dorothy Boggs (ICED) and Angelique Kester (Lilianne Foundation and Enablement, ICED + WHO GATE)
A presentation at the OT Frontiers Meeting on 23rd July 2022
A presentation outlining the results of the survey of assistive technology in Guatemala.
Also presented was the work of the Lilianne Foundation, of Enablement, and of RehApp2.
YouTube Link to recording of the presentation: https://youtu.be/vt9XP3OZ9T4
OT, Ableism, and Co-Production of Services
Rachel Booth-Gardiner
A presention at the OT Frontiers Meeting on 23rd April 2022
watch on the following video link:
https://us06web.zoom.us/rec/share/_aMTZvm-C1Dgvd8yxqbJel7XSxJ9NFZmwbQxGcG2IAH7c9IbIFyAemx-p0TSNSc8.Uqj8Kr2VCBeLfqXs
Passcode: ?H59&PrB
Western Theory and Global South Practice: Reflections from Rural Tamil Nadu
Leo Helen Keller
A presentation at the OT Frontiers Meeting on 23rd April 2022
Read Leo's notes:
Adobe Acrobat document [159.9 KB]
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