Ora Ruggles

Ora Ruggles was one of the pioneers in the profession of Occupational Therapy, although somewhat neglected by history. Dr. Whitney summarizes Ora's remarkable life in 4 chapters: Childhood, Introduction to Occupational Therapy as Reconstruction Aide and Pioneer, Seasoned Therapist, and Retirement & Reflection. For each chapter, Dr. Whitney has written a collection of poems that capture the challenges faced and overcome by this amazing pioneer, and give a glimpse into Ora's compassionate spirit. In this 100-year anniversary of the founding of Occupational Therapy, this book is a reminder of what a struggle it was for early therapists to win acceptance. Ora's life is also an expression of the timeless qualities that made a good therapist in 1918, and are still essential today: empathy, creativity, and faith. Ora Ruggles is probably best known for her quote: "It's not enough to give a patient something to do with his hands. You must reach for the heart as well as the hands. It's the heart that really does the healing"