OT show: A bus trip to remember!

On a chilly November morning laden with bags and lots of snacks. True to the collective anticipation of the group in the build-up to the trip, Julie relished the opportunity of turning up early to the rendezvous and true to her words she turned up first and cheerily! Emma rocked up almost dancing in excitement, Joy couldn’t hide the joy in her expressions, Amy’s bags were as colourful as our hearts and energies and Ikem ran in with the group’s printed bus ticket in his hand and luggage in the other hand. Jogging in with so much energy like he wanted to run all the way to Birmingham! We chatted, shared ideas of lectures that piqued our various interests and expressed great hope for what’s to come as we eagerly awaited boarding at the Glasgow Buchanan bus station enroute to the city of a thousand trades. As occupational therapists in the making we had been fortunate enough to have tickets to the 2023 OT show and were very enthusiastic to find out what the show was all about!

Our journey to the annual OT Show was no ordinary expedition. As students, we found ourselves standing at the forefront of this enriching experience, all thanks to our impeccable practice educator, Prof. Katrina Bannigan, and a compelling video project we undertook about the legacy of Elizabeth Casson which led the trust to set-up a video competition that we were involved in judging. The stars aligned as both our school at Glasgow Caledonian University and the Elizabeth Casson Trust generously sponsored our trip, granting us access to a world of knowledge and networking opportunities.

After excitedly settling into our accommodation and a restful sleep we were eager to get started. Tickets ready and in hands, we headed to the NEC to soak up the atmosphere, network and whet our appetite for all things OT! From the moment we stepped foot into the conference, the air buzzed with excitement and a shared passion for occupational therapy. With many selfies both individually and collectively taken to note the occasion, we excitedly received our first freebies on entering the show and were off! The event served as a mecca for professionals and innovators, each both a treasure trove of cutting-edge innovations and transformative ideas. We were met with an excited energy of like-minded people networking, engaged in equipment demonstrations and discovered new perspectives that promise to reshape the landscape of our future practice. The experience was not just educational; it was a joyous revelation.

Keen to learn as much as we could, we started exploring the enormous range of equipment displays and listened to guest speakers. Who enlightened us on areas of OT such as, trauma informed practice, environmental adaptations and spinal cord injuries. This was in addition to having the honour of meeting the representatives of the Elizabeth Casson Trust, who have been such an instrumental part of this trip.

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The conference provided valuable networking opportunities for us during our placement. We met professionals from diverse practice areas and shared these connections with our practice educators and colleagues for their research projects. The conference extended opportunities beyond the two days, emphasising the core principles of occupational therapy: sharing knowledge, forming professional relationships, and meeting the needs of those we serve.

As we bade farewell to Birmingham, our hearts brimmed with gratitude for the opportunities bestowed upon us. We are sincerely grateful to GCU and the Elizabeth Casson Trust for making this wonderful experience possible. The annual OT Show was not merely a conference; it was a transformative chapter in our journey as occupational therapy students. The echoes of innovation, the legacy of Elizabeth Casson, and the camaraderie forged at the event will resonate in our professional lives, fuelling our passion for years to come.

Written by
Emma Idowu (She/ her) @emmaidowu_OT, Joy Akpanumoh (She/her) @JoyAkpanumohOT,
Chibuikem Nwannah (He/him/his) @ChibuikemOT, Julie-Anne Shearer (She/ her) @JulieAnneShear1 and Amy Wallen (She/ her) @Amy21840793