Glossary of Terms

Accessibility Consultants assess the accessibility of a home or workplace and recommend ways to make it accessible to those with impairment or disability.
 

Addictions Counsellors help clients gain a better understanding of and address the various factors that contribute to substance abuse disorders.
 

Architectural Designers recommend ways to alter the structure and design of a home or workplace to make it accessible to those with impairment or disability.
 

The Assistive Devices Program provides support and funding to Ontario residents with long-term physical or communication disabilities, including providing access to mobility devices such as motorized and manual wheelchairs, walkers and scooters and access to hearing, visual, communication and writing aids.
 

Case Managers at the TRAC Group are regulated health-care professionals, such as Registered Nurses or Occupational Therapists, who co-ordinate your rehabilitation. Your Case Manager liaises with doctors, therapists, insurers and lawyers on your behalf to ensure that information regarding recovery is shared among relevant professionals and that you receive timely, cost-effective access to rehabilitation services.
 

You, the Client are the most important member of the rehabilitation team. Your active participation in your rehabilitation will make sure you receive the best possible care and achieve the best possible recovery.
 

Cognitive-communication/Speech-Language Pathologists are regulated health-care professionals who address any cognitive-communication difficulties you may experience as a result of your illness or injury. These include difficulty with concentration, memory, understanding language, speaking, reading, writing, reasoning, problem solving or verbal planning and organization.
 

Communication Disorders refer to speech and language disorders.
 

Your Doctor/Physician is your primary medical practitioner and oversees the medical and rehabilitation services you receive while recovering. The doctor may also refer you to other medical specialists. Be sure to keep your doctor up to date on your recovery and rehabilitation through regular visits and reports from other professionals so your needs are monitored and assessed appropriately.
 

You will deal with Insurers if you were injured in an automobile accident, sustained a workplace injury or are entitled to long-term disability benefits through your employer. The insurance adjuster or adjudicator tells you what benefits you are entitled to and the limits of your insurance coverage. Your insurer has the right to receive copies of your rehabilitation documents to assist in the funding of your rehabilitation expenses.
 

Job Coaches help you adjust to and learn a new job and attain productivity levels that match other employees. Job coach support usually involves liaison with both the employee and employer. The need for job coaching is expected to diminish over time as a person progresses to independent employment or employment with limited supports.
 

A Lawyer can advocate for you during your recovery and rehabilitation. Legal services may include making sure you receive insurance benefits, helping you select health-care providers who have the expertise and experience to treat your injury, and pursuing any legal claims you may have regarding compensation.
 

Life Skills help people manage the activities of daily life, communicate effectively, and develop coping and self-management skills that may help them lead a healthy and productive life.
 

Occupational Therapists are regulated health-care professionals who help you return to the activities of normal living, including personal care, homemaking, child care, leisure, community reintegration or going back to work or school. Your Occupational Therapist may provide cognitive or physical-functional intervention to maximize your recovery and help you return to your pre-injury activities as soon as possible.
 

Personal Fitness Instructors work with you to help you improve your physical fitness.
 

Physiotherapists are regulated health-care professionals who treat your physical injuries through a range of passive and active exercises that target your specific physical needs. Your physiotherapist may also help you establish an exercise program at your local gym or fitness centre to help you resume an exercise program and maintain the physical progress you have made during rehabilitation.
 

Psychologists are regulated health-care professionals who help you adjust and adapt to your injury. They also help you set realistic goals for your recovery and return to pre-injury activities. If you have a brain injury, a Neuropsychologist may evaluate your cognitive abilities to help determine the nature and extent of your brain injury and provide direction to other professionals to make sure your receive the appropriate rehabilitation.
 

Registered Nurses are regulated health-care professionals who provide a variety of health-care services. At the TRAC Group, our Program Co-ordinator and Case Managers are Registered Nurses.
 

Rehabilitation Aides help you carry out the strategies and techniques recommended by your rehabilitation team and help you practise between therapy sessions. They work under the direction of regulated health-care professionals, including Occupational Therapists, Speech-Language Pathologists and Registered Nurses.
 

Rehabilitation Consultants develop and co-ordinate rehabilitation programs.
 

Social Workers are registered professionals who help individuals, families, groups and communities enhance their individual and collective wellbeing and capacity for social functioning.
 

Speech-Language Pathologists/Cognitive-Communication are regulated health-care professionals who address any cognitive-communication difficulties you may experience as a result of your illness or injury. These include difficulty with concentration, memory, understanding language, speaking, reading, writing, reasoning, problem solving or verbal planning and organization.
 

Spinal Cord Injury is an injury to the spinal cord that results in paralysis and loss of sensation.
 

A Stroke is a sudden loss of brain function.
 

The Trans-disciplinary Approach taken by the TRAC Group means all members of your rehabilitation team contribute knowledge and skills, collaborate with other members, and collectively determine the services that would most benefit you.
 

Traumatic Brain Injury is damage to the brain that occurs after birth, as a result of an external force, such as a motor vehicle accident or fall.
 

Vocational Consultants provide comprehensive, individualized vocational assessments of a client’s pre- and post-injury vocational potential and provide assistance and support to help clients achieve their vocational goals.