U of T has made yet another addition to its territory. An office building at 500 University Ave. was turned into the Centre for Function and Well-Being this past September. The centre is now the home of such disciplines as occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech language pathology, and rehabilitation science.
According to professor Molly Verrier, who is the chair of the graduate department of rehabilitation science, the purpose of the new facility is to “train faculty, career scientists and academic practitioners.” Verrier is very enthusiastic about the new learning facility. She believes it is the perfect environment for both students and the faculty to acquire and share knowledge. “It is a premier quality space for housing the programs in Canada with purpose-built research laboratories, case-based teaching classrooms, and informal spaces for interactions and collaborations. Concepts of well-being are expressed in nutritional ways in the Alumni Café, in physical activity in the health concepts labs, in modern computer facilities open 24/7 for interactive learning for students, in access to the Web in all classrooms, in accessibility services for individuals students, faculty, clients with various disabilities.”
Previously the students of these disciplines were exposed to “inadequate light, space, and location.” The case-based classrooms and case study rooms are part of a new approach to teaching called the Divergent Case Method, in which active participation is essential. The desks in the case classrooms are shaped like a horseshoe so students can easily talk to each other. The chairs swivel so that students can form “buzz” groups. In case study rooms students work in small groups to problems occurring in reality-based cases.
Why is it so important that the centre was created? In professor Verrier’s opinion, “It will demonstrate the prominence of rehabilitation science as part of the health system, be the new home for the Ph.D. program in rehabilitation science which will commence in 2004, and with its partnership with the Toronto Rehab Institute and other affiliated teaching hospitals create an echo of rehabilitation in Canada.” The centre will provide training for 400 master’s students and 88 doctoral students. Also, 500 clinicians will refine their education there. Overall there are 47 research programs offered by the centre, such as aging and health, rehabilitative evaluative science, disability studies, language development, speech fluency, and quality of life.
