{"id":1101,"date":"2026-06-04T06:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-06-04T06:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/askneurology.com\/index.php\/2026\/06\/04\/the-voice-of-lived-experience-shaping-future-allied-health-professionals\/"},"modified":"2026-06-04T06:00:00","modified_gmt":"2026-06-04T06:00:00","slug":"the-voice-of-lived-experience-shaping-future-allied-health-professionals","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/askneurology.com\/index.php\/2026\/06\/04\/the-voice-of-lived-experience-shaping-future-allied-health-professionals\/","title":{"rendered":"The Voice of Lived Experience. Shaping Future Allied Health Professionals"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\u201cVisiting Alzheimer Scotland\u00a0gave students valuable insight into how third sector organisations operate in practice. Hearing from fellow students supported peer learning while exploring the charity\u2019s work in fundraising, engagement and post\u2011diagnostic support brought classroom learning to life.\u00a0 We are very grateful for our ongoing partnership in developing a dementia\u2011informed AHP workforce in Scotland.\u201d\u00a0Ashleigh Gray, <\/strong>Practice Education Lead, Edinburgh Napier University<\/em><\/p>\n

Introduction<\/strong><\/p>\n

On the 30th of March 2026, Pre-Registration first year, Master students of Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy from Edinburgh Napier University attended Alzheimer Scotland, National Centre in Edinburgh as a part of their community visit.<\/p>\n

Occupational Therapy students from Queen Margaret University; Emma and Aoife \u2013 who are writing this very blog! \u2013 delivered a presentation on The Voice of Lived Experience, informing the Edinburgh Napier students about the Scottish Dementia Working Group and the National Dementia Carers Action Network. As a welcome to Alzheimer Scotland, the students received a folder of self-management resources that can support their work now and in the future, with an emphasis on occupational therapy and physiotherapy resources found at www.alzscot.org\/ahpresources<\/a> and www.cpcs.online<\/a> and peer to peer resources developed by the Scottish Dementia Working Group<\/a>. The students had a tour of our day services and brain health hub with presentations about the Role of Fundraising and Engagement and Alzheimer Scotland Post Diagnostic Support and the role of the link worker. \u00a0Thank you to Elaine Hunter for coordinating and welcoming the students to an informative day!<\/p>\n

Setting the Scene<\/strong><\/p>\n

We began the presentation about the voice of lived experience by firstly introducing ourselves and informing the Edinburgh Napier students that we are Queen Margaret University students on placement, so there was no pressure on either side!<\/p>\n

We wanted this presentation to highlight the people at the heart of dementia care and the important work they complete for community outreach. The presentation brought together the work of two influential campaign groups- the Scottish Dementia Working Group (SDWG) and the Nation Dementia Carers Action Network (NDCAN). Both of these active voice groups play a vital role in shaping dementia practice, policy and the public understanding in Scotland. We felt it was important for the Edinburgh \u00a0Napier students to understand what these groups campaign for. As professionals, they will encounter people living with dementia and carers, they will also be following legislation and policy that has been shaped by these groups.<\/p>\n

We wanted to complete a group activity after the introductions as to who the active voice groups are, and what they do, where we asked:<\/p>\n