Evolution of Occupational Therapy Practice: Life History of Kathy Bangsund

The purpose of this qualitative research study was to investigate the life history of Kathy Bangsund, OTR/L. This life history is one of 29 life history interviews which are a part of a larger project, Life Histories of Individuals Who Have Been Influential in Developing Occupational Therapy (OT) in North Dakota and Wyoming. The purpose of the project is to gather information about the history and evolution of occupational therapy (OT) practice in North Dakota and Wyoming through life histories of individuals who have been influential in developing OT in these two states. It is anticipated that the life history process will be a powerful way to gather this information. This study is intended to provide current and future generations of occupational therapists a view of the history and how occupational therapy practice has evolved from its inception to current practice in North Dakota and Wyoming. The research design utilized for this qualitative study followed the format of a biography, specifically a life history. The researchers conducted this study as a capstone project. The study was conducted by the researchers in two different locations. Both interviews were conducted over the phone. The researchers were in Grand Forks, ND and the participant was in Lincoln, NE at the time of the interviews. Kathy Bangsund, the participant, is a retired occupational therapist. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in occupational therapy from the University of North Dakota and continued her practice in a variety of settings