Nelson Mandela and Jean Ayres
By Dr Tharina Annandale
This month we are celebrating the lives of Jean Ayres and Nelson Mandela. Both of these historical figures were born on 18 July. They did not only share a birthday, but also shared their passion for growth and humanity.
Jean Ayres was born in 1920. She was two years younger than Nelson Mandela (born 1918). During her lifetime, she started doing research in what later became known as Ayres Sensory Integration (ASI®) and she not only challenged the boundaries in academic society, but also got a lot of interest from the media at the time. There was a lot of scepticism and critics questioned her theories and the scientific grounds of her assumptions. Despite challenges and questions around the theory of ASI®, Ayres persevered and continued with her research. Today, ASI® is one of the most researched fields in occupational therapy. During an interview with a journalist, Ayres said the following:
“…it’s applicable to anyone with a vertebrae and brain, because all the theory is based on a vertebrate brain…we have treated some individuals in their thirties and they, the individuals, the clients have felt that it was worthwhile.”
(Ayres, 1978)
This statement did not only imply that ASI® included all people, from all “walks of life”; it also implied that Ayres viewed ASI® as an intervention approach that included diversity and people from various age groups and cultures, and people with various pathologies.
Nelson Mandela is recognised for a political revolution and fought for democracy in South Africa. In his mind democracy did not only include a specific ethnicity; he specifically took a stand against discrimination of all marginalised communities. He had a dream to unite all South Africans and fought for the rights of South African citizens. The influence he had on society and the world was truly remarkable and influenced the person on the street, the political views of society and the future. It impacted the economic growth of Africa and raised awareness around marginalisation and oppression. He was not only well-known for his political views, but was recognised for his compassion toward humankind and the poor. He wanted services to be accessible to people of different levels of socio-economic standing and dedicated his life to projects that empowered vulnerable groups (like children).
Jean Ayres also fought for occupational justice. In her research, she specifically included individuals with learning disabilities (Ayres, 1972). In her lifetime she attempted to research the theory of ASI® as far as possible and I believe that she wanted ASI® to be applied to and researched among people of all ages, different cultures, and different levels of socio-economic standing, and wanted it to be accessible to all.
Jean Ayres and Nelson Mandela do not only share a birthday; they share their compassion for humankind, an ability to persevere in difficult circumstances, the ability to alter perceptions, and ultimately the impact they made on humankind and society as we know it today. Both of them were truly remarkable people and had outstanding leadership qualities that embraced the views of others and welcomed change within society. I would like to conclude with the following quote from one of Nelson Mandela’s many influential speeches:
“Let us stand together to make of our world a sustainable source for our future as humanity on this planet.”
I hope this quote inspires you to do your 67 minutes of community work on Nelson Mandela Day and to serve the people of our country as occupational therapists and within the medical field of practice.