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Wednesday August 3, 2011
one on one with the Sun
The Sun
Leading the way Dennis Wells is the only blind osteopath in New Zealand, and has recently won the right to practice independently. The Springlands Health professional talks to Damian George about paving the way for future osteopaths. Blenheim-based osteopath Dennis Wells his Masters, despite achieving the required has always led the way. B-average in his third year. It was six months The Christchurch-born natural health before the issue was sorted. professional arrived in Blenheim from Dennis says he knows of two other blind Whangarei to take up a position at Spring- students who have been admitted into the lands Health five weeks ago, and he has left Masters course internationally since then. quite a trail behind him. He says his visual impairment has very The only blind osteopath in New Zealand, little impact on the service he offers, as his and quite possibly in the world, the Auck- patients – and, now, authorities - can attest to. land Unitec graduate has assumed another “A large chunk of the time, it doesn’t make unprecedented role at Springlands - that of any difference,” he says. working independently. “A lot of it is stuff which is under the surface Following a long battle with the Osteopathic which you can’t see and have to use your Council, Dennis was able to remove a rule sense of touch for anyway.” which stipulated he had to work in a group Dennis says if anything, his blindness probpractice due to his blindness, ably serves as an advantage as allowing him to take up his it forces to him to delve more “I’ve definitely role here. deeply into patients’ issues. He seemingly takes it all in “I think you just have to be his stride, but acknowledges pioneered really aware in terms of your the pathway is now a lot clearer ground for case history and questioning. for aspiring blind osteopaths. “It also has the benefit that “I had quite a fight to get whoever wants when someone comes in, registered,” he says. there’s an empty canvas, if “I’ve definitely pioneered to follow” you like. It’s all about how ground for whoever wants to you feel and how things move. follow.” “For some people, they Dennis had been working as equipment think it’s great. It swings and roundabouts.” advisor for the Foundation of the Blind until Dennis has chosen not to treat children 1999, before deciding to change direction. under the age of five as he feels it is important “I wanted to find something I had a bit of a to judge those patients’ reactions visually. passion for,” he says. He also likes to take a little extra time with “For me, that’s health, and natural health, his clients, running a 45-minute consultation and all the different things it can treat.” as opposed to the usual 30 minutes, and He began his study in 2000, and says the playing relaxing music. five-year course certainly threw up some “Everybody’s so busy these days so they challenges. don’t get any time to just ‘be’,” he says. “[The course organisers] definitely weren’t “So I like to make it a bit more relaxing prepared for someone like me to be on the for them. course,” he says. “And relaxation is more therapeutic so, After completing his three-year Bachelor of therefore, you get better results.” Applied Science (Human Biology), Dennis faced opposition when applying to enrol for
Osteopath Dennis Wells from Springlands Health is passionate about his profession, and ab out furthering opportunities for the visually impaired.
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