The occupational therapy
assistant technology department is pleased to join other occupational
therapists across the country in celebrating occupational therapy
(OT) month in April. The month began with an exciting trip to Seattle,
WA for the National Conference of the American Occupational Therapy
Association (AOTA) by Michelle Schillinger, a May 2000 graduate of
the OTA program. Michelle represented NEIT at the American Student
Committee of the Association's meetings. Michelle's trip was financed
by fund-raising activities that the NEIT Student Occupational Therapy
Association held and by a contribution from AOTA. Michelle says she
had a great time and was surprised to learn how much our professional
organization does for us.
Visiting high school students and members
of the public had an opportunity to find out more about what occupational
therapists do through hands-on activities at NEIT's annual Health
Fair on Wednesday April 12, 2000. Students and faculty members of
the OTA department answered lots of great questions about occupational
therapy practitioners and the services they provide. Visitors to the
OT laboratory tried out various activities that simulated the experience
of having a disability. They also saw first hand how an occupational
therapy practitioner could help them if they had a real problem. Special
thanks go to Susan Hansen and Kerri Heroux, two quarter six students
who helped to supervise the various stations, and to Karen Albright
Morgenstein, COTA/L, lab instructor, who provided many creative ideas
for the disability simulations.
Another exciting new venture in the
month of April is the continuing expansion of OT practice into our
surrounding community. Graduating students completed needs assessments
and recommendations for occupational therapy services to two facilities
of Cornerstone Adult Day Services, an organization that provides day
care programs for older adults with varying abilities and disabilities.
Several students graduating this spring are also completing full-time
fieldwork placements at community-based centers including the Warwick
Shelter, a shelter for homeless families. Students at the shelter,
working under the supervision of Nancy Dooley, Assistant Professor
in the occupational therapy assistant department, intervene to help
people learn or regain life skills so that they can maintain healthy
employment, homes and family lives in the future.
Experiences such as these have been
paying off in new job opportunities for our graduates. Aside from
finding jobs in traditional hospital and healthcare settings, NEIT
OTA graduates are becoming employed at community-based facilities
such as a women's program at a local prison and an agency that helps
people move from welfare to work. |