April is OT Month. Throughout the month we will feature a different Occupational Therapist or Certified Occupational Assistant every week. Our goal is to highlight the great work our therapists do, and in addition, put a spotlight on the important work OT's and COTA's do on a daily basis!
Today we feature Occupational Therapist, Lynda Andrews. At LLA, Lynda works in a variety of school districts.
What do you like
most about being an OT?
I love being with my students. They have a different outlook on life.
What made you decide to become an OT?
I saw an article in a magazine that told about careers that most people haven’t
heard of. OT intrigued me, so I looked into it.
What is a day in the life of an OT
practitioner like?
It goes fast. In the schools you hurry to pick a child up from the classroom,
you spend time working on your goals then hurry to get them back so they don’t
miss specials and pick up your next student. When you don’t have a student, you
are either doing paperwork, talking with a teacher or aide, or working on a new
activity that you are going to try. If your supervisor has a free minute , you
try to touch base about upcoming IEPs or new goals or issues with students,
teachers, or schedules. On your schedule it looks like there is so much
time but there is a lot more than working with students.
What is an OT topic you are passionate
about and why?
Whatever you are working on make it fun or offer incentive. If you don’t, the student probably won’t practice and once a week therapy will make improvements slow.
What are the top 10 ways an OT can
help clients?
Working on handwriting or finding another way to put words on paper, of course
this includes the skills that lead up to forming letters. You also have to show
the student that this is possible; give them the confidence to know that they
can do this.
What kinds of school or educational
problems might be treated by an OT?
Working in the school system we look at what could cause issues during the
school day. Handwriting is a big problem but not the only thing an OT treats.
Can the student put on and button his coat to go to recess? Can the student tie
his shoes before gym class? Can the student hold scissors and cut? On rare
occasions OTs have even been helpful in music class. Do they have the strength
and agility they need to play a musical instrument (starting with a recorder)?
As the student gets older we can help them learning job skills too.
What are some
activities you would recommend for a child to practice at home?
Cooking with family is fun and a good activity to practice many skills. Play-Doe is good for hand skills and strength. Craft activities are also always
good. Sidewalk chalk or painting with water are great for outside.
- What is your favorite smartphone app
for clients?
I like “Kids Learn Shapes” “Talking Ginger” and “Flow Free”
- What are ways you make therapy fun for
your clients?
I always look for what interests the student and try to
build therapy activities from there. If we have to do something “boring”
like just practice letters. They know that they will get to choose a reward at
the end of a session.
Labels: Occupational Therapy, Our Services, Staff
