One of the most challenging skills, I think, for OTs and PTs who make the transition from a medical to educational service model is understanding and implementing assessments correctly.   In an outpatient or rehab setting, for example, we get used to completing tests (such as the PDMS2 or the BOT-2) and setting separate OT/ PT goals ...

     I graduated!  I cannot believe that it is over.  I’m done with school.  I’m done with fieldwork.  It is all up to me now.  It hasn’t sunk in yet.  I have been waiting for this for over 2 years and now it’s finally here.     Going back to school at 29 years old was the ...

Tonight, my daughter asked if it would be okay for her to switch from band to art as her ''related arts'' class in Middle School.It's actually a very difficult call for me as a parent. On the one hand, being in band has really pushed her outside of her comfort zone in some extremely important and developmentally nurturing ways. She's learned to ...

     This week I finally started feeling like a therapist.  I have been taking the lead in most of the sessions and have even been left alone to run a few sessions on my own.  I have come up with the majority of the interventions and am currently writing all of the notes.  It’s pretty exciting!  I’ve been ...

 In perfect alignment as I close out my August back to school series, I just read that AOTA will be having another virtual chat this week. This one is entitled Caseload to Workload Issues.  As a contract therapist in the schools I was often asked the caseload question at my seminars.  Years ago I think even a rough calculation form ...

For many years I taught a seminar entitled ''Making the Grade in School Based Therapy.'' The course was designed for OT's and PT's transitioning from a hospital or clinic setting to school based services. Understanding the differences between the medical vs. educational model is critical to therapists so that we can provide provided efficient and ...

August already!..which means back to school for many therapists employed in public/private school settings.   In the spirit of David Letterman's Top Ten List, here are 10 fun reasons we work in schools: 10. You get to sit and work in those tiny little chairs! 9.  The massive exposure to green runny noses, chicken pox, colds flu ...

     Another term is over, but this one ended a bit differently than usual.  There were no cumulative finals this time.  Instead, I had one test, one oral competency and a service learning project with a paper.  I can’t say that I enjoyed all of these, but I did enjoy the service learning project quite a ...

I hope everyone had a great Memorial Day weekend.  My hubby and I decided to take a little time for ourselves this past weekend and not worrying about work or school.  It was a wonderful opportunity to rejuvenate before heading into the final two weeks of the term.  Next week is finals and it will be an interesting week.  I ...

Another set of midterms has come and gone.  I’m thrilled that I only have to go through that one more time before graduation.  Midterms are always a bitter sweet time for me.  First of all, they're midterms, so that’s never fun, but they do signify that these courses are half way done!  However, they also mean it is time for ...