How Is Occupational Therapy Affect My Family?

A child with disabilities is a major focus in today’s education. Achieving my Bachelors in Special Education, I need to be aware of the need to ensure appropriate education for all children with disabilities. “The education of children with disabilities is a top national priority. Our nation’s special education law, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), sets high standards for their achievement and guides how special help and services are made available in schools to address their individual needs (National Dissemination)”. This is my biggest challenge. I feel with the right tools and

His repertoire has increased by 2-3 word phrases, and he has started to show interest in others. He is now capable of recognizing familiar faces and maintaining eye contact during social interactions. By following the structure of Leo’s program and with the guidance of the Behavior Analyst, I have helped Leo accomplish his targeted goals. Therefore, similar to the Behavior Analyst on Leo’s case, I aim to provide children with ASD with the necessary skills to prosper and grow as individuals. I want to help these children close the gap of limitations by understanding the importance of using functional communication, engaging in appropriate behavior, and comprehending social norms. Hence, my experience working with the Behavior Analyst has helped solidify my passion for pursuing this profession.

My personal philosophy of special education drives not from teaching in the field, but from, observations, and personal experience, and the workshops I attended. I have had the opportunity to work with individuals with special needs in many different settings, all this help cultivate my knowledge in handling the needs of the special needed student. Special needs students have the ability to learn, to function, to grow, and most importantly to succeed. The difference comes into how they learn or how they need to be taught. There are as many beliefs about the "hows" as there are teachers and each of us forms our own philosophy through our experiences and research. As a student in a special education teachers’ program, learners with

Dementia is a mental health disorder commonly addressed with in the geriatric population. Dementia involves a cognitive decline of the brain. This is a disease of a broader spectrum and can be broken down into other subgroups or diseases such as: Alzheimer’s, vascular, frontal-temporal and dementia with Lewy bodies. As dementia gets progressively worse the more challenges the individual faces. Simple daily occupations such as dressing, feeding, even rest and sleep are difficult task to complete. As occupational therapist it is important to address mental health issues and injustices towards occupations. Dementia is a global health concern as it affects the community or social integration as the disease onsets. This cognitive disorder is usually a concern of inpatient skilled nursing facilities in the latter stages. Therapist must address our role in this

One of the reason people chose a career in special education is job satisfaction. Special education teacher perceived their job to be rewarding. They get personal fulfillment and gratification in teaching special need students. “It truly must be passion to continue working in special education because we all know it is a tough job.”(Participate 2010,”Motivational factor towards pursuing a career in special education”)They have the opportunity to make a positive difference in the students’ lives. When the student who is struggling in school graduate it brings great satisfaction to the educator. The most important part of this field is to help a child develop to their highest potential.

After a good deal of self-evaluation, I have decided to pursue graduate studies in Special Education (SE) leading to a doctorate. This decision followed naturally after careful consideration of my academic background, the areas of my interest, and my ultimate professional ambition. My objective for graduate studies in SE is to prepare myself for my long-term goal of becoming a university professor, where I would be able to conduct research as well as prepare and instruct students in Special Education and other related subjects. A PhD is just one step towards realizing this goal. As a statement of purpose of my doctoral study, I describe here my academic background, current position, research interests, and reasons for applying to the University

It has invariably been my dream to work with children with disabilities and to achieve a career as an Occupational Therapist. I want to work with children who have disabilities to help assist in making a difference in their lives. From a young age, I have known what I wanted to be when I grew up. We were close with a family when I was growing up that had a daughter who had Rett Syndrome. I grew up watching how different therapies, particularly hippotherapy, improved her quality of life. I have spent summers volunteering at the Equestrian Zone, which is a place that offers hippotherapy to people who have disabilities. I’ve spent my breaks from college shadowing therapists to be certain this is what I want to spend my life doing. I have observed

Due to their inability to adjust to American culture and traditions, European Immigrants crowded Psychiatric facilities. Mental illness was looked at from the medical perspective and was viewed as incurable, causing individuals to be directed to asylums. Revolutionizing ideas about the causes and treatments of mental illness and deinstitutionalization revived the role of Occupational Therapist in the role of treatment of mental illness. A century later, and though the assistance of occupational therapy in mental health and in the community remain available, still the prevalence in the 18-25-year-old group continues at double the rate of the general population (AOTA). The recovery model emphasizes independence and supports a person’s journey

In the profession of a special education teacher, a person commits to helping children achieve their best and to help “students overcome their obstacles” while finding a way that the child can effectively learn (Hollingsworth). My mom’s career as special education teacher for twenty-two years, allows me insight and experience into the tougher aspects of this career, but also the rewards to the job. My mom helps me understand that a special education teacher guides a child to expand their strengths, develop strategies to overcome weakness, and to make best use of all available resources. Through helping her, and learning from her experiences, she taught me that a career in special education can not only challenge me, but may also become a

The core aim of Occupational therapy in any setting is to empower and engage people to participate in occupations which can help them attain a healthy and meaningful life (Schultz & Schkade, 1992). With this particular population the Occupational Therapist (OT) can offer a holistic and person-centred perspective by assessing and collaboratively identifying the strengths, limitations and needs of each homeless youth. This would lead to implementing individual plans that will help them foster skills needed to become a functional member of the society (Aviles and Helfrich, 2006). Reid (1999) found many homeless shelters provide housing, meals and referrals to medical and social services however do not teach the youths to access these resources

Evaluating and treating a client in an appropriate manner is an integral part of being an occupational therapist. Applying my basic knowledge of the practice framework and occupational therapy models I have chosen to evaluate the video featuring J.D. Through the viewing of this video and applying my knowledge I will evaluate the client’s performance skills and patterns, his expressed needs and wishes for therapy, and identify an applicable occupational model.

Working with children has been a motivating force for me to continue on my journey as as a student. While studying at my community college, I obtained a preschool teaching permit so that I could teach preschool and I also have been a behavior interventionist working hands on with Autistic children. I am inspired because, I also have a learning disability and I know the struggles that it takes to be successful. I have dyscalculia, a math disability. Being a student with this is not easy, but never let it stifle me from being the best teacher and student I can be, and without the help of great teachers, I might have never had the chance to achieve my dreams of becoming a Sociology student at UCLA. So I want to give back. This is what inspires

Working with people, especially those who have complex disabilities has been my passion since my teens. My 1st experience working with someone who was nonverbal and had autism was babysitting my neighbor; this experience started me on my life path. Since then I have been a special education teacher, a director of an independent living center, a school based Occupational Therapist, an Assistive Technology consultant and Related Services Supervisor. I hold a BS in Special Education, an MOT in Occupational Therapy and am enrolled in the Continuing Administrative License’s program at Portland State University. I am a hard working, dedicated and creative thinker.

Alcohol, pain relievers, marijuana, heroin, cocaine, and meth are all forms of substance abuse. Any type of substance abuse can eventually take over the mind and body of the person suffering for this condition. According to The American Occupational Therapy Association fact sheet on overcoming drug and alcohol abuse, “over time, daily occupations can be negatively affected by substance use, impacting relationships, work performance, and daily routines that support health and effective coping (AOTA).” Most people with a substance abuse disorder often end up in and out of jail because they do not know any other way. Therefore, occupational therapy is a great way to help someone who is recovering from substance abuse to adjust to living a drug free lifestyle and finding new outlets to turn

Carnes who informed me of what it is like raising her son who has cerebral palsy and how the educational system worked with him over the years. Hearing what Ms. Carnes had to say about her experiences helped to give me a better understanding of what these parents have to go through, and it can give me an advantage if I have to work with parents who have children with disabilities. Because of her surprise at how much work the educational system is putting into training their new teachers, it created a high point in the interview, and I had a sense of pride in knowing that I am being trained to the best of my abilities. What truly surprised me is how much patience these parents have to have to raise a child with disabilities. To conclude, this interview made me slightly nervous over the amount of responsibilities I will have, but this course has helped me become infinitely more