Part A I took over a maternity leave for a classroom teacher in a District 75 school. It was a self-contained classroom with a 6:1:2 ratio with three boys and three girls all diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. The children’s nationalities range in two are Hispanic, two are East Asian, one is European and one is of African descent. The students’ primary language is English and their ages range from 6 ½-8 yrs. old. The students are all high functioning and they are all verbal. The classroom students receive a variety of services individually and there is push-in instruction for whole classroom support. The supports and services include occupational and physical therapy speech, as well ESL. The day starts when the students enter the …show more content…
When a student completes their workstation task, they get to use the iPad. The students do workstation twice a day. After workstation, gym, snack, story time, literacy, lunch and special activity follows on Mondays. This is the typical schedule of the class. The special activity can includes games or exercise activities that the students can participate in. Fridays are called Fun Fridays because the students get to watch a movie at the end of the day. Also on Fridays, the occupational therapist pushes in for 30 minutes. She collaborates on a variety of movement activities which include students doing yoga and meditation. She begins with a warm up where the students stretch. Then she plays music for the students to listen to and it helps the students to know what the upcoming steps are. Behavioral problems the students display include throwing themselves on the floor and throwing items. John exhibits these problems, and he also pushes his work away or he will push the paraprofessional when he does not get his way or when he feels defeated. Sara bites, slaps, kicks, and squeezes the hands of adults when they attempt to make her do her work and all she wants to do is use the iPad and play with her PowerPuff doll. Josie hits herself and bites her fingers when she desires something and she is not able to attain it. In addition, there are days that Josie will
When she sees a patient for the first time she talks to them about the doctor’s report and asks specific questions about their injury or experiences leading up to the need for physical therapy. Megan explained how important it is to make the patient feel comfortable and keep a positive attitude towards the patient’s recovery. These consultations were the most interesting to sit in on because it allowed me to observe the therapist’s ability to take the patient’s information and create a diagnosis and treatment plan for the injury or pain described. Megan may have multiple patients at a time so she stressed the importance of keeping up with each patient and why the physical therapy techs are so helpful. Scheduling is another job of the therapists that is important in keeping the clinic running smoothly. There is also paperwork that has to be filled out for every patient after every visit about their
These activities include bathing, getting dressed, and cooking meals. In long-term facilities such as nursing homes or inpatient rehabilitation facilities, the occupational therapist may have patients partake in activities and games to improve balance and hand-eye coordination, with the ultimate goal of improving mobility to reduce falls and other injuries. Occupational therapists also work with people who have experienced traumatic brain injuries. They help stroke victims by providing exercises that help the patient learn how to use their arms and legs again. Pediatric occupational therapists work with children in various settings, helping the children achieve academic and non-academic goals.
and the instructional day begins at 8:10am. All students go to the cafeteria to eat breakfast before beginning their school work for the day. Instruction ends by 3:15 p.m., with staggered departure times for bus and car riders. Ms. Hatcher’s EC class typically arrives on the first buses and begins its daily routine by unpacking backpacks, making lunch choices and visiting the bathroom before sitting in their assigned seats to work independently. Students may work on puzzles, play with blocks or watch a video on the Smart Board while waiting for their assigned breakfast
The roles of an occupational and physical therapist at the centre is to perform initial assessments for new patients. The PT assesses how good their balance, strength, and independence are. Then prepares an exercise plan to increase independence based on the three objectives. The OT assesses if they need special equipment (sock aid, shower chair) to help assist the patient when they are home alone. Also, if they are able to put on their pants and get in and out of the shower safely. Lastly, both therapists follow up with their patients to see how they progress.
Students had to find their schedule to see what center they should go to perform their activity. One center was lunch club, in which students had to remove dishes from the dishwasher, and set a table. While another center was sorting laundry, then folding it. Another center was house chores that included responsibilities of sweeping, recycling, and setting the table. The task was for students to independently follow and complete a work task. Instructions were given small steps, and often written down for students to look at if and when they needed it. The standard for the task was 1: career development: Students will be knowledgeable about the world of work, explore career options, and relate personal skills, aptitudes, and abilities to future career decisions. Many stations are self help skills and general needs. Students were to work independently as much as possible without assistance from teachers. The purpose was for students to be able to follow a basic work schedule, and match an activity. By carrying out these tasks students were practicing following multistep
In addition, allotted visiting hours and activities are provided for all patients. The hours are 3pm-5pm Monday through Friday and weekends 11am-1pm. Expressive therapy is also practiced by licensed professionals. These activities include using art, music, writing and movement. Patients also go on
The article entitled “Smooth Transitions: Helping Students With Autism Spectrum Disorder Navigate the School Day” written by Kara Hume, Melissa Sreckovic, Kate Snyder, and Christina R. Carnahan discusses an intervention plan for a fifth grader named Sara, who has autism spectrum disorder, in a general education classroom. In this classroom, there are two teachers that use the co-teaching model in order to reach the needs of the students with and without disabilities. Sara, who is on grade level academically, was showing several behavioral issues. She was not actively involving herself in the lessons, or talking to other students in the classroom. It was also noted that she would end up crying very frequently at different times throughout the day. Other behaviors included putting her head down on her desk and not responding what being asked a question or addressed in general. They observed the times of day that she displayed these behaviors and noticed that it was during the times of the day when transitions occurred. Her behaviors began to disrupt her learning due to time that it took to redirect her and get her back on task.
The occupational therapist, I interviewed was Lorena Ortiz, MS, OTR/L. She is from Columbia, South America and currently lives in Greenville, South Carolina, where she has been a resident for sixteen years. She has three sisters, one brother and a son that is two years old. She attended Brea High School her junior and senior year and later graduate from Mauldin High School. Her favorite subject in School was anatomy because she enjoyed learning about the human body and the way it functions. In her opinion of what an occupational therapist is, she stated, “Helping people become as independent with daily activities as they wish after injury or disease.” The facilities where she works are, Greenville Health System, PRN acute care/In-patient rehab and Greer Memorial Hospital, out-patient rehab fulltime. Other areas she has worked are, subacute, long term acute care orthopedics. She worked as an occupational therapist assistance at St. Francis Hospital for seven years. While she worked at St. Francis Hospital, she later went back to school, for her master’s degree,
My Autism classroom practicum (DSW) provided many opportunities to learn and grow. My commitment, patience, and genuine concern, yielded trust and co-operation from students, resulting in student’s improved outcomes. As my confidence grew, my ability to implement behavioural interventions improved, and I was better able to assist students to work to their fullest potential. Dealing one day with a challenging student, the teacher requested I oversee the other students. I had now the confidence, flexibility, and knowledge to take over this independent role. My ability to be independent, as well as a team player, and other attributes I learned here will translate well to the ABA field where these are essential
Occupational therapists help all ages improve their daily activities. This specific therapy helps rehabilitate people who need “specialized assistance to lead independent, productive, and satisfying lives due to physical, developmental, social, or emotional problems” (Ithaca College). The therapists create different exercises for each individual patient to help them develop their skills or learn how to decrease future injury.
Many of these different employment laws interested me, however, the Family and Medical Leave Act caught my eye. This is because I have a family member who just recently birthed a child. She received the required amount of 12 weeks of maternity leave, as well as being granted an extra 6 weeks additionally. So this kind of law made sense for me. Now just a little background on this employment law, it was enacted in 1993 by President Bill Clinton. The Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 allows employees who have worked for a company for 1 year or more to apply for a period of unpaid leave with no fear of losing their job. The law can be beneficial to an employee whose family member has become ill, or they are needed to take care of a newborn
Women in the United States should be guaranteed a paid maternal leave. The United States is the only industrialized country that does not guarantee paid maternity leave. The Family and Medical Leave Act was passed in 1993, and it protects a woman’s position at her job for 12 weeks: It does not mandate pay (Holohan). Paid maternity leave is not unheard of in the United States. California, New Jersey, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island- these are the states that offer some form of paid leave to new mothers. It is not enough to only have four states offer paid leave. Only 12% of Americans are able to take a paid maternity leave (NPR). Paid maternity leave should be mandated in every state.
From the first day a child is born, parents are there to nurture their child, to support them as they grow and develop. There is a lot to learn about raising a child under normal circumstances, but when a child has special needs parents must learn this whole new language of medical and special education terms (Overton, 2005). Parents enter this new world where navigating for the best interest of their child is riddled with challenges and obstacles that they need to somehow overcome. This is especially true when parents are dealing with the special education program in their child’s school.
: Ms. Williams reported that Timothy is having behavioral challenges at home and in school. She explained that he is unable to control his anger, or utilize his coping skills. Timothy has been absent from school for a more than 5 days due to behaviors. Ms.Rogers stated that Timothy's triggers are hunger, reading and sensory. Ms. Rogers indicated that his physical aggressive behavior is affecting his academic and attendance. She implemented a calming technique program where Timothy can come in her office to shred papers. The team discussed his self-injurious behavior (Head banging) he exhibits when upset. Ms. Rogers stated that she counseled, explain the effects of head banging and potential brain injury that may occur as a result.
In the ancient world, women were referred as Queen of Heaven or Earth Mother. They were known as the creators of the universe. The ones who gave life, and represented motherhood. Not only would they have the ability to give life, they would also provide for their own culture, and families. Women were qualified for higher positions, since they were more naturally inclined. If mother goddesses were once again the most popular spirituality in the modern world, maternity leave would be reasonable, women would have more control of their body, and male chauvinism would not exist.