In some ways I think I have changed a lot. The biggest change I have seen is in my work. I have learned so many skills for dealing with children that have translated to my swim lessons three times a week. My life would have been so much harder with out them. But more seriously, I have become far more professional. My ability to interact with my coworkers, the parents and kids has gotten so much better.
If I could go back in time, I would tell past me to not be nervous or afraid. I'd tell her to be confident and to not wait around for the OT's. I'd say "Sofia go ask to observe and to sit at the table and interact with the kiddos!". I learned all this eventually. The last thing I would tell her is to always have a jacket because it is always cold in the office.
0 Comments
There are plenty of people who grew up with out going to OT and their lives are perfectly fine. But there is an entire world of people and families who rely on OT. OT doesn't just teach kids how to do physical activities but it also teaches body regulation. Every kid who does OT learns about their "zones", which is just a way to describe your emotions. There are four zones: red (for extreme emotions like anger), yellow (for unstable emotions like silliness), blue (for emotions like sadness) and green (for happiness oo calmness). These zones help kids to understand their emotions and how they work, which helps them talk about them. This is SO important because when kids get upset something that heightens the feeling is their inability to explain how they feel. This can cause kids to become even more out of control. Additionally, kids need to know how they feel in order to know how to fix it. At OT kids learn skills and tactics to move back to the green zone. Without this knowledge kids would be a lot more emotionally unstable. In this way and more kids learn to be in control of their emotions and mind. OT also helps kids gain control over their bodies. Kids to core strengthening at other muscle strengthening activities in the gym. Believe it or not some peoples bodies are physically unable to keep them upright for an entire class, which is why they may be leaning or laying on the table. Kids don't just work on gross motor skills, but also work on fine motor skills. Handwriting and hand muscle strength is built which makes tasks at school a lot less frustrating.
I think a big goal of OT is to minimize outbursts or time in the "red zone", and with out it I think time in the class room or home life would be a lot more stressful and unstable. Although life would go on without it, it is a lot more pleasant and functions better with it. Many people have heard about occupational therapy. I ran a survey and 50% of people said they had heard of it, which was a lot more than I expected because normally I have to explain it to the people I talk to. On the rest of the survey the answers were very scattered. People were really unsure what OT purpose was, why people did OT and general knowledge about it.
I think this is because the people I surveyed were high school kids, so their only exposure would've been during elementary school. But, most elementary school kids are not super aware of their surroundings and wouldn't have noticed or cared so much of their friend had to go to OT. Most of the older people I know are aware of OT. Many elderly people begin OT, so a lot of parents and adults are aware of it. But, I think a lot of people are unaware it is something kids do too because it is associated with the elderly. I think the public could benefit from knowing about pediatric occupational therapy because then I think more people would be able to have their kids do it. I have noticed, at least at the ICCD, that all OTs are equal. It's not like many offices where there are ranks, workers, general managers, regional managers, and so on. There is a director of therapies (Julie she'e my supervisor) and then there is just a bunch of OTs! Some have worked longer than others, but no matter they are equal. As I have said, its a slightly secluded industry. The job does not require the OTs to really rely and interact with each other because it is normally one OT to one kid. So they choose their own path and tactics. OTs definitely go to each other for help and advice. But I get the vibe that it's a very independent industry. And I prefer to choose to work alone, if that makes sense. I like to have the option or ability to work with people and interact with them. I think it cultivates much better ideas, so I think it is good when groups of people work together.
I don't think I can see myself working in such a secluded industry. Being an OT means it is your job to help people and better their lives.
OT's have extended their education to get a masters or high to make this their profession. It is not something to do as a between jobs or for the fun of it. Most therapists stay with kids for years- not just a few sessions. They are invested in their growth and development and work hard to foster it. And because OT is so personal the OTs learn what works for every kid and get to know them really well. There isn't much time for socializing. One session lasts 45 minutes and the 15 between are used for cleaning up and preparing for the next session. If someone doesn't have a client there is plenty of other work to be done. I think there's and air of respect, but also an air of appreciation for OTs. It can be really hard to work with kids and get them to be focused, especially kids with disabilities. But, OTs give kids tools to use in many different scenarios and that in turn helps out everyone. Being an OT is truly an occupation that demands a lot of time and energy. Frequently I arrive at the office after normal lunch hours. I normally begin work between one and two.
I do still bring food with me everyday. From what I have observed people eat in their offices or at their desks. There is a kitchen, but I have only ever seen it used for sessions. My coworkers are in and out of the office all the time. They schedule their own clients and and come and go as they please. Being an OT seems quite flexible. It seems they fit lunch in when they want. This reflects how self motivated the office is, and like most self motivated people, they are nice but busy. They work while they eat there is no time to chat over a salad, or go grab chipotle together. However, people do leave them selves space to eat and will occasionally go to Needham street for lunch. The freedom of a personalized schedule often means you forget about the world around you- you factor in your time and what you need to do. I think if the schedule was more mandated you would find more people in the kitchen eating together. Occupational therapy could be mistaken for play time.
The ICCD had a large room they call the gym. Mats run floor to floor and chains hang from hooks on the ceiling. There is a closet full of games and swings to attach to the hooks. The back wall had a plastic mountain to climb up and theres a small play structure equipped with a fire pole. In the centre of the room is an inflatable ball pit and many more pillows and mats to be moved around. Time not in the gym is spent at the table, which is not so bad. These activities are more obviously focused on skills. The kids may be doing handwriting exercises or taking a test, but even the table is fun. Theres drawing and cutting and silly putty to play with. The therapists can go to the game room and get a board game to play. OT is also playful in the sense that each therapist has freedom. There is no set structure to their sessions and each therapist has their own style. It is here that the practice becomes successful because each therapist can adapt to function to their client and can mold activities that are fun and useful. OT is work too, children can be difficult to work with. Getting them to do activities that- sometimes- target small functions can be hard. Kids tend to be focused on the big and getting them to fix the small can be difficult. Overall, OT is the perfect balance of work and play. The kids play and end up doing exercises that benefit their development. Therapies, of all kinds, are funded by the clients.
Occupational therapy can be paid for by an insurance company. Like going to the doctors office there may be a co-pay. The therapists do an evaluation of the child and then deem what his or her needs are and from there they can submit a request to the insurance company to grant sessions. I think it's important to know that OT is mostly paid for by insurance companies because insurance is need based. OT is so important to the development to many children, and I think it is easy to assume it is a product. But for some it is as important as going to the doctors. I immediately enter into large waiting room, where right in front of me two couches face each other. This area is for the adults, behind it is a large L shaped desk. Like a waiting room it looks and feels clean. To my left the area expands and there are games for children of all ages. An air hockey table buzzes for the older kids and the sounds of plastic trucks crashing into each other resonates around me. There is never more than 4 families in the waiting area at the time, keeping the noise level down.
My temporary desk is at the end of the office. To get there I cross through the toys and games and enter a closed of hall way. The hallway is wide and my shoes click against the plastic wood floor. It gets quieter and emptier as I move away from the entrance. They are in the process of moving into a new building, so most rooms have sparse furniture and naked walls. Where the hallway turns I pass my supervisors office. The light shines out her door from the two large windows that fill one wall and illuminate most of the area, I listen for the sound of her keyboard. If it's silent I know she's with a client. I continue down three more doors and on the left is my temporary residence. Four desks line the back two walls and where they meet a curved corner desk is tucked in. Sometimes the room is full with three or four people in there, and sometimes it is just me. No matter what everyone is quiet and focused. It gets so quiet sometimes I think I am the only one in the whole world. I am the loudest. Flipping through files and pulling out papers. Paper swooshes out of the file and lands in the "to be shredded pile". When I am alone NPR plays softly from my computer to fill the silence, and when others are with me it fills my head. I frequently snack on brookside chocolate berries and suck off the dark chocolate revealing the chewy pomegranate beneath, or on dried chick peas. The bags crinkle out of my back pack and pop open. When I am not there I am in the gym or a small room. The rooms are more full with a small table for small children, and a big one for the older kids. I keep silent while the OT and the kid chatter and work on an activity. Paper crinkles and putty is smushed, it occasionally pops as an air bubble is released. Markers streak across paper or pins rattle in a bin. The gym is full of mats which absorb the sounds. We use our inside voices. The chains in the ceiling rattle as an OT or I hang a swing and the balls in the ball pit land with a soft "plop" as a kid jumps in. The OT's prompt the kids to talk and play and laughter is often heard. When I leave my shoes clink down the hall way and I wave good bye to those I pass. I push the door open, and with that the day ends, waiting to begin again. Pediatric occupational therapy.
Well let's break it down. Pediatric- children, kids, young-ins. I don't feel nervous about working with kids. I teach swim lessons to very very young kids, and children with disabilities. This work will prepare me for the next 10 weeks. However, every child is different and I am sure I will face many challenges that come with being a kid. I expect to encounter problems with kids expressing themselves. Disabled or not, children generally lack the vocabulary to communicate well. Now on to the occupational therapy part. I have read many articles and sources about it. The "occupation" part does not refer to a job. In this case is "refers to refers to activities that support the health, well-being, and development of an individual" (American Occupational Therapy Association, 2014). I think it also refers to activities you do daily, as it it is a job. I expect that we will be working with kids on bettering their skills at things like playing, tying shoe laces ect. I'm not sure if we will be working on bigger things, like walking because that may be a job for physical therapy. I am totally excited for Monday, and my first day working, but also nervous! We'll see how it goes! |
Archives |