Introduction:
My name is Caroline Welch and I am an occupational therapist working through Burlington County Special Services School District, Educational Services Unit.
I would like to give you a little bit more information about myself. I have worked as an occupational therapist since 2002. Most of my clinical practice has focused on pediatrics and I have had the opportunity to work in both public and private school sectors, early intervention, and outpatient rehabilitation. During the 2012-2013 and 2013-2014 school years, I worked as an Academic Fieldwork Coordinator in the Occupational Therapy Department at the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia and as an Assistant Professor in the Occupational Therapy Program at Temple University. I recently graduated with my Clinical Doctorate in Occupational Therapy from Temple University in May 2017. I also have specialty certifications in Sensory Integration and Neurodevelopmental Treatment. The most important tid-bit about myself is that I am a mom of two fabulous little girls, who keep me very busy and on my toes. They have truly made me a better person, both professionally and personally. I am also a new mommy to a forever furry friend, who has brought so much love and joy to our family.
For those new to occupational therapy, I will strive to meet the individual needs of each child, while promoting success and independence within their educational environment and improved occupational engagement and performance. School-based occupational therapy is a supplemental service, designed to enhance a student's functional performance in the classroom setting. School-based occupational therapy services focus on a variety of performance areas, such as activities of daily living, education, play and social participation (AOTA, 2014). Performance skills addressed may include, but are not limited to:
Student interests, strengths, goals, habits, roles, and routines, as well as classroom/educational expectations and the school environment, are all considered when developing effective, age-appropriate, and educationally relevant treatment sessions (AOTA, 2014). Intervention strategies may focus on more than one occupational area at a time and may incorporate a variety of activities, tasks, and educational opportunities to enhance student perofrmance. Occupational therapy intervention approaches include (AOTA, 2014):
I work closely with the teachers, child study team members and school staff to schedule, plan and execute occupational therapy services as per each student's IEP/504 OT service plan in efforts of improving each child's level of success and independence within their educational setting.
As a clinician, my professional qualities and traits closely align with the authentic leadership style. As an educator, I incorporate cognitive learning theories into practice to help individualize treatment and modify tasks and activities to best to meet each student's learning needs. As an occupational therapist, I frequently use the ecological models to guide practice. As a school-based practitioner, I utilize a holistic, humanistic, developmental, and transdiciplinary approach to treatment.
I would like to give you a little bit more information about myself. I have worked as an occupational therapist since 2002. Most of my clinical practice has focused on pediatrics and I have had the opportunity to work in both public and private school sectors, early intervention, and outpatient rehabilitation. During the 2012-2013 and 2013-2014 school years, I worked as an Academic Fieldwork Coordinator in the Occupational Therapy Department at the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia and as an Assistant Professor in the Occupational Therapy Program at Temple University. I recently graduated with my Clinical Doctorate in Occupational Therapy from Temple University in May 2017. I also have specialty certifications in Sensory Integration and Neurodevelopmental Treatment. The most important tid-bit about myself is that I am a mom of two fabulous little girls, who keep me very busy and on my toes. They have truly made me a better person, both professionally and personally. I am also a new mommy to a forever furry friend, who has brought so much love and joy to our family.
For those new to occupational therapy, I will strive to meet the individual needs of each child, while promoting success and independence within their educational environment and improved occupational engagement and performance. School-based occupational therapy is a supplemental service, designed to enhance a student's functional performance in the classroom setting. School-based occupational therapy services focus on a variety of performance areas, such as activities of daily living, education, play and social participation (AOTA, 2014). Performance skills addressed may include, but are not limited to:
- fine motor coordination
- bilateral motor coordination
- motor planning and executive functioning
- visual perception
- visual motor integration
- self-care and self-help skills
- sensory processing
- social and interpersonal skills
Student interests, strengths, goals, habits, roles, and routines, as well as classroom/educational expectations and the school environment, are all considered when developing effective, age-appropriate, and educationally relevant treatment sessions (AOTA, 2014). Intervention strategies may focus on more than one occupational area at a time and may incorporate a variety of activities, tasks, and educational opportunities to enhance student perofrmance. Occupational therapy intervention approaches include (AOTA, 2014):
- create/promote
- establish/restore
- maintain
- modify
- prevent
I work closely with the teachers, child study team members and school staff to schedule, plan and execute occupational therapy services as per each student's IEP/504 OT service plan in efforts of improving each child's level of success and independence within their educational setting.
As a clinician, my professional qualities and traits closely align with the authentic leadership style. As an educator, I incorporate cognitive learning theories into practice to help individualize treatment and modify tasks and activities to best to meet each student's learning needs. As an occupational therapist, I frequently use the ecological models to guide practice. As a school-based practitioner, I utilize a holistic, humanistic, developmental, and transdiciplinary approach to treatment.