OT Welcome Letter
September 2019
Dear Parents/Guardians,
I hope that you all had a safe and healthy summer and that this letter finds you well.
My name is Caroline Welch and I am an occupational therapist working through the Burlington County Special Services School District, Educational Services Unit. I will be servicing students in your child’s school district throughout the 2019-2020 school year.
I would like to give you a little bit of 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 pediatric 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 obtained my Clinical Doctorate in Occupational Therapy from Temple University in May 2017. I have two specialty certifications, Sensory Integration and Neurodevelopmental Treatment, and have presented at both the state and national level. 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.
For those new to occupational therapy, I will strive to meet the individual needs of each child, while promoting success and independence in within their educational environment. School-based occupational therapy is a supplemental service, designed to enhance a student’s functional performance within their educational setting. Occupational therapy services may focus on building/improving the following skill sets (but not limited to), to enhance a student’s performance and level of independence in all educationally-based areas of occupation (i.e. Activities of Daily Living, Instrumental Activities of Daily Living, Education, Work/Vocation and Leisure):
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 performance. Occupational therapy intervention approaches include (AOTA, 2014):
I will work closely with the teachers, child study team members and school staff to schedule, plan and execute occupational therapy services as per your child’s IEP/504 OT Service plan.
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 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 transdisciplinary approach to treatment.
I have developed a website to create a more collaborative support system for the families, teachers, and districts that I serve. You can find me at: carolinewelchot.weebly.com
The purpose of this website is to:
Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns. Due to the fact that I service more than one school district, the best way to reach me is through my Burlington County Special Services email account, or through your child’s teacher and/or case manager.
I look forward to meeting each and every one of you and working with your child this year. I feel honored to be a part of the team!
Dear Parents/Guardians,
I hope that you all had a safe and healthy summer and that this letter finds you well.
My name is Caroline Welch and I am an occupational therapist working through the Burlington County Special Services School District, Educational Services Unit. I will be servicing students in your child’s school district throughout the 2019-2020 school year.
I would like to give you a little bit of 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 pediatric 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 obtained my Clinical Doctorate in Occupational Therapy from Temple University in May 2017. I have two specialty certifications, Sensory Integration and Neurodevelopmental Treatment, and have presented at both the state and national level. 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.
For those new to occupational therapy, I will strive to meet the individual needs of each child, while promoting success and independence in within their educational environment. School-based occupational therapy is a supplemental service, designed to enhance a student’s functional performance within their educational setting. Occupational therapy services may focus on building/improving the following skill sets (but not limited to), to enhance a student’s performance and level of independence in all educationally-based areas of occupation (i.e. Activities of Daily Living, Instrumental Activities of Daily Living, Education, Work/Vocation and Leisure):
- Fine motor coordination skills
- Motor planning and executive functioning skills
- Visual perceptual skills
- Visual motor integration skills
- Bilateral motor coordination skills
- Strength, endurance and postural control
- Sensory processing skills
- Classroom/class work modifications and adaptations
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 performance. Occupational therapy intervention approaches include (AOTA, 2014):
- Create/promote
- Establish/restore
- Maintain
- Modify
- Prevent
I will work closely with the teachers, child study team members and school staff to schedule, plan and execute occupational therapy services as per your child’s IEP/504 OT Service plan.
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 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 transdisciplinary approach to treatment.
I have developed a website to create a more collaborative support system for the families, teachers, and districts that I serve. You can find me at: carolinewelchot.weebly.com
The purpose of this website is to:
- Provide a "one stop shop" that offers information about occupational therapy within the educational setting, as well as resources for parents and school personnel
- Improve communication and collaboration
- Increase opportunities for sharing and learning
- Enhance student success, occupational engagement and generalization of skills across settings
Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns. Due to the fact that I service more than one school district, the best way to reach me is through my Burlington County Special Services email account, or through your child’s teacher and/or case manager.
I look forward to meeting each and every one of you and working with your child this year. I feel honored to be a part of the team!
What is School-Based Occupational Therapy
As written so eloquently by my fabulous co-worker and friend, Victoria Cann:
The role of the school-based occupational therapy practitioner is to foster increased success and independence for the student within the educational context. School-based occupational therapy is a supplemental service designed to enhance a student’s functional performance. Occupational therapy services may focus on but are not limited to building and improving skills in areas such as fine motor, visual motor integration, visual perception, motor planning, bilateral integration, sensory processing, and executive functioning.
The role of the school-based occupational therapy practitioner is to foster increased success and independence for the student within the educational context. School-based occupational therapy is a supplemental service designed to enhance a student’s functional performance. Occupational therapy services may focus on but are not limited to building and improving skills in areas such as fine motor, visual motor integration, visual perception, motor planning, bilateral integration, sensory processing, and executive functioning.
A Moment of Gratitude
A Moment of Gratitude
Every day is a great day to be thankful. So, what better time than when ringing in the new school year.
Being grateful improves self-awareness, self-esteem, social skills and positive thinking. It can also have positive benefits on mental health by decreasing aggressive tendencies.
Here is a link with more information about Gratitude, including ways to include Gratitude into your daily life at home.
https://positivepsychology.com/gratitude-exercises/
Every day is a great day to be thankful. So, what better time than when ringing in the new school year.
Being grateful improves self-awareness, self-esteem, social skills and positive thinking. It can also have positive benefits on mental health by decreasing aggressive tendencies.
Here is a link with more information about Gratitude, including ways to include Gratitude into your daily life at home.
https://positivepsychology.com/gratitude-exercises/