Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
Changing career paths is often not an easy decision, and it often takes time to realize what the heart wants to do. With encouragement of loved ones, I enrolled in an occupational therapy assistant program. Since completing said program in 2020, I have been working in a skilled nursing facility as a COTA. This has been a rewarding experience of collaborating with a large and supportive therapy team, meeting and providing treatment for a wide variety of people, and growing in professional development. Below is a brief summary of my prior work experience. In my first full-time working experience post-bachelors, I began and continued teaching special education in an elementary school in West Virginia for seven years. During this time I became familiar with the world of goal setting, team leadership, documentation, and, most importantly, direct instruction. Over the course of this time, I worked closely with the Occupational Therapist who I had some overlap with students. The services provided from OT is what I believe was the initial spark that sent me on the journey of becoming a COTA. Fast forwarding to 2017, I returned to my hometown of Pittsburgh after accepting a position as a program services supervisor (teacher) at a facility for adults with intellectual disabilities. This experience opened up a greater understanding and interest in the medical field and the different roles throughout. It also provided a continued expansion of my understanding of the role of OT in different field of practice. I was fortunate enough to have two excellent level II fieldwork experiences (skilled nursing and acute care) for my OTA program. The skilled nursing placement promoted taking initiative, developing treatment activities, and clear/concise/timely documentation. The acute care setting allowed me to develop strong time management, observation skills, and quick thinking. I look forward to the rewards and challenges that will come from an entry level position in this field.
• Developed program goals for adults with intellectual disabilities. • Consulted with teams to review and update care plans. • Supervised direct care staff and provided direct care on a daily basis. • Ensured clothing, supplies, and equipment were available and satisfactory. • Developed activities for client enjoyment and development.
• Instructed elementary school students with various disabilities. • Lead Individualized Education Plan teams and implemented goals and services. • Case manager for 18-30 students per year. • Maintained a professional environment with paraprofessionals and aides. • Served for two years on local school improvement committee. • Assisted with extracurricular activities. • Co-founded local support group for children and young adults on the autism spectrum and their families. • Trained district employees in Non-violent Crisis Prevention and Intervention.