August 2015-August 2019. Roaring Fork School District. Glenwood Springs, CO. Occupational Therapist, District SWAAAC Coordinator, Assistive Technology Team Member.
- Worked as an occupational therapist, serving children from preschool through high school by teaching them new skills and strategies and training them in the use of low-tech and high-tech tools to improve their access to education. As well, taught useful strategies to their teachers and other service providers.
- Provided consultation, evaluation, assessment, and treatment services to children with a variety of challenges, including Autism Spectrum disorders, ADHD, and fine and gross motor delays to improve their independence in meeting academic, social, emotional, and physical challenges at school.
- Worked in collaborative teams with teachers, paraprofessionals, psychologists, speech therapists, administrators, and parents to support students with special needs in maximizing their success and independence at school.
- Developed an Excel spreadsheet for the occupational therapy team that computed results from a standardized assessment and used conditional formatting to highlight extreme values.
- Created an internal website identifying and describing ways in which specific assistive technologies are useful for specific educational needs. The website provided a means for special education team members to learn about and share useful adaptive technology.
- Served as the Statewide Alternative Augmentative Assistive Communication (SWAAAC) Coordinator for the district, re-establishing and facilitating a process to trial assistive technology that held promise for improving how specific students with special needs could access their education.
- Provided training to special education and teaching staff to address a variety of issues including understanding assistive technology procedures and tools, properly lifting preschool children, and integrating positive behavioral supports universally into the preschool curriculum.
January 2016-March 2019. Valley View Hospital. Glenwood Springs, CO. PRN Occupational Therapist.
- Worked as an occupational therapist on an “as needed” basis in an acute care hospital setting to support clients in restoring their abilities, learning adaptations, and safely discharging.
- Performed evaluations, assessments and discharges, provided occupational therapy treatment services, made equipment recommendations, and recommended discharge placement settings.
- Worked in collaborative teams with physical therapists, speech therapists, doctors, nurses, and CNAs, advocating for decisions to support maximizing clients’ safety and independence.
September 2013-May 2015. Liberty Common School. Fort Collins, CO. Contract Occupational Therapist.
- Worked as an occupational therapist in a charter school setting, serving children from 5 through 12 years old to guide them in developing skills and strategies to improve their independence and success at school.
- Provided consultation, evaluation, assessment, and treatment services to children with a variety of challenges, including ADHD, sensory challenges, and fine and gross motor delays that affect their access to the curriculum.
- Worked in collaborative teams with teachers, paraprofessionals, psychologists, speech therapists, and administrators to support students with special needs in performing at their best.
- Provided recommendations and training for assistive technology that mitigated specific learning challenges.
May 2013- July 2015. University of Colorado Health (formerly Poudre Valley Health System). Fort Collins, CO. Part-time Occupational Therapist.
- Worked as an occupational therapist in a children’s outpatient setting, serving children from 1 through 12 years old to help them to develop skills to maximize their independence at home, at school, and in the community. As well, trained parents in the use of tools and strategies to support their children’s increased success.
- Provided consultation, evaluation, assessment, and treatment services to children with a variety of challenges, including Autism Spectrum disorders, ADHD, sensory challenges, and fine and gross motor delays that affect activities of daily living.
- Worked in collaborative teams with physical therapists and speech therapists to improve the effectiveness of individual and group therapy treatments.
June 2013-December 2014. Columbine Health Systems, Fort Collins, CO. PRN Occupational Therapist.
- Worked “as needed” as an occupational therapist in an inpatient rehabilitation setting, serving teenagers through senior citizens.
- Performed assessments and offered occupational therapy treatment services to support improved mobility and increased independence in self-care skills.
June 2011-July 2015. Northern Colorado Rehabilitation Hospital, Johnstown, CO. Occupational Therapist (full time until August 2012, and then PRN).
- Worked as an occupational therapist (full time until August 2012, and then PRN) in an inpatient acute rehabilitation and long term acute medical setting, serving teenagers through senior citizens to maximize clients’ independence and safety at home and in the community.
- Performed assessments, offered occupational therapy treatment services, performed home evaluations, made equipment recommendations, and recommended discharge placement settings based on individual needs.
- Worked in collaborative teams with physical therapists, speech therapists, rehabilitation aides, social workers, doctors, nurses, and CNAs. As well, trained family members as needed to support clients’ on-going safety and recovery at home.
August 2012-May 2013. EBS Healthcare, Greeley CO. Contract Occupational Therapist.
- Worked as an occupational therapist in a public school setting, serving students from kindergarten through 8th grade.
- Provided consultation, evaluation, assessment, and treatment services to students with special needs in general education as well as in three intensive programs: one to serve students with intensive physical and cognitive needs, and two to serve students with intensive needs related to Autism spectrum diagnoses.
- Assessed access needs and training students and staff in the use of adaptive devices to increase independence in self-care and in accessing educational materials.
- Delivered services in collaborative teams composed of general education and special education teachers, paraeducators, physical therapists, speech pathologists, psychologists, and school administrators.
- Recipient of Certificate of Appreciation for “exceptional service” from Weld County District #6 during the month of May 2013.
March 2011-May 2011. EBS Healthcare, Greeley CO. Contract Occupational Therapist.
- Worked as an occupational therapist in a public school setting, serving students from kindergarten through 8th grade to maximize their access to education.
- Provided consultation, evaluation, assessment, and treatment services.
- Developed an Excel spreadsheet to computed IEP service time due to each student, based on IEP dates and weekly contact time required. The spreadsheet used conditional formatting to highlight services that were out of compliance with IEP commitments. As well, developed a spreadsheet that computed results from a standardized assessment and used conditional formatting to highlight extreme values.
- Worked with the Assistive Technology team to provide recommendations for technology that would improve students’ access to their education.