January 9, 2024
Kaleigh Spires first found her career interest after accompanying her father to therapy sessions after an accident he had. Now in her junior year in the Occupational Therapy Assistant program at Shawnee State University, she sees how she can impact patients during their healing process.
A two-year program at SSU, Spires enjoys learning through hands-on coursework. In just her second semester in the OTA program, she found most of her learning taking place through comprehensive experiences, allowing her to practice the skills she will use in her future career.
“It’s one thing to read it out of the book, but another thing to do it with your hands,” she said. “It’s a great experience to be able to do the stuff I love so early on in the school year.”
Finding the work easier to understand and remember when applying her studies, Spires has observed her classmates also enjoying the learning experiences within the program. Planning to graduate this semester, she’s excited to see how she can pair this degree with a bachelor’s degree she’ll also receive from SSU.
SSU’s Occupational Therapy Assistant program prepares students for a career helping people of all ages acquire or regain the skills they need to live independent, productive, and satisfying lives. Graduates of the program work in hospitals, rehabilitation centers, nursing homes, public and private schools, and home health agencies. Occupational therapy assistants work under the guidance of occupational therapists to impact their patient’s care.
To learn more about the Occupational Therapy Assistant degree at Shawnee State University, visit shawnee.edu/ota.