August 28, 2024
Students enrolled in the Shawnee State University Occupational Therapy Assistant program (OTA) recently partnered with the USSA Adult Day Center located on Market Street in Portsmouth, Ohio to provide occupational learning and engage in therapeutic activities with the seniors in attendance.
“We made sensory bottles, played music, and did a pool noodle balloon toss,” said OTA student Amelia Balestra. “These activities all promoted client factors such as social skills, speaking, interacting, attention span, visual functions, touch, play participation, and many more. My favorite part of the experience was playing pool noodle balloon toss with the clients while listening to music. This was the most active and engaging experience that we participated in, and my classmates and I got to see the clients’ spirits become much freer and more uplifted during this activity as their moods were elevated.”
A vital health care service, occupational therapy uses “occupation” – purposeful activity – as the basis for treatment of people with a wide variety of physical, developmental, and emotional disabilities.
“My sister influenced me to join the OTA program,” said Balestra. “She explained the concept of occupational therapy and how it concentrates on improving a person’s ability to perform daily activities and roles, such as dressing, eating, and school tasks. It also aims to enable individuals to participate in meaningful activities and improve their overall quality of life by modifying the environment, teaching new skills, or adapting tasks.”
OTAs work under the guidance of occupational therapists and choose or construct equipment that helps people to function more independently. They can also carry out activities for individuals or groups of patients or work closely with families of patients who are preparing to return home.
“Through the OTA program, I have had many opportunities to learn and engage with patients in the community,” said Balestra. “I have had the privilege to work with a wide scope of individuals of various ages and ethnic backgrounds, and with many different diagnoses. This hands-on experience and classroom participation have enabled me to learn so much about OTA and enjoy it more than I realized I could.”
Partnering with organizations like USSA Adult Day Center, Balestra and her classmates have been able to connect unique learning experiences with their future careers.
“This hands-on experience has taught me the importance of adaptability and creativity in therapy, as well as the significance of empathy and community in building trust with clients,” she said. “Overall, it has solidified my passion for the field and confirmed that this is the right career path for me.”
The two-year program at SSU includes courses focused on human growth and development, functioning of the human body, and occupational therapy principles and techniques. The program requires two, eight-week rotations of supervised practical experience in a variety of health care settings.
The OTA program at SSU also offers flexibility for southwestern Ohio students with a special dual enrollment partnership with Southern State Community College in Hillsboro, Ohio. Students can take all required classes without have to make the commute to campus, while still receiving their degree from SSU at the conclusion of the program.