Week 4

Week 4 has been another week of growth and great learning experiences. I learned a little about the Floortime model, a model used for children with ASD to assess their level of development and social engagement to determine what treatment approach to take. I also led my first treatment group with 6 children with Down's Syndrome who have difficulty with behavioral management and visual perception. It was chaotic and difficult to grade the activity according to each of the children's individuals needs and abilities, but it encouraged me to utilize task analysis and problem solving in the future.

Yesterday (Saturday), the ladies and I went to the beach and ended up getting pretty crispy. I walked the beach for a while, studied a few pages of my cert prep book, and then read Divergent  (my new book). Later that night we went to dinner at a restaurant on the bay with a live band and the best goat cheese, artichoke, and pesto pizza EVER! No kidding. We also saw 2 dolphins (one had a chipped fin) and a manatee. ::)  Following dinner, we went to this huge parade in town and collected TONS of mardi gras beads. Don't worry--no flashing involved.We went back to the restaurant later that night for a glass of wine and dessert by the water. Very tranquil and romantic ladies night.

Today, the ladies and I went to church, grabbed a bite to eat, and visited the Ringling Museum.  It may be my favorite place yet. Below are three pictures of various places on the Ringling museum property.

 The perfect wedding venue....the Ringling Mansion, situated with a perfect view and steps going to the bay.  We saw a dolphin while out on this veranda. :)

 The Banyan trees are so whimsical and skirt the property.

 The courtyard of the Ringling Art Museum.

This next week I will be planning and implementing intervention sessions for around 35 kids at the school, and 10 kids at the clinic. I am really looking forward towards it, and advancing my ability to grade activities in the process. I am falling more and more in love with these phenomenal kids, and constantly look forward to loving on them--something most of them don't get at home.

Week 3_Loving My Kiddos

This week has been delightfully fun and eventful with the kids. Every day I left with boogers and drool coating my clothes. Needless to say, every laugh, every tickle, and every interaction I received from a kid was well worth all the germs. I am beginning to become more and more attached as you can see (or read). I had about 4-5 kids on my caseload at school and led all the treatment session for the kids at the clinic, all with varying disabilities (CP, Autism, missing radial bones, EBD). It was challenging and fun to be innovative and creative when taking into account psychosocial factors affecting this kids and their academic performance deficits during intervention planning.  For example, I implemented intervention with a little girl, missing radial bones since birth.  I took into account her interest in imaginative play and dress-up into our treatment session when addressing FM skills and gross motor play. I also integrated a little boy's interest in music into his session to motivate and encourage functional reaching with his affected arm, due to CP. I was able to demonstrate a vast array of knowledge as related to cerebral palsy and treatment ideas, such as weight bearing and using a variety of positions to facilitate movement. I had the opportunity to complete a few evaluations and will continue to have opportunities to assess many children at different developmental levels. I look forward to the weeks of growth ahead!

 

This weekend will be spent finishing up my last research presentation, for my online class, at Panera (yummy)! I must keep myself motivated with food. I, also, am volunteering at this fundraiser track meet our clinic is hosting tomorrow. And, of course, the remainder will spent at the beach and with our new adopted parents.... I can't wait to see what new and exciting things God sends our way this weekend!

Weeks 1 & 2 in Bradenton, FL

My lovely roommates, Ellen and Dana (friends and fellow OT peers), and I are all settled into our humble abode. I shall have to remember to capture pictures of our little dwelling and post them in a later blog. Ellen and I are sharing a bedroom, which has been quite fun, and also very stuffy and hot at nights. The picture below is us out on the town last night, capturing a picture with the Woodford Reserve napkin holder--a tribute to our KY home, which we miss oh so much.
The following two pictures are of the Sunrise Service we attended at the beach on Easter morning. Kayla (another OT peer) is a friend of ours who has her current rotation in Tampa. She has been coming to hangout with us on the weekends, which has been a blast.

Ellen and I attended the Sailor Circus (Mary Poppins-themed btw), and, oh yes, it was FUN! It is a circus put on by students (4th-12th grades). These kids are extremely talented and I was amazed by their skill and athletic abilities. I also learned that Ringling Bros. originated in Sarasota, and that is why the circus is a huge deal around this area.
My parents came to FL to visit me the first week I was here. We did a lot of sight-seeing and beach-combing, which was so fun. We also were able to meet up with my friend Kelly (a wonderful OT intern and friend I met at my last rotation in GA) and her boyfriend, Ben. Ben was finishing his rotation up in FL and Kelly came down to see him. I just love this couple and am so happy I got to see Kelly one last time in FL!
Yes, today I learned how to surf on a long board. We met this couple at church today, and after talking for a while found out that they lived on the EXACT street in Anna Marie Island that someone had recommended we visit. The husband is retired from the Army and they have a son in high school and a daughter in college. The husband, Dave, taught Kayla and I how to surf--checking that off my bucklist! :) The wife, Deb, was amazing and so hospitable. They lent us their beach chairs, let us shower at their house, and invited us to hangout in the future. She also gave us Hawaiian flowers for our hair (R ear means you are single and L ear means you are taken). Needless to say, they were truly a blessing, and all of the details of the day were so clearly orchestrated by the Lord. I have a feeling we are going to get really close to them while we are here on the island.

Now, here is a brief synopsis about my second Level II placement at Children's Therapy Solutions in Bradenton, Florida. Monday through Friday I am at Orange Ridge-Bullock Elementary school, and on Mondays and Wednesdays I go over to the outpatient clinic after school. So far I have really enjoyed my placement. The school that I am at is not a typical school setting, in that it has a whole sector of the school which they call exceptional students (ESE or special education). We also have two medically fragile classrooms, which is the largest in the county. A majority of these students are on feeding tubes, non-communicative, and dependent for all ADL's. Children in these classrooms have a variety of diagnoses which include West Syndrome, TBI, seizure disorders, CP, and others.

I work with children from both general education and ESE classrooms. The majority of our children have Autism, ADHD, Sensory Processing Disorder, CP, seizure disorders, and Downs syndrome.

I absolutely adore the kids I have met thus far, and I am REALLY looking forward to the rest of my time here. I think this rotation will really help me identify whether or not Schools is my niche or not. Regardless, I can't wait to see where the Lord leads me over this next year. I am so abundantly blessed and would have never imagined I would have the opportunity to have such a wonderful career that does not feel like a job.....and be living in "paradise" all at the same time!