The past few weeks have included designing obstacle courses for the kids, completing lots of end-of-the-year evaluations, and formulating fun treatment interventions. My confidence and knowledge seems to increase with every passing week. I am able to grade activities and adapt tasks to accommodate a variety of diagnoses and meet many needs.
I
have been working with this young 20-year old girl, at the clinic, who
sustained a gunshot wound to the head, resulting in a TBI one year ago.
She presents as a quadriplegic and has minimal use in her right arm. I
have had the opportunity to work with her and her mother (who has
recently hurt her back from transferring her daughter) a couple hours
each week, addressing proper body mechanics when transferring,
increasing leisure activities, visual perceptual deficits, as well as
inattention to tasks. Through this opportunity, I have really had the
experience of addressing her holistically through taking into account
all psychosocial factors. This has challenged me to become more creative
when treatment planning—including the family in the treatment process,
as well as challenging her to increase her engagement in leisure
activities. I have to continually remind her the importance of
challenging herself to help with grooming or donning her shirt when her
mom dresses her every morning. I have also encouraged and
advocated for her to go to school a full day instead of a half day. I am
looking forward to continuing this treatment with this family and
observing the gains that they will make together.
This weekend,
the roomies (Ellen and Dana) and I will be going to our company picnic
tomorrow at a marina and possibly taking a ride on our boss' sailboat
(eek!). We are really excited and getting sad that we have to leave our
jobs and FL in 3 weeks. However, we are excited to get to see you guys
soon!
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