COVER STORY

By Stephanie Orr
Copy Editor
Photos by Stephanie Orr

Presenting the OTA class of 2003. From left to right, Beth Kaufman, Melissa Batchelor, Laurie Haselhorst, Sarah Feldman, Jessica Sams, Christine Wilkerson, Nora Laird and Instructor Kim Keubrich.

What's Going On

Using a "Sock-Aid"

From One to the Other

Back Pack

Perspectives

Swiss Ball

Join the OTA

OTA's Track Record

Kim Keubrich (right) and Christine Wilkerson (left) demonstrated how to use a swiss ball to improve righting reactions (instinctive adjustments made by a person when they lose their balance). Swiss balls provide opportunities for people with developmental delays and neuromuscular dysfunction to improve their motor skills. The ball is used to help people with sensorimotor problems improve balance (among other things).

What’s Going on Here?

Introducing OT, OTA and OTR

Jim has played football since high school, and he has hopes of being drafted into the NFL. He played for his college team, and his last game was being watched by several NFL scouts.
Jim played exceptionally well. During the last play, Jim went for a final touchdown. He caught the ball and headed for the end zone. He was almost there when something went terribly wrong, and he was tackled. Jim had been tackled hundreds of times before, but this time he could not get up. His legs were totally numb.
He woke up in the hospital to the news that he was paralyzed from the chest down. What is next for Jim? How is he going to bathe or dress himself? Will he be able to finish school or live alone?
Jim is facing a tough rehab program including physical therapy, psychological counseling and Occupational Therapy (OT). Hopefully, when all is said and done, Jim will be able to lead a satisfying and independent life.
OT is a health and rehabilitation discipline that focuses on restoring function and increasing functional independence. Using purposeful activities, an OT helps a person relearn how to do every day occupations, such as bathing, working, eating, playing or dressing. OTs help people get around their physical or psychological hurtles and regain their independence.
OTs and Certified Occupational Therapy Assistants (COTA) work in a number of areas. People young and old, mentally disabled or physically ailing may need OT.
The field of occupational therapy has a bright future. According to the US Department of Labor there is expected to be a 30 percent increase in jobs available between now and 2008. This includes both Registered Occupational Therapists (OTR) and COTAs.
Jim’s story is totally hypothetical, but LC has offered an A.A.S. in OTA since January of 1999.

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Using a Sock-Aid
Laurie Haselhorst, an LC student enrolled in the OTA program, demonstrated using a sock-aid. A piece of adaptive equipment, sock-aids are used by people who are not able to bend over safely due to balance disorders, healing hip fractures or other reasons. This tool increases independence while dressing. TOP

Perspectives
Student	Instructor
Beth Kaufman is a 20-year-old LC student in the OTA program. She graduated from Edwardsville High School and knew she wanted to go into some type of therapy. An Internet search led her to OTA. LC was her first choice because it was the closest school that offered an OTA program. Before applying to the program, Kaufman went to St. Clair’s Hospital to observe an OTA at work and liked what she saw. “Helping someone get back independence, so they can do something for themselves,” said Kaufman, attracted her to OTA. “I’d like to see me make a difference in someone.” Kaufman described the program as fast-paced, but said that students get personalized attention from the instructors, and that makes it easier to handle. “Linda Orr (coordinator of the program) made a big difference,” said Kaufman. “I recommend [the program] to anyone with the drive to help someone out.” She also suggests that anyone interested in OTA visit the program. “I’m ready to get out and apply what I am learning,” Kaufman said. She hopes to get a job at Christian Northeast Hospital, or somewhere comparable, but has no preference as to what age group she works with. “I didn’t realize [upon entering the program] all the different people and conditions we get to work with,” Kaufman said.	Kim Kuebrich started working at LC this semester as an Instructor for the OTA program. She teaches Physical Components I and Adaptations to Daily Living (ADL). Kuebrich has been an OTR for eight years, and also works at St. Anthony’s Hospital. Kuebrich believes that people generally do not have a good understanding of what OT is or does. “You have to look at an ‘occupation’ as a daily event,” said Kuebrich, “[for example] a child’s occupation is play.” When an OT works with a child it looks like they are simply playing with them, but Kuebrich points out that they are doing purposeful activities. “We have goals,” she says. Kuebrich thinks that one of the best things about OT is the diversity. OTAs work with people of all ages. They work in schools, nursing homes, psychiatric units or hospitals. “It’s hard to get burnt out because there are so many different areas,” Kuebrich said. “If you get tired of one you can move to another with the same skills.” OT is a very rewarding career. Kuebrich said, “How many people can say, ‘my job is to maximize function and independence’?”     TOP

OTA students Nora Laird (left) and Melissa Batchelor (right) demonstrated the proper procedure for transferring a patient from one surface to another. The goal in OT is to help people regain independence so during transfers, such as the one demonstrated above, COTAs instruct the patient in hand, foot and body movement to assist in their transfer. In any type of treatment safety is a high priority. TOP

Backpack Awareness at Transfer Day
OTA student Christine Wilkerson (right) weighs LC student Andrew Gernigin’s (left) backpack during Transfer Day.
On Oct. 23, LC held Transfer Day in the commons where OTA students hosted a backpack weigh-in. According to the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) people have been suffering injury because backpacks weigh too much. Carrying heavy backpacks may cause back and shoulder aches, muscle fatigue and other symptoms. Over 120 people stopped by OTA’s booth, and 91 students had their backpacks weighed and their backpack health accessed. Of those students, 10 percent were carrying between 15 and 24 percent of their body weight in their backpacks. AOTA puts the maximum safe weight of a backpack at 15 percent of the wearers’ body weight. Look for the OTA club to be hosting backpack weigh-ins in the future at LC events. Top

If you or someone you know is interested in perusing a career in OTA, contact Linda Orr at (618) 468-4416, or stop by the LC OTA facilities on the first floor of the Math Building.