OTA students will discuss their community service projects on Mar. 3

Students in the Occupational Therapy Assistant Technology (OTA) program are completing community service projects this semester.

All members of the College community are invited to the students’ presentations of their projects on Thursday, Mar. 3, starting at 2 p.m., in ATLC 313.

• Students were asked to find a location that does not provide occupational therapy services currently, and complete a project that shows the benefits of the profession.
   
• Four student groups will report on the activities and results of their projects. Two of the projects are summarized below.

Occupational Therapy Assistant students Amy Minham, Alison Taylor, Christina Whitley, and Sunny Wilson (above) partnered with Visionaries + Voices to create VESSL: A Visual, Emotional, and Sensory Support Library.

• Visionaries + Voices supports the personal and professional development of artists with disabilities at two studio locations in Cincinnati.
   
• The students worked at the Northside location to upgrade their art reference library by making it wheelchair accessible, labeling categories with visual aids for non-readers, and including sensory integration and emotional regulation activity kits.
   
• The VESSL project increases the usability of the space, provides sensory and social-emotional supports, and empowers individuals in their occupation as artists.

OTA students Megan Beal, Susannah Boerner, Jillian Gavigan, Erin McBreen, and Bella Murphy completed a project at the David and Rebecca Barron Center for Men in Cincinnati.

• Clients of this organization have lost their homes and a significant amount of occupational independence such as support systems and social connections.
   
• The students donated a cart (decorated with the CState logo) with shelves, drawers, and cabinets to store materials used for group activities on team building, communication skills, confidence-building, and goal setting.
   
• The upper shelves of the cart include books, board games, and puzzles to encourage participation in healthy leisure activities. Materials are signed-out on the honor system, to reinforce that clients will be rewarded for honesty.
   
• Students also developed lesson plans for group activities, and led the activities at the shelter on Feb. 21.
   
• Students made an affirmation board with cards to help clients when they are feeling anxious, depressed, or frustrated. In addition, students developed worksheets for self-directed actiities to help the shelter clients build skills in money management, communication, and job skills.
   
• The OTA students also donated bus passes so the shelter clients have access to transportation for job interviews and health services.