On The air

On this episode, occupational therapist Amberlynn Slavin and her husband Ben Slavin share information about SnapType, an app created based on an idea Amberlynn had on a Level I fieldwork clinical rotation while she was in occupational therapy school at Springfield College. The goal of SnapType is to help students complete their schoolwork even when their handwriting, literacy, or vision holds them back.Amberlynn is a pediatric OT who has practiced in California and New Hampshire. She has experience working in a sensory clinic with children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, ADHD, Sensory Processing Disorder, Down’s Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, mental health disorders, and other developmental disorders. When she’s not working, you can find her coaching gymnastics, working on all sorts of creative projects, and spending time with her husband and their two young boys. Learn more about SnapType here: https://snaptypeapp.com or on Instagram @snaptypeotCheck out Amberlynn's Instagram account which is dedicated to OT activity ideas: @creative_cheap_craftsContact Amberlynn via email at amberlynn@snaptypeapp.com

Liz Grace is the pen name of an occupational therapist living from southwestern Ontario, Canada. She lives and works with a mental illness called schizoaffective disorder. She navigates the OT world despite profound hearing loss and cochlear implants. Liz has been working in homecare since 2015 after graduating from school. Her primary clientele is older adults and adults with severe physical disabilities. Liz enjoys community activities and curling in the winter. She has a service dog from the Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides in Oakville, Ontario.On this episode of the podcast, Liz talks about her experiences as a person with mental illness as well as profound hearing loss and shares about the autobiographical account she has written in a book entitled "Resilient: Surviving My Mental Illness," which is available on platforms such as Amazom and Audible. Connect with Liz via social media through the account @lizgraceauthor or via email at lizgraceauthor@gmail.com

On Episode 130, Sarah Zera, OTD, OTR/L, shares the story about how she discovered and fell in love with occupational therapy and discusses her work as a mobile- and community-based practitioner and insight about how to bring moxie to one's OT practice.Growing up, two of Sarah’s primary caregivers were people with disabilities. Her background has provided her with first-hand knowledge of what is possible when living with a disability. These experiences also showed her the many barriers people with disabilities face on a daily basis. Sarah has been working as an occupational therapist since 2002. Throughout her career she has been proud to support her clients in their rehabilitation journey. As Sarah has grown as an occupational therapist she has realized that we can do better. Traditional rehabilitation services are vitally important. However, many people “graduate” from rehabilitation but do not return to doing the things in life that matter to them most. In 2013 she returned to school to study the most effective approaches to help her clients return to their most life-affirming activities. Her doctorate in occupational therapy propelled her to open Moxie OT. Sarah can be reached via email at moxieot@moxieot.com, and you can find information about her work including her podcast at https://www.moxieot.com/ Read her article in the British Journal of Occupational Therapy: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/03080226211008713 Read her Blog Post for the ICANCOOP website: https://icancoop.org/blogs/first-hand-account/goal-plan-do-check-supporting-community-participation-through-adult-group-sessions Other resources mentioned on this episode:Chappell, I. et al. (2006). Enabling Occupation in Children: The Cognitive Orientation to Daily Occupational Performance (CO-OP) Approach. CAOT Publications ACE Dawson, D. (2017). Cognitive Orientation to Daily Occupational Performance in Occupational Therapy: Using the CO-OP Approach (TM) to Enable Participation Across the Lifespan. AOTA Press

Occupational therapist Amy Coopersmith, MOT, OTR/L, MAEd, has worked as an educator and OT for more than 25 years. She currently works as a lecturer on topics related to children’s independence and positive mental health. For 17 years, she worked as an OT Supervisor, clinician and evaluator for the NYC Department of Education. Amy is passionate about promoting children’s self-determination through AOTA workshops as well as national/regional conferences and online learning communities. In 2020, she created Captain Me®, a video-based musical self-determination program for all children. Through the evidence-informed use of guided questioning, role play, music, puppets and video modeling, Amy helps practitioners learn how to best utilize their pediatric sessions to promote motivation, engagement and independence. Currently, she is pursuing her OT doctorate at Temple University. Previously, Amy taught Pediatric Assessment and Treatment at Mercy College and worked as a teacher in New York City. Her favorite hobby is writing songs about self-determination and mental health to promote children’s independence. On this episode, Amy shares about her journey into the profession of OT and introduces listeners to Captain Me®, the program she developed to promote self-determination in children, and to Cappy, the star of that program. Here's a link to a sample of her work: https://www.seekfreaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Cappy-Lesson-Plan-Setting-Goals.pdf To connect with Amy, email her at captainmekids@gmail.com Also check out the continuing education courses she has developed through the company Apply EBP: https://www.applyebp.com/

Occupational therapy assistant Amy Mahle is passionate about promoting the occupational therapist/occupational therapy assistant (OT/OTA) collaboration, uniting and motivating OT practitioners, advocating for occupational therapy, and finding solutions. She is the founding OTA Program Director at Rowan-Cabarrus Community College in Salisbury, NC and co-author/co-editor of the comprehensive textbook, Adult Physical Conditions: Intervention Strategies for Occupational Therapy Assistants. Amy has been an active member of AOTA and the North Carolina Occupational Therapy Association for her entire career and has served in leadership roles in both, including President of NCOTA. She is currently pursuing her EdD in Community College Leadership at NC State University. Prior to her career as an OTA, she was a small business owner and worked in the social service sector. Connect with Amy: Via email at amy.mahle.cota@gmail.comVia her website - www.amymahle.comOn Instagram: @amyjanemahleOn Twitter @AmyMahleCOTAOn Facebook: Amy J. Mahle (professional page)Resources:The textbook Amy co-authored and co-edited: https://tinyurl.com/MahleBookDallas Herring lecture series: https://belk-center.ced.ncsu.edu/our-impact/executive-leadership-programs/dallas-herring-lecture/

Vikram Pagpatan, MS, OTRL, ATP, CAS, BCTS, EdDc is a practicing Asian-American occupational therapist from New York City. He is a full time Assistant Professor and Admissions Coordinator at SUNY Downstate’s MSOT program as well as an adjunct lecturer at York College. Prior to beginning his work as an OT, Vikram served the city he loves as a paramedic and found the profession of OT on his graveyard shift through one of his patients. Vikram's clinical interests are in the areas of assistive technology and seating and mobility systems within pediatric practice. He presently serves on the AOTA DEI committee, as the social media chair of the Asian-Pacific Heritage Occupational Therapy Association, and as a cohort member of the 2021 AOTA Academic Leadership Institute. On this episode, Vik shares about the influence of diversity - and diversity of thought - within the OT profession- diversity of thought, his path into the profession, what OT has allowed him to do personally and professionally, and more - including his bid for a seat on the AOTA Board of Directors. Connect with Vikram:Via email: vikram.pagpatan@downstate.eduOn Instagram @ VikramPagpatanOTRL On LinkedIn @ Vikram PagpatanFor more about the AOTA election:https://www.aota.org/community/get-involved/elected-and-appointed-positions/elections/2022-elections

Mike Jankowski has been an occupational therapist since 2011 and has spent the majority of his career working with the pediatric population in start-up therapy clinics. In November of 2020 Mike started working at the EMR company SimplePractice as their Occupational Therapy Clinical Specialist. At SimplePractice, Mike brings together his knowledge of OT and private practice and works with SimplePractice's product and marketing teams to continue to enhance SimplePractice for its OT users.Resources mentioned:•Entrepreneuership FB groups – oEntreneurship4OT - https://www.facebook.com/groups/otentrepreneurs oOT Entrenpreurs - https://www.facebook.com/groups/536469659833481 •AOTA Private Practice Essentials - https://www.aota.org/Conference-Events/summer-series/schedule.aspxConnect with Mike: •Email - mike@simplepractice.com•Twitter - @MikeTheOT1•LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-jankowski-otrl/ •Website/blog - https://www.simplepractice.com/mike-j/

Laura Simmons is the CEO and Founder of Theratrak, a company that offers a digital platform enabling allied health professionals including occupational therapy practitioners to more efficiently track participant progress in between treatment sessions. She is also a passionate pediatric occupational therapist working with families of children living with a range of disabilities in early intervention. Laura has worked in the private health sector in Australia for almost 10 years, and in this time she has noticed a distinct lack of innovative technology solutions targeting the ongoing care of clients outside of direct therapy and how this is impacting the client’s overall treatment. As a leader of a team of occupational therapists, Laura wants to improve the healthcare system from the inside out to support the growth of younger therapists everywhere. As mentioned in the interview, TheraTrak is looking for partners in the United States to pilot their HIPAA certified digital tracking system. On this episode, we talk about Laura's work in the field and how she developed TheraTrack as well as how COVID-19 impacted pediatric therapy practice in Australia as compared to in the U.S.To connect with Laura:Email - laura@theratrak.coTwitter - https://twitter.com/laura1simmons Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/theratrak Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/theratrak/LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/theratrak/ Website/blog - https://www.theratrak.co/ https://www.theratrak.co/

For this interview, I brought back the guest from Episode 119 so we could dig deeper into the topic of time management for clinicians and clinical practice owners and managers.Jamey Schrier, P.T. is an author, former practice owner and founder of Practice Freedom U. PFU solely focuses on helping practice owners work less, earn more, and reignite their passion for patient care. His book, The Practice Freedom Method, has been an Amazon best-seller. Jamey is on a mission to help ambitious practice owners achieve their dreams of what he refers to as Practice Freedom.Resources mentioned during this interview:*The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People by Steven R. Covey - https://www.franklincovey.com/the-7-habits/*TEDs talk by Dr. Anne Zachry, PhD, OTR/L - "Be a Daydream Believer" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omGbKQIzoWY To connect with with Jamey:Email - jamey@practicefreedomu.comTwitter - https://twitter.com/jameyschrier Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/PracticeFreedomU Instagram - https://instagram.com/practicefreedomu

Lydia Cremer Kite is an occupational therapist who has experience in a variety of settings including skilled nursing facilities, subacute rehabilitation, outpatient rehabilitation, long term acute rehabilitation, community based, along with ergonomics, injury and prevention. She has a focus in work rehab and is a certified aging in place specialist. She has been teaching at University of St. Augustine for several years and also practices OT at an outpatient clinic with a focus on return to work. Lydia earned her Bachelor of Arts with a major in psychology from Georgia Southern University and a Master's of Occupational Therapy from University of St. Augustine in 2015. She also has experience in not-for-profit organizations, day programs, group homes for adults with varying intellectual and developmental abilities.Lydia's sister, Kaitlyn Cremer, is also an occupational therapist and was featured on Episode 120 of On The Air. On this episode, Lydia talks about OT and community partnerships.

On this episode, we talk about the importance of the support provided by therapists during rehab and the incredible power of hope.Cindy Kolbe has been a lifelong disability advocate—even before her youngest daughter’s spinal cord injury. In her memoir, Struggling with Serendipity, she shares about her battle with depression and guilt after her daughter's injury. Since the injury, Cindy and her daughter have shared many adventures which Cindy calls "unexpected," from during her daughter's time in rehab in their small town in Ohio to time they spent at Harvard, on Capitol Hill, and around the world. Cindy has now signed a movie contract with a producer/writer who is shopping Struggling with Serendipity to Hollywood movie studios. Her motto is: “If you never give up, hope wins.”To connect with Cindy:Email - cindy@strugglingwithserendipity.comTwitter - @cindy_kolbeFacebook Page - Struggling with SerendipityInstagram - @cindybkolbeWebsite/blog - www.strugglingwithserendipity.comYouTube Channel: Struggling with SerendipityResources and quotes from the episode:Spinalpedia - a social mentoring network and video archive about the experiences of individuals with spinal cord injuries - https://spinalpedia.com/Soul of a Citizen book – “La esperanza muere al ultimo” (p. 326). Hope dies last – never lose hope, never give up. Here's the author's website: https://www.paulloeb.org/soul-study/Dum spiro spero – as I breathe, I hope – there is always something for which one can hope.

Kimberly Kearney, COTA/L, has been an occupational therapy practitioner since 2003. She has worked in Skilled Nursing, Rehab, Memory Care, Acute Care, Home Health, Community Health, and Early Intervention settings. Most recently, Kim has been working in Home Health in Virginia. She has held licenses in Indiana, Florida, Colorado and now Virginia. Kim has been involved with AOTA serving on the Commission on Practice for over 5 years and assisted with the OTA Forum. She has also presented as a panel member at a few national conferences in these roles. She was involved with the topic of Driving and Community Mobility and worked with the ADED group in Colorado and presented at the Colorado OT Association Conference on the topic. Over the years, Kim has been happy to work with students in various aspects of their OT learning journey as a fieldwork educator. In addition, she views volunteering as a way of life after having worked with American Cancer Society, Girl Scouts, American Red Cross, the MS Society, Medical Reserve Corps, Make A Wish Foundation. She is an advocate for lifelong learning and enjoys a variety of challenges most recently exploring new occupations including meditative drumming, Cricut Maker projects, and solo camping in her teardrop trailer.Recommended resources:Everything is Figureoutable - book by Marie Forleo - https://www.amazon.com/Everything-Figureoutable-Marie-Forleo/dp/0525534997How to Get Involved (AOTA website) - including a link to update your COOL Profile - https://www.aota.org/Education-Careers/Students/Get-Involved.aspxOT-OTA Collaboration in Education - https://www.aota.org/-/media/Corporate/Files/Secure/Governance/RA/Minutes/RA%20Fall%20Online%202017%20Meeting/Importance-of-Collaborative-OT-OTA-Intraprofessional-Education-in-OT-Curricula-FINAL.pdf Guidelines for Supervision in OT Services - https://www.aota.org/-/media/Corporate/Files/Advocacy/State/Resources/Supervision/MSRSOTA.pdfGirl Camper website - https://girlcamper.com/Connect with Kim: Email: OTKimberly@gmail.comIG: @OTKimberlyTwitter: @OTKimberly

Kaitlyn Cremer, OTD, MOT, OTR/L, has been an occupational therapist for over 10 years. She has worked in a variety of settings including geriatrics, pediatrics, acute-care, acute-rehabilitation and in low vision and workplace wellness and ergonomics. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree from Florida Southern College and Master of Occupational Therapy and then Doctorate of Occupational Therapy from The University of St. Augustine. She is an onsite prevention specialist. She was awarded AOTA's specialty certification in low vision (SCLV). She is an advocate for interprofessional teamwork having presented at national conferences to advocate for OT’s role in the interprofessional team. She is currently a consultant for a community-based long term support and service agency for adults with intellectual and developmental disability advocating for occupational therapy’s role as well as clients’ quality of life and employee support. Connect with Kaitlyn on Instagram -@OTsDoThat

Jamey Schrier, PT, is an author, former physical therapy practice owner, and founder of Practice Freedom U. PFU solely focuses on helping practice owners work less, earn more, and reignite their passion for patient care. His book, The Practice Freedom Method has been an Amazon best-seller. Jamey is on a mission to help ambitious practice owners achieve their dreams of what is commonly called Practice Freedom. On this episode, Jamey shares about how changing one's mindset can transform and in some cases even save a business including a private practice. Here's how to connect with Jamey:Email - jamey@practicefreedomu.comTwitter - https://twitter.com/jameyschrier Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/PracticeFreedomU Instagram - https://instagram.com/practicefreedomuLinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jameyschrier/

Hailey Scandin is a third-year student in the Occupational Therapy Doctoral Program at Belmont University in Nashville, TN. She is currently in her final semester of OT school and is working on completing her Capstone project with Ability App. Hailey has always had an interest in advocating for individuals with disabilities and is looking forward to continuing to do so as she starts her professional career as an OT practitioner. When she is not in school, you can find her outdoors hiking, biking, or on the water with family and friends!To connect with Hailey and to learn more about Ability App:Instagram - @hailbail16Website - https://theabilityapp.com/

Susan Mahipaul is an occupational therapist, an educator, a researcher, and a disability and health naviagator and advocate who completed a PhD from McMaster University in Hamilton, ON in Rehabilitation Science (2015) and a clinical Master’s in Occupational Therapy from the University of Toronto (2004). She identifies as a disabled clinician and a critical disability scholar. Her doctoral work explored how her own reflections on living with spina bifida can be used to critique normative assumptions on disability within rehabilitation practices and society at large. Her research, teaching, and writing interests include advocating for equity, justice, and anti-oppressive practices within the rehabilitation sciences; academic ableism; how rehabilitation science programs often exclude disabled students; and using narrative research in teaching critical disability studies concepts within rehabilitation and disability studies programs. Susan teaches as an instructor within the undergraduate Disability Studies program at King’s University College at Western University Canada. She guest lectures extensively throughout many Canadian OT programs on critical disability studies and anti-oppressive clinical practice. She consults on several national research projects underpinned by critical disability studies and disability researching partnerships. Susan also has a professional practice where she consults with, advocates for, and supports disabled and chronically ill women in navigating their disability and health related needs. Susan is married and lives in London, ON with her husband and her retired racing greyhound. She grew up in Austria, Germany, and Canada and loves the outdoors. Susan comes from an active family and participated in many sports, committee work and volunteer and advocacy initiatives, until chronic pain and challenges with pacing led her to reimagine her work-life balance. Susan is an avid gardener who loves propagating plants and gifting them to anyone she can. Follow Susan on Twitter @SMahipaulResources mentioned during this episode:"Perspectives on Disability and Rehabilitation: Contesting Assumptions, Challenging Practice" by Karen Whalley Hammel, PhD, MSc, OT(C), DipCOT"Disability Visability" by Alice Wong

Karen Park, OTD, OTR/L, BCP, SWC, CLE, is an occupational therapist with extensive experience in pediatric practice in a variety of service settings including early intervention, clinic, school, hospital and outpatient children’s mental health. Dr. Park is Board Certified in Pediatrics by the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) and holds Advanced Practice certification in Swallowing Assessment, Evaluation, and Intervention within the state of California. Prior to joining the faculty at University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences in San Marcos, CA (USA), Dr. Park was an Assistant Professor of Clinical Occupational Therapy and the Director of Academic Fieldwork Education at the University of Southern California, Chan Division of Occupational Science and Therapy. Her expertise in fieldwork education focuses on role emerging fieldwork experiences in children’s mental health settings; specifically mentoring OT students in identifying and establishing the role of OT in addressing the occupational needs of underserved children and families with a history of complex trauma. She was also clinical faculty at the USC University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD) in the interdisciplinary Feeding Development Clinic serving children with feeding challenges, co-occurring neuro-developmental disorders and a history of medical or psychosocial trauma. She has taught courses on pediatric practice and given additional lectures on infant mental health and mealtime assessment and intervention. She also completed the certificate program in Sensory Integration at USC Chan. Dr. Park has lectured nationally and internationally on topics around interdisciplinary approaches to feeding assessment and intervention, the intersection of trauma and mental health factors on mealtime engagement and enjoyment, healthy weight for children with special healthcare needs, as well as developing and sustaining role emerging FW experiences.Note: We use the acronym "AAPI" throughout this episode in reference to the Asian Pacific American Islander community. Resources discussed on this episode: Stop AAPI Hate - https://stopaapihate.org/ AAPI Women Lead - https://www.imreadymovement.org/ Asian Pacific Heritage Month information - https://asianpacificheritage.gov/Coalition of Occupational Therapy Advocates for Diversity (COTAD) - www.cotad.orgCOTAD Conversations: Occupation, Invisibility, and anti-Asian Racism - see recorded talk with Dr. Karen Park on COTAD's IG account @COTAD_diversity (March 29, 2021)Connect with Dr. Park - Via IG @karenparkotd

Jennifer Renker, OTR/L, is an occupational therapist who works as a travel therapist, traveling across the U.S. to provide services to in clinics that are short staffed and in need of assistance. She graduated with a Master’s degree in Occupational Therapy in 2017 from Utica College in Utica, NY. Jennifer has extensive experience working with people with a variety of disabilities and challenges in different settings that has helped inform her as a therapist. Prior to going to OT school, she earned an Associate’s degree in massage therapy from Suny Morrisville in Morrisville, NY. Jennifer was drawn to OT because of its holistic nature and ability to look at all of a client’s needs to better assist each person. The fluctuating and changing needs of clients in both of these past settings has allowed Jennifer to become more adaptable and creative with the ability to focus on her client’s immediate needs, while allowing her to excel in the changing environments of a travel therapist. She enjoys spending time on her crafting hobbies which include jewelry-making, diamond painting, silver clay creations, and epoxy resin items. Jennifer has recently melded her two passions for crafting and OT together into a YouTube channel called The Crafting OT Studio that was launched December 2020. The purpose of this channel is to make crafting and leisure activities accessible to everyone no matter what challenges they may have. The channel is a combination of crafting videos as well as suggestions and ideas on how to adapt each craft for easier access and completion. The videos are fun and informative. Make sure to check her out on her YouTube channel as well as on FaceBook, Instagram, and TikTok @The Crafting OT Studio!

Nancy Peters, OTR/L, has been an occupational therapist for over 45 years. She attended the University of Buffalo at a time when there were not many occupational therapy schools in the country and the profession was fairly young. Upon graduation, she was offered a job at one of her fieldworks, the Buffalo VA Hospital, and worked there for 3 years until she left at the birth of her first child. Her next job was at Robert Warner Rehabilitation Center, providing therapeutic services for children. From there she became a school-based OT at Akron Central Schools. Nancy "retired" from the school job only to be called back into service at Summit Rehabilitation. Each job change required some study and continuing education to get up to speed with the different populations she was working with, but her OT background of looking at the whole person and helping them solve obstacles to their "occupation" made each job very fulfilling. Currently Nancy is working as a partner in DNS Designs, a company of which she is a co-founder along with her son and family friend, both of whom are engineers. The trio invented a product called Magzip and developed the brands are Ankhgear and Magzip using the motto "Innovations to Improve Life." Nancy has certifications in Infant Massage and Family Bonding and in Eastwest Somatics for Movement Therapy. She has taken multiple levels of CranioSacral Therapy, all levels of Reiki, Evaluation and Treatment of Sensory Processing Disorders, LomiLomi, Redefining Health from the Maryland University of Integrative Health, and numerous continuing education courses in diverse areas of study. She is a lifelong learner who delights in new information that can positively impact people's lives. On this episode, Nancy shares about her path into the profession of occupational therapy almost 5 decades ago and the many formative experiences she has had over the course of her career as an OT practitioner. She talks about her business venture, the beauty of universal design, and the development of the products like MagZip. As a special perk for listeners of the On The Air podcast, Ankgear is offering a 15% discount on anything on the website Ankhgear.com. The code for that is ONTHEAIR15.To connect with Nancy:Email: nancy@dnsdesignsllc.com IG: @otrnancyFB page: @AnkhgearWebsite: www.Ankhgear.com and www.dnsdesignsllc.com

Danielle Lorenz is a PhD candidate in the Department of Educational Policy Studies at the University of Alberta which is located in amiskwaciwâskahikan, which is what is currently called Edmonton, Alberta. Danielle's doctoral research focuses on settler colonialism in Alberta's K-12 education system. She is also an Associate Editor for the Canadian Journal of Disability Studies.Hannah Sullivan Facknitz is a graduate researcher and teaching assistant at the University of British Columbia. She was born and raised as a settler in Harrisonburg, Virginia (occupied Monacan land) where she also did her bachelor of arts at James Madison University. In the middle of her time at JMU, she was diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus, developing organ damage shortly thereafter and dropped out of college eight weeks from graduating. Now, with Danielle Lorenz, she's hoping the CJDS Cripping Pandemic Learning resources can help protect disabled students in higher ed by empowering instructors to prioritize accessibility preemptively.On this episode, we talk about the set of resources Danielle and Hannah have created and made available on CJDS Cripping Pandemic Resourcing, the ways pandemic learning makes learners with disabilities particularly vulnerable, and why educators should be more inclusive through preemptive planning to support learners with disabilities. Access the Cripping Pandemic Learning in Higher Education here: http://bit.ly/CPR2021 Connect with Danielle and Hannah:Twitter - @daniellelorenz and @HannahntheWolfBlog - https://hannahandthewolf.wordpress.com/