April / May / June • Issue 2 • 2019
Parkland College OTA Students Lending a Hand, continued from Page 22
her favorite part about L.I.F.E. clinic is, she stated, “My
favorite part of L.I.F.E. Clinic is watching the 1st year
students thrive in this safe and interactive environment.
Each year the students learn how to communicate with
clients, and how to use creativity in treatment. One year
the student designed and developed an adaptive device
to help a client pour juice out of her heavy glass jar! The
next year, the students helped design a 3D adaptive device
for a toothbrush” (M. Roberts, personal communication,
September 19, 2018). The students enjoyed the opportunity
to learn and give back to our community.
Garden Hills Elementary School Homework Club
is a twice-weekly after school tutoring program, pairing
select 3rd - 5th grade school children with student-tutors
from Parkland College throughout the school year. The
program began in 2007 and is still successfully running
today. Anyone at Parkland may become a tutor in this
program, so other disciplines were represented besides the
OTA Program. Sessions typically take place in the library
of a local grade school, offering a quiet space for reading
and homework as well as child-appropriate seating. At the
beginning of each session, the teacher guided the children
through a mindfulness practice. Often, this consisted of
sitting quietly in a semi-circle at the front of the room where
she would strike a singing bowl or a gong. Other times, she
brought in pieces of chocolate, and had everyone take time
to meditate on the taste. The mindfulness practices were
kept short and allowed for a transition into Homework
Club. After mindfulness, the children met with their tutor
for the rest of the session. Snacks are provided, such as milk,
juice, and crackers. Readings from books that are chosen by
the students are done first. If time was left at the end of the
session, the children could ask for help on their take-home
homework.
As stated above, OT can be incorporated in community-
based settings to help people perform everyday activities.
Such settings are an important part of the profession due
to the opportunity to spread awareness of OT and the
profession’s role in the community. Introducing the first
year OTA students to these community-based settings is
instrumental in ensuring competent COTAs. Therefore, the
Parkland OTA program is contributing to OT profession
awareness, continued learning, and resources for the
community.
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