Occupational Therapy Service
Service Partnership with St. Elizabeth Catholic School and Pathways Academy School
The Rockhurst department of Occupational Therapy collaborates with St. Elizabeth Catholic School and Pathways Academy School to provide learning experience opportunities for children ages 3 to 5 years old. These community-based Rockhurst service programs strive to support and promote the developmental milestones of children as they engage in play, student learning, and social participation through play and group led activities. Under the guidance of Professor Ketti Johnson Coffelt, OTD, OTR/L, the OT graduate students work with teachers and students to address the unique needs of these schools. These programs are held on designated Fridays throughout the academic school year. All students are supervised by members of the academic OT faculty and staff.
At Pathways Academy, the OT student coordinators work with two Pre-Kindergarten Transitional teachers using a consultation model to address the curriculum and learning needs of each classroom for the preparation of students entering Kindergarten the following year. The OT coordinators and faculty mentor collaborate with teachers to develop student learning by providing resources and activities for developing hand skills, use of classroom tools (scissors and pencils), visual perceptions skills, and cognition skills. The Pathways student coordinators also offer suggestions for sensory concerns and environmental modifications in these classrooms.
At St. Elizabeth Early Childhood Center, the OT graduate students participate as coordinators and volunteers in implementing direct service in group activities with Pre-School and Pre-Kindergarten students. These group sessions address a broad range of developmental skills including sensory motor, visual perceptual, behavioral instruction, reflex integration, hand skills, fine and gross motor coordination, as well as skill areas suggested by teachers. Additionally, student coordinators work with Kindergarten students in smaller groups to address pre-academic and literacy skills to support classroom performance. The OT student coordinators gain experience in scheduling and coordinate with teaching staff at St. Elizabeth's, planning for group sessions, and creating a semester summary of group sessions for teachers and parents. Parents provide consent for their child to participate in these service learning sessions.
Service Partnership with Truman Medical Center - Behavioral Health
Graduate OT students participate in the development and implementation of therapeutic group sessions with members at a modified mental health clubhouse. Through this experience, students have the opportunity to learn more about severe and persistent mental illness and the use of occupation to promote recovery-centered care.
Service Learning Partnerships
Each spring, the Rockhurst Occupational Therapy first students, partner with a local agencies committed to providing care for individuals with special needs or disabilities. These service-learning partnership provide multiple learning and service opportunities for students. We are grateful for the local agencies who welcome the Rockhurst OT students in: American Stroke Foundation, Hope Care Center, Parkinson's Foundation of the Heartland, Developing Potential, Inc., Midnight Farms, Northland Therapeutic Riding Center, and the Mission Project.
