OTAC Celebrates OT Month!

April's OTAC Fact

OTAC has regularly worked with the governor’s office to declare April as Occupational Therapy Month in Colorado since the mid 1990’s.

These proclamations have been signed by Roy Romer (1987-99), Bill Owens (1999-07), Bill Ritter (2007-11), John Hickenlooper (2011-19) and Jared Polis (2019-present).

A special thanks to our OTAC Historian and past OTAC President, Pam DiPasquale-Lehnerz, for putting together history facts for this series!

Events 
April 7th: Hill Day - click here to see pictures & how it went!
April 8th: OTAC Webinar Series
April 9th: Aspire Webinar Series
April 18th: Parkinson's Foundation Walk - click here to learn more!
April 23rd: AOTA Inspire
April 30th: Northern District Happy Hour
Check our event calendar for more details!

OTAC Members Celebrating OT Month!

Fitness to Drive - clients celebrating OT Month with feedback on how clinicians have impacted their lives!
Submitted by: Terri Cassidy, OTD, OTR/L, CDRS

For the past three years, my dog Dezzy and I have provided Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) within an adult inpatient psychiatry setting. This work has been deeply meaningful, not only for me as an OTP, but for the patients I serve, many of whom are hospitalized on a locked unit for extended periods, sometimes lasting several months to over a year.

AAT offers patients a unique and powerful therapeutic experience, fostering a sense of safety, attachment, and unconditional acceptance. It serves as a meaningful source of emotional and social support, while also promoting de-escalation and the development of self-soothing and calming strategies. Additionally, AAT enhances motivation and engagement in treatment, which can be especially impactful in higher-acuity psychiatric settings (Reference: Professional Therapy Dogs of Colorado, King-Bussard, 2018).

Beyond patient care, Dezzy and I also provide support to healthcare staff through Denver Health’s support staff center, extending the benefits of AAT to employees navigating the demands of their roles.

Within occupational therapy practice, AAT serves as a valuable adjunct to intervention by supporting the discussion around ADL habits and routines, promoting safety during functional mobility, and facilitating coping skill development through sensory integration and social participation.

I have also recently welcomed a 4-month-old puppy into my family, named Dolly (who shares 9 out of 13 breeds with Dezzy but of course looks drastically different!) with the hope of training her to become a future therapy dog and continue expanding this meaningful work.

Just a few quotes from patients:

“I was going to go get an anxiety medication before this but now I don’t need one because of you!”

“I didn’t think my day could be good, but it is now.”

“Very calming.”

“Soothing.”

“It takes your mind off things.”

Because I can’t take pictures of patients or my unit, please enjoy a few pictures of Dezzy in the staff support center! Plus one in a field of flowers during a backpack trip (not AI!) last summer and one with his new sister Dolly whom he adores, but I think he’s ready for Dolly to lose her puppy teeth...so am I!

Submitted by: Dana Kriendler, OTD, OTR/L

Pima Medical Institute had the pleasure of welcoming OTAC's Executive Director, Meghan Weber, as our keynote speaker for the spring graduation ceremony. Meghan delivered an incredible speech to graduates of various healthcare professions welcoming them to their chosen fields. The OTA program at Pima celebrated 10 grads at the ceremony and we are so grateful they were able to see just how far they can go in their careers, thanks to Meghan. What an amazing way to celebrate OT month!

Submitted by: Caroline Stertz, MS, OTR/L & Kaily Nix Wood, RD/LD, OTD, OTR/L