Skip to content

NYU Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development

apply now request info contact

Department of Occupational Therapy

spotlight

The Official Blog of The Department of Occupational Therapy

Links

Main menu

  • Department Homepage
  • Programs
  • Faculty and Staff
  • Students
  • Alumni
  • Publications
  • Research

Monthly Archives: April 2014

Post navigation

Life on Wheels- Gary Karp Visits NYU

Physical and Occupational Therapy students pose with Mitchell Batavia, Chair of the Physical Therapy Department (third from right) and Gary Karp (center) and after his speaking engagement where he talked about life after rehabilitation and the important roles therapists play.

The NYU Council for the Study of Disability hosted a special talk by Gary Karp, titled ‘Life on Wheels: Living Fully with Mobility Issues’ on April 10th. Karp is a Spinal Cord Injury Hall of Fame educator and has been a wheelchair user since injuring his spinal cord in 1973 at the age of 18. He has written several books on dealing with disability including, ‘Choosing a Wheelchair –A guide for Optimal Independence’ and ‘Life on Wheels- The A-Z Guide to Living Fully with Mobility Issues’ and more.  At the event, Karp spoke about the significance of resilience and activism in the face of traumatic injury, and the emerging paradigms of modern disability. “It is important for our students to meet people with disabilities who live their lives with the same successes, interests, and goals that we all have,” said  Anita Perr, a Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Occupational Therapy, who is also a part of the NYU Council for the Study of Disability. “Education needs to focus on participation and satisfaction, rather than on dysfunction. These programs are a way for students to meet people that they might not meet during their day-to-day education at NYU,” she added.

The talk was co-sponsored by the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation, the NYU Steinhardt Departments’ of Occupational and Physical Therapy, NYU Poly Integrated Digital Media, NYU Tisch’s Interactive Telecommunications Program (ITP), and the Ability Lab at MAGNET.

Posted by <a href="https://research.steinhardt.nyu.edu/site/spotlight/byline/manasi-vaidya/" rel="tag">Manasi Vaidya</a> on April 28, 2014 | Posted in Department News, Students | Leave a comment |

Looking at disability through a different lens

Images by Alex Leff (AlexGhana.blogspot.com)

A cohort of eighteen NYU students learned how disability is viewed in Ghana during a January Intersession course, ‘Disability in Global Context’, taught by the NYU Steinhardt Department of Occupational Therapy at the NYU Accra campus. Led by Anita Perr, Clinical Associate Professor at the NYU Steinhardt Department of Occupational Therapy, the students  represented the wide variety of  programs at NYU Steinhardt including: Early Childhood and Childhood Education, Special Education, Educational Leadership, International Education, Occupational Therapy, Communicative Sciences and Disorders, Drama Therapy and Music Therapy. Students from the International Public and Nonprofit Management and Policy program at NYU Wagner and the Interactive Telecommunications program at NYU Tisch School of Arts also participated.

Students investigated the issues of physical access as well as environmental attributes like noise and crowds, in various settings such as the Makola market and the Accra business district. Visits were arranged to health, disability, and vocational training centers, and to general education settings where students learned about the services that are available to people with disabilities in Accra.

Kids paying close attention at La Enobal School

A series of guest lectures by local Ghanaians augmented the site visits to allow students to learn about religion, family life, and non-profit organizations in Ghana. Prior to visiting an autism center, a school for deaf children, and a typical public school, Professor Akosua Anyidoho, Director of NYU Accra, provided an overview of the educational system in Ghana.

Elmina Slave castle

Students learn about the treatment of African men and women who were taken into slavery at the seemingly picturesque setting of Elmina Slave castle

 

It wasn’t all work and no play for the students. They participated in a number of non-academic activities as well. The group traveled to a national park and hiked the canopy walk, visited a wildlife refuge and learned how traditional African beads are made. A visit to the historic site of the slave ‘castle’, Elmina, proved to be very memorable.

Since the students came from different academic disciplines and had different life experiences, they were able to learn from each other and consequently meld into a cohesive group. Their willingness to share their own experiences and perspectives helped them to build on their interests, by exploring new ways of thinking about their own fields in relation to disability.

 

Posted by <a href="https://research.steinhardt.nyu.edu/site/spotlight/byline/manasi-vaidya/" rel="tag">Manasi Vaidya</a> on April 18, 2014 | Posted in Department News, Students | Leave a comment |

Frieda J. Behlen Scholarship Awardees for 2014 Announced

2014 Behlen Scholarship Awardees

(From left to right) Megan McLoughlin, Lauren Knapp, Lindsay Heneage

The NYU Steinhardt Department of Occupational Therapy is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2014 Frieda J. Behlen Occupational Therapy Scholarships. This year’s awardees are Lindsay Heneage, Megan McLoughlin, and Lauren Knapp. These three exceptional students will each receive a $3500 tuition award for their summer 2014 semester.

Lindsay Heneage is interested in pursuing hand therapy and the effect of upper extremity injuries on functioning.  Last year, a trip to Ghana proved to be a powerful experience and solidified her aim of providing OT services to people with disabilities in areas where they aren’t easily available. She maintained a blog, which she shared with her classmates to chronicle her entire experience in Ghana, through stories and photos. Lindsay also represented the OT Department by participating in the Race for Cure last year. Interacting with patients and their families during the race only reinforced her zeal for being an occupational therapist.

Megan McLoughlin is passionate about her interest in serving members of the armed forces who have returned home from active duty. Once she graduates, she hopes to work in a military hospital where she can use her professional knowledge to help patients gain independence in their lives. While she wants to focus on understanding their physical disabilities, she is also interested in learning about and treating their underlying mental health issues. Megan serves as the secretary for the Class of 2015.  Additionally, she has played various roles in coordinating events like the Toys for Tots program and the Food for Thought fundraiser, and has helped raise money for a Multiple Sclerosis fundraiser.

Lauren Knapp graduated cum laude with an honors degree in Exercise Physiology that set up a foundation for her interest in Occupational Therapy.  Lauren is mainly interested in Pediatrics, but the program at NYU OT has helped her develop a curiosity for Neurological conditions and Orthopedics as well. Lauren plans to pursue a career in pediatric OT and looks forward to conducting evidence based research to better understand the field. She also hopes to combine her longtime love for figure skating with her professional knowledge to create a ‘Learn to Skate’ program for children and adults with disabilities.

The Frieda J. Behlen Occupational Therapy Scholarship is an endowed fund created principally by gifts from alumni of the occupational therapy programs at New York University.  Income generated by the endowment is awarded annually to students who demonstrate superior academic achievement as well as financial need.  With growth in the fund’s balance from new gifts, the amount given out has been able to increase and will continue to do so.  The award takes the form of a tuition aid applied towards summer courses.  Professional Program second year and Post-Professional Programs students are eligible to apply.

The fund was named to honor the memory of Frieda J. Behlen, founder and longtime chair of NYU’s Department of Occupational Therapy. Ms. Behlen was known for never hesitating to find monies, even if from her own pocketbook, to enable deserving students to complete their studies.

To contribute to this and other Department of Occupational Therapy funds please visit http://www.nyu.edu/giving/.

Posted by <a href="https://research.steinhardt.nyu.edu/site/spotlight/byline/manasi-vaidya/" rel="tag">Manasi Vaidya</a> on April 15, 2014 | Posted in Alumni, Department News, Students | Leave a comment |

Closing the Word Gap

First year OT students attending the R.E.A.D program

(From left to right) Charlene Woo, Nancy Carraciolo, Deborah Wan, Madeley Cepeda, Shantel Isaac and Fathima Mohamed

Research has shown that lower income students have a smaller vocabulary than their higher income peers. This word gap leaves such students at an educational disadvantage before they even reach the age of three, and continues throughout their lives.

After reading ‘The Early Catastrophe’ by Betty Hart and Todd R. Risley, which highlights the correlation between income discrepancy and reading levels, first year M.S. student Shantel Isaac developed the R.E.A.D. (Reading Equals an Active Desire to learn) program to help address this problem. I was able to join her and five other students from the first year class, on a trip to South Jamaica Queens over Spring Break. As a part of the program, we read books to groups of 4-5 year olds at the Jamaica Queens Public Library. We chose books like ‘Thank You Bear’ and ‘Green Eggs and Ham’ and read them out loud with the children, helping them pronounce the words they didn’t know. Our hope was that by reading the words out loud, these children could improve their vocabulary and take small steps in shrinking the word gap. It was a great afternoon full of laughter, fun and energy and it ended with the library letting us know that they were more than happy to have us back. Next up? Brooklyn!

A special thank you to Lisa Kail of NYU’s Office of Civic Management who provided us with metro cards and snacks for the children and to Jasmin Amely of the South Jamaica Queens Public Library.

Posted by <a href="https://research.steinhardt.nyu.edu/site/spotlight/byline/charlene-woo/" rel="tag">Charlene Woo</a> on April 11, 2014 | Posted in Students | Leave a comment |

Post navigation

Search SpOTlight

Recent Posts

  • Kristie Patten Koenig and Colleagues Awarded National Science Foundation Grant to Expand Autism Inclusion Programming
  • NYU Ability Project Explores Inclusive Creativity
  • Kristie Patten Koenig Wins Grant to Promote Neurodiversity through Film
  • New Faculty Spotlight: Amy Hurst
  • NYU OT at the 2019 AOTA Conference in New Orleans

Categories

  • Alumni
  • Class Notes
  • Department News
  • Faculty
  • Research
  • Students
  • Technology
  • Uncategorized

Archives

  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • July 2018
  • April 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • December 2013
Like NYU OT on Facebook
 
This site, and all its contents, are Copyright © 2019 by New York University | All rights reserved | Accessibility
NYU Steinhardt - Occupational Therapy | 82 Washington Square East, 6th Floor | New York, NY 10003