Valparaiso University Occupational Therapy

Each Friday, our OT Valpo students share meaningful occupations to spread awareness of the power of occupation and the role of OT practitioners.

"I spent my morning volunteering at the Food Bank of Northwest Indiana. I worked on assisting an assembly line for packaging bags of various food items to be delivered to local food pantries. This occupation benefits Porter County residents experiencing food insecurity. Access to healthy foods will positively impact the health and quality of life for these individuals".

What a hands-on day it was! Our students recently dove into soft tissue techniques at our demonstration day.

Huge thanks to our amazing guest speakers:
🔹 Dr. Joseph Sharaya, OTD, OTR/L, CHT, for breaking down edema management
🔹 Dr. Jazmine Mack, OTD, MS, OTR/L, CLT, CWT, for the hands-on demo of manual lymphatic drainage and compression wrapping

Students also got to practice cupping and kinesiotaping on each other, learning by doing! 🙌
and

Art is an amazing activity for young children and their caregivers. It provides opportunities to develop a variety of skills including fine motor, sensory processing, self-determination, and socialization. Occupational therapy practitioners often use art activities within our sessions, and we encourage families to create art together at home!

Valparaiso University Occupational Therapy is proud to be a Talking is Teaching partner and all of our students complete Trusted Messenger training with First Things First Porter County. This partnership is a great example of our commitment to community collaboration.

Art is all about imagination and creativity! Encourage your child’s imagination by giving them time and space to explore colors, shapes, and ideas in their own unique way. Ask open-ended questions like “What are you creating?” or “What does this remind you of?” to help them think and express themselves freely.

Each Friday, OT Valpo students share meaningful occupations to spread awareness and the power of occupation and the role of OT practitioners.

"My meaningful occupation for the day was making a small healthy, sweet treat. I completed this during a study break in order to relieve stress for a while".

A survey study published in the Journal of Hand Therapy from 2020 identified most student in occupational therapy programs make 2 to 5 orthoses (commonly called splints) for various upper extremity conditions. Here are Valparaiso University, our first year students make AT LEAST 8 orthoses during their orthopedic practice based class prior to their level one rotation.

Special shout out to our friends from Lakeshore Bone and Joint for guest speaking on functional casting this semester!



Original study:
Schofield, K. A., & Schwartz, D. A. (2020). Teaching orthotic design and fabrication content in occupational therapy curricula: Faculty perspectives. Journal of Hand Therapy, 33(1), 119-126. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jht.2018.08.003

Each Friday, OT Valpo students share meaningful occupations to spread awareness of the power of occupation and the role of OT practitioners.

"Going for walks outside is one of my favorite health management occupations. Going for walks is very important to me because it helps both my physical and mental health. I love being able to get out of my house and go for walks around my neighborhood, especially after doing a lot of homework or studying. Being out in nature helps relieve my stress and enhances my mood. Here is a photo of some deer that I took from a walk that I had gone on"!

Each Friday, OT Valpo students share meaningful occupations to spread awareness of the power of occupation and the role of OT practitioners.

"Softball wasn’t only a game. It was where I found teamwork and how to believe in
myself. This sport is where I grew up and is a mental game. It taught me that if you are
thinking about the past and how you could have changed what has happened, it can
stop you from doing better in the future".

Happy Fourth of July!❤️🤍💙

Today, we celebrate the freedoms, opportunities, and communities that bring us together. As occupational therapy practitioners, we are reminded of the importance of helping individuals participate in the meaningful activities and roles that make life fulfilling.

Wishing everyone a safe, happy, and healthy Independence Day filled with family, friends, and celebration!

Each Friday, the OT Valpo students share meaningful occupations to spread awareness of the power of occupation, and the role of OT practitioners.

"my occupation is running the Chicago Marathon. This occupation is very important to me, as running is a passion of mine and allows me to spend time with my mom".

Each Friday, the OT Valpo students share meaningful occupations to spread awareness of the power of occupation, and the role of OT practitioners.

"I went mini golfing with my boyfriend at Action Territory in Wisconsin. Golfing
is a shared hobby of ours. Mini golf brings me closer to my family, friends, and boyfriend. Doing
this together allows us to have a great time and participate in healthy competition. This leisure
occupation is very fun and relaxing after a long week".