MY OT Journey

Teepa’s experience in neurological impairment care spans both her personal and professional worlds. Early in her life, her grandfather moved into her family’s house due to his changing abilities. However, at the time words such as eccentric then senile were used. Later on, she helped provide support for other family members with various forms of brain change. As a teenager, Teepa started by volunteering with a group in order to work with children with various developmental disabilities. This group included her much younger sister, who had developed an inoperable brain tumor by age three, leaving her with lasting severe developmental issues. By the time she started college at Duke University, Teepa had been a nursing assistant, before there was a certification, and a volunteer in day programs and hospitals near campus.

TEEPA AT GRADUATION

After graduating Magna Cum Laude from Duke University with a degree in zoology, Teepa worked as a night-time desk clerk at the Carolina Inn in Chapel Hill, NC. She then went from volunteering at a day program that served elders and people with developmental disabilities to being a full-time assistant there, while she explored what she wanted to do professionally. In 1978, she entered the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill’s (UNC-CH) brand-new Occupational Therapy (OT) Master’s Program and was in its first graduating class in 1980. She gave her first speech to over 500 OTs in San Antonio, Texas, under the direction of Joan Rogers. She finished her 30-minute presentation in under 20 minutes. Lots of nervous energy, to say the least, but a great way to get over her fear of speaking in a hurry. Shortly after that, she published her first article with Joan in the official journal of the American Occupational Therapy Association. After graduation, Teepa consulted in a continuing care retirement community, two local home health companies, and a local nursing home for two years until she began working with UNC.

Teepa was an interdisciplinary team member and clinical associate professor at the UNC-CH School of Medicine's Program on Aging, and a coordinator and care manager for CAP Medicaid waiver services in North Carolina. She has served in a wide variety of leadership and advisory positions in professional organizations at both the state and national levels, including the Alzheimer's Association, Alzheimer's Foundation of America, AOTA, and NBCOT. She’s currently working with a number of national and international projects and organizations. She is currently on the board of the US Dementia Action Alliance, the Alzheimers Support Network in Naples, Florida, and has been asked to join the Advisory Board of Dementia Alliance International, led by Kate Swaffer.

Teepa is an advocate for those living with dementia and has made it her personal mission to help families and professionals better understand how it feels to be living with the challenges and changes that accompany various forms of the condition so that life can be lived fully and well. Her company, Positive Approach to Care, was founded in 2005 and offers education to family and professional care providers all over the world. Her training, services, and products are available through video, online education, and in-person trainings and consulting.

In today’s podcast, show host Dr. Robin Akselrud, OTD, OTR/L is joined by Dr. Sherry Smith, Ph.D, Director of Academic Success at TrueLearn, Dr. Sue Iliff, PhD, OTR/L, Assistant Professor and Capstone Coordinator at Belmont University and Miriam Vanbemmelen, OTS , a senior graduate student at LIU-Brooklyn’s MOT program in Brooklyn, NY.

TrueLearn is an online learning platform offering thousands of students access to the SmartBanks and SmartTools needed to prepare for their high-stakes exams including the OT Board Exam*. Not your average Qbank, Truelearn's OT SmartBank utilizes learning and cognition science, granting occupational therapy students access to over 700 board-style questions, detailed correct and incorrect answer explanations, references for further study on every question, and personalized analytics to help you study smarter! 

My OT Journey Podcast listeners SAVE 30% on your OT SmartBank subscription with promo code MyOTJourney. Buy and save now, wait until you are ready to start studying to activate (up to one year later)!

TrueLearn: https://truelearn.com/occupational-therapy/otr-exam/

with promo code: MyOtJourney at checkout or by simply clicking here https://content.truelearn.com/MyOTJourneyDiscount.

*NBCOT® and OTR® are registered trademarks owned by National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy, Inc. TrueLearn is not affiliated with or endorsed by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy, Inc

Credentials: Brittany Perez, OTD, OTR/L

Host: Michael Roff, OTS.

Stony Brook University Class of 2021

Instagram: @MikeRoff02

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/mikeroff

Show Notes: 

Brittany Perez, OTD, OTR/L is the Director of Outreach and Engagement at the IDEA Center in Buffalo. Her passion for Universal Design sparked at Washington University in St. Louis, and she now researches how to transform customary design practices into conscientious, equity-focused methodologies that improve access for all. Additionally, Brittany is an engaging and enthusiastic speaker that is sure to motivate you to bring Universal Design into your home practice!

Resources

For more information about Universal Design, be sure to check out the IDEA Center's free resources at their website: http://idea.ap.buffalo.edu/. Brittany shares her personal advice, too: start small within your area of expertise and keep learning about diverse life experiences!

Additional Universal Design Resources are available here:

What is Universal Design? The 8 Goals of Universal Design? 

Innovative Solutions for Universal Design (isUD)

www.universaldesign.com

Thank you so much for listening to the podcast!

Credentials: Brittany Perez, OTD, OTR/L

Host: Michael Roff, OTS.

Stony Brook University Class of 2021

Instagram: @MikeRoff02

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/mikeroff

Show Notes: 

Brittany Perez, OTD, OTR/L is the Director of Outreach and Engagement at the IDEA Center in Buffalo. Her passion for Universal Design sparked at Washington University in St. Louis, and she now researches how to transform customary design practices into conscientious, equity-focused methodologies that improve access for all. Additionally, Brittany is an engaging and enthusiastic speaker that is sure to motivate you to bring Universal Design into your home practice!

Resources

For more information about Universal Design, be sure to check out the IDEA Center's free resources at their website: http://idea.ap.buffalo.edu/. Brittany shares her personal advice, too: start small within your area of expertise and keep learning about diverse life experiences!

Additional Universal Design Resources are available here:

What is Universal Design? The 8 Goals of Universal Design? 

Innovative Solutions for Universal Design (isUD)

www.universaldesign.com

Thank you so much for listening to the podcast!

Alison Mayfield- Hofstra University

Meghan Almon- Tufts University

Interviewee: Allie Salamone M.S., OTRL, MBA

Allie lives in Chicago Illinois and has been an occupational therapist for 7 years. She has worked in many different settings and currently works in a hospital in the city part time while also working for her Church as an event coordinator. She has a passion for helping others and this passion led her to create her organization "Allie the OT" which is a non profit that services local members of her community. The goal of Allie the OT is to provide medical equipment and supplies to those in need who cannot afford what they need to be as independent as possible. She also aims to educate patients and family members on disabilities and adapting lifestyles post injury. 

Dr. Glen Gillen's Path to "Choosing Wisely" Glen Gillen, EdD, OTR, FAOTA Professor and Program Director, Columbia University's College of Physicians and Surgeons https://www.choosingwisely.org/ Elanor Clark Slagle Lecture: https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2013.676002

Host: Michael Roff, OTS.

Stony Brook University Class of 2021

Instagram: @MikeRoff02

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/mikeroff

Hosts:

Garison Arinder, OTS University of Mississippi Medical Center 

Nicole Talbot,OTAS Community College of Rhode Island 

Eric Knox is an occupational therapist at the T.K. Martin Center for Technology and Disability.  Eric graduated from the University of Mississippi Medical Center with his Master's degree in Occupational Therapy. Eric works primarily in driver's rehabilitation and vehicle modification but he also works with computer accessibility and assists with seating and mobility. Eric is a member of the Association of Driver Rehabilitation Specialists (ADED) and is now a Certified Driver Rehabilitation Specialist. Not only does Eric work with people with assistive technology needs, he is a wheelchair user himself and an avid hunter and fisherman.

Dr. Thompson received her undergraduate degree in Occupational Therapy at the University of Illinois and earned her DrOT from Nova Southeastern University. She also earned a Master’s degree in Business Administration and Management from Webster University in St. Louis. Dr. Thompson was formerly a Team Leader of Occupational Therapy and Speech Pathology at the Shriners Hospital for Children of Tampa, FL and her work experience includes service with the Peace Corps in Ecuador and Venezuela. She has significant experience in SI and NDT-Pediatrics, and has written numerous articles for a variety of Occupational Therapy and Orthopedic publications. Her areas of concentration include health care programs for Hispanic populations and the role of occupational therapy in human trafficking. She has been an instructor for TherapyEd for over 20 years and has provided individual tutoring to students as well. In 1995 she received the Award of Excellence from the Florida Occupational Therapy Association.