OT Dude Occupational Therapy Podcast

In this episode of the OT Dude Podcast, we explore the July 2024 OT Dude Salary Survey Report. Discover the mean and median hourly rates for occupational therapists in various settings, including mental health, home health, long-term care, skilled nursing facilities, and hand therapy. Learn how different states' living costs impact financial stability and debt repayment timelines. Whether you're a new grad or a seasoned therapist, gain valuable insights to help navigate your OT career. Tune in for detailed salary breakdowns and expert advice. Let's Get Functional!

Learning the Allen Cognitive Levels, let alone the 26 modes can be hard. I struggled with this and don't know if I  even remembered them all before my NBCOT Exam! Thankfully–this episode explains and helps you memorize the ACL's with Disney movies, characters, songs, and themes. After you have listened to this episode, quiz your knowledge with our bonus PodQuiz on ACLs with these Disney themes. Visit otdude.com to join the Club and quiz yourself as well. "Let it go, let it go–functional!"

In this episode of the OT Dude Podcast, Jeff explores the powerful role siblings play in supporting children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Dive into the benefits of sibling involvement, including how conflicts and negative behaviors can serve as valuable learning opportunities. Learn practical strategies for parents and therapists to turn sibling fights into moments of growth, teaching essential social skills like empathy, communication, and conflict resolution. Tune in to discover real-life examples and insights on fostering a supportive and inclusive environment for both neurotypical and autistic siblings.

Study and review on the go with this episode of our popular PodQuiz on Cerebral Palsy. Looking for the answer rationales? Visit otdude.com for more content like this and to gain access to the answer rationale version, which explains why each answer choice is correct or incorrect. Good luck studying!

This PodQuiz episode reviews an important concept for OT practice – the therapeutic use of self. Check it out!

In this episode, we go over the research, tips, and a case study about how to connect with toddlers in pediatric occupational therapy practice. Don't miss this one as there are lots of nuggets and insights!

We have two special guests in this special practice area episode of the podcast. Naomi Folkerts is an occupational therapy student attending Creighton University’s distance program based out of Denver, CO. Her doctoral capstone is with Health Promotion Partners, a mobile outpatient and driving rehabilitation company. This capstone is focused on developing skills in a specialized area of practice as well as increasing awareness through community outreach and online presence. Naomi is joined by, Terri Cassidy, an occupational therapist, Certified Driver Rehabilitation Specialist, and the owner of Health Promotion Partners. Learn about the misconceptions about driver rehab and how you, the generalist OT, can play a role in promoting the independence of our clients for community mobility from recommendations to screening to referrals.

In this episode, Kelsey shares her story about how she balanced life and overcame her obstacles with Crohn's Disease, finances, and early motherhood to be successful in a rigorous occupational therapy program. Kelsey is an inspiration of how things don't always work out and to take baby steps towards your goals!

My special guest in this episode is Ricky Ramirez, OTD, OTR/L, an instructor at the RUSH University Department of Occupational Therapy. We discussed his published research with Latinx cancer survivors, the implications of this research, and how to provide OT to underserved populations such as the LGBTQ+ community. You will also learn about some useful holistic resources that can be used for these communities. Check the show notes on http://otdude.com/podcast for the resources mentioned in this episode.

Are you interested in school-based OT as a therapist? In this episode, Alicia Stufoso and Lisa Nye join us as we discuss how school-based OT has changed, what it is currently like, and how we may need to rethink our approach to this setting. Alicia and Lisa maintain private practices as co-owners of Careerfull LLC, an AOTA-approved provider and educational services company. They also coordinate an annual conference for school-based OTs, called The Best Practices in School-Based OT Annual Conference. We learn about the benefits of attending this conference and why so many OTs find it such a valuable experience.