OT Practice with Children and Youth

Catalog description

The focus of this course is on the evaluation process and foundations of occupational therapy services for children, youth, and their families in various settings and models of service delivery. Students explore the pediatric OT processes and tools; policies and legislation influencing practice; primary conditions encountered; and the roles of the occupational therapist in pediatric practice. This course emphasizes theoretical concepts related to human occupation and performance in social, spiritual, and emotional contexts of children and youth. The course will also initiate the students' appreciation and value of community participation through active and inclusive living through fieldwork. The student will actively engage in the course through multiple learning processes including collaborations with peers, community stakeholders, and faculty; discussion and reflection of the congruence and discord of knowledge and experience; and self-directed learning through individual and group problem solving of individual and community needs. This course will facilitate a rigorous culture of scholarly inquiry as students begin to challenge beliefs and thoughts in occupational therapy theory and practice. As the student gains knowledge and experience with the occupational therapy theoretical and assessment process for children and youth, the student will articulate a sense of professional identity and responsibility to peers, faculty, the community, the profession, and to society.