Amy OT

I have pledged to volunteer in Nicaragua for 6 months at a special needs school. Why? When? Is it safe? Do you even speak Spanish??  Why Central America? I got my first taste of Central America back in 2011 and loved it. I visited Honduras for a short medical mission trip. I've returned - to Honduras, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica - and can't get enough. The culture. The food. The language. The simplicity of life there. The focus on family and relationships rather than wealth and getting ahead. People with less possessing more joy and contentment. I want what they have.   Why Nicaragua? Short answer: There's an opportunity there for my faith and career to intertwine! I was first introduced to the special needs school (Tesoros de Dios) back in Jan 2015. I had the privilege of visiting for a week with a professor and 3 other students. I witnessed the amazing work being done to provide for the students. Heard the stories of hope and progress mixed with others...

So history repeats itself - when life gets busy, I neglect the blog... let me fill you in... I completed my second 12 week fieldwork, the one in mental health. I cried (go figure). I will treasure the card the clients signed - their short goodbye sentiments reflected their personalities perfectly. Even though the 12 weeks stretched me beyond my breaking point, the challenges made for a rich experience. I miss the sweet and feisty clients alike. I actually miss the feisty clients the most - can you relate? The ones I was losing sleep over and weathering storms with were the ones I built strong bonds with... ironic.. I often wonder how they're doing. They left their mark on me for sure..  I studied for my boards exam. I poured my heart into learning, memorizing, connecting knowledge to experiences.. I took 2.5 hour practice tests, read rationales for each answer.. I watched YouTube videos with anatomy animations. Videos on the lived experience with cerebral palsy...

FAQs about Occupational Therapy (OT) ...  I just want to step back and explain what OT is in a general sense. I think it can still be muddy, despite my efforts to explain throughout the blog. Here's a snapshot to clear.. and maybe muddy.. some things up. :) Q: Do you help people get jobs? A: Yes and no.  The word "occupation" is a general term meaning more a job. In OT, occupation refers to anything someone needs to get done to maintain their well-being (eating, showering, getting dressed, etc.), anything someone needs to do to take care of their household (make meals, take care of a child or pet, drive, grocery shop, access the community), and anything that is important to their roles and sense of self (resuming hobbies, passions, leisure activities, social activities, work). So yes, I may help someone with a worker's comp injury to get them back to work. I may help someone with a disability get a job with modifications and advocate for them to the employer. ...