Twenty–one GW students from both the speech-language pathology (SLP) and occupational therapy (OT) program collaborated on a weeklong children’s summer experiential program experience, titled “Speech and Occupational Therapy Achievement for Recreation” (SOAR) from July 8th, 2024 to July 12th, 2024.
OT program director and professor, Roger Ideishi, JD, OT/L, FAOTA, and OT clinical instructor, Erica Fuentes, MOT, OTR/L, and SLP clinical educators Laura Barrett, MS and Rachel Hicks, MA led the project, which they had been working on since the Fall 2023 semester. “Bringing speech students and OT students together has been absolutely fantastic. Our students are learning so much about sensory input and regulation – they really didn't have that kind of knowledge before. They've also been so excited to share what they have learned about language and augmentative communication," said Barrett.
A diverse group of children, aged five to seven, with developmental disorders were paired with students to partake in communication and sensory friendly activities. The program was designed to improve children’s sensory, social, and emotional regulation skills, as well as their communication, language, and gross and fine motor skills.
“It's been a really great opportunity for us to practice clinical skills. We’ve got a really good environment with an obstacle course for appropriate static and vestibular input, motor planning, problem solving, and social interaction. I think the kids are learning a lot, as well as the students on level I fieldwork,” said third-year OTD student Kate Agnes who served as a clinical supervisor for the level I students.
The OT facility was reserved solely for the summer experiential program this week as each child was paired with two adults to increase engagement. “I loved seeing the obstacle course and the kids run around, jump, laugh, and smile. The kids practiced their skills of coordinating and interacting with each other. There was also a bucket of cars where they had to follow a car track by running up a ramp. It exposed them to vocabulary and reinforced speech and language output skills by connecting words with their actions,” said first-year SLP student Nicole Davis.
GW students were in attendance for their level I fieldwork, doctoral capstone projects, and to volunteer for interprofessional collaboration experience with children with disabilities.
Third-year OTD student Georgia Philbin, who also served as a clinical supervisor, is using her doctoral capstone project to promote occupational therapy as a resource to expand opportunities for children with disabilities in businesses in the Washington, D.C., Virginia, and Maryland areas.
“I'm focusing on community participation and will hopefully create a model for businesses and programs related to working with children with disabilities. I’m super excited and super grateful to have this opportunity at GW,” said Philbin.
GW OT student, Georgia Philbin, created the marketing flier for the experiential program that was shared with SLP clients, faculty and staff around campus, as well as different organizations and groups that worked with individuals with autism.
