OTA 2330 OT Modalities III Lab

Ability Inclusion Services Clinic:

• Oct 1: Ice breaker games and lacing activity (Allen Cognitive Levels)

• Oct 22: Sock Pumpkins (co-lead intervention)

• Oct 29: Bracelets for Besties

• Nov 12: Helping Homeles with Hygiene (Service Project for the Road Home)

• Nov 19: Graduation

Service Project: Hygiene Kits for the Road Home

Reflection

As OTA students, we met every Tuesday morning with 6-7 clients from Ability Inclusion Services (Oct-Nov 2024). We were helping these clients increase their social participation skills and serve the community. For the service project, the client assembled 20 hygiene kits and made cards for the Road Home (an organization that helps the homeless population).

My role during this service activity was to encourage (provide the just-right challenge on cueing) appropriate social interaction skills between clients such as: approach/start interaction, gesticulate, turn towards, looks, question, replies, and thanks. I also helped clients correctly place hygiene kits items in bags and cued them on better understanding what a homeless person may want to hear and formulating what to write.

I learned several things about myself during this activity. I learned how to better work with someone who may struggle with initiation and/or self-efficacy in writing. I learned I can be patient and compassionate when working with someone who may initially present with difficult behaviors. I also learned I can communicate and set boundaries well, especially in regards to their safety. I learned I need to be aware of my “non-verbals.” I also learned that serving under-served populations can be quite simple, yet meaningful to all. I believe I’ll be able to better identify organizations that need support and feel like I (and future clients) can make a difference.

In addition to the skills developed during this service project, I developed skills throughout the entire course of the psychosocial clinic. I learned how to run and structure therapeutic groups (both from running them and assisting others). I learned how to better appreciate each individual on a deeper level and see them more for who they truly are inside. I learned to adjust my therapeutic use of self to meet the unique needs of each client.

This clinic helped me better recognize that clients can find deeper meaning and joy through serving others, and that they want to do so. When clients have their own struggles, I think it’s human nature to think about those issues. However, service opportunities allow them the opportunity to provide compassion to others (something in which they have a lot to give of). Also it helped me realize I can easily help organizations in simple ways.