It didn’t take long for College of Western Idaho occupational therapy assistant students to take what they are learning in the classroom and apply it to real-world situations.
At the YMCA, the THRIVE Center is on a mission to provide a unique experience for neurodiverse children and young adults. With swings and other sensory-focused equipment, the space invites children of all abilities to come and explore in a safe and positive environment.
Using the resources and equipment of the THRIVE program, CWI OTA students guided children through fun games and activities specially designed to address various sensory processing skills including praxis, vestibular, tactile, and proprioceptive functions. The students enjoyed being challenged to use their developing clinical skills to ensure all children could be successful at engaging in this fun, Halloween-themed event.
This and other similarly designed experiential learning opportunities are what makes the CWI OTA program truly exceptional. Each semester, students are given hands-on opportunities to provide valuable experiences to the community that truly showcase the unique and distinct value of occupational therapy.
This is just a taste of some of the projects our program has coming this semester. Continue to follow our blog to witness our students learn and use important clinical skills to serve the community.
STATEMENT OF ACCREDITATION STATUS
The associate-degree level occupational therapy assistant program has applied for accreditation and has been granted Candidacy Status by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 6116 Executive Boulevard, Suite 200, North Bethesda, MD 20852-4929. ACOTE’s telephone number c/o AOTA is (301) 652-AOTA and its web address is www.acoteonline.org. The program must have a pre-accreditation review, complete an on-site evaluation, and be granted Accreditation Status before its graduates will be eligible to sit for the national certification examination for the occupational therapy assistant administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). After successful completion of this exam, the individual will be a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA). In addition, all states require licensure in order to practice; however, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT Certification Examination. Note that a felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or attain state licensure.
