First Bite #53 – June 25, 2019

Outstanding Orientation to OT Scope of Practice

(.1 ASHA, AOTA, EI CEUs) For more info, click here.

Course Description

In this episode, Michelle is joined by the dynamic powerhouse that is Paul Tardy, OTR/L, her dear friend, mentor, and “Big Brother by a different Mother”! Paul, owner of “PT the OT Therapy and Wellness”, spends this fast paced hour illuminating colleagues from both the EI, OT, and SLP worlds to the varied roles and responsibilities within the scope of practice of Occupational Therapy, dispels the myth of “Oh you’re the one who teach them to write and stack blocks”, and also sheds light on how to view the “whole child” and treat from a functional holistic perspective. Sit tight folks, this is a dynamic hour filled with joy, belly laughter, and definitely a few squirrels.

Objective

By the end of this PodCourse, participants will be able to identify and describe:

  1. 3 roles and responsibilities of the Scope of Practice of an Occupational Therapist.
  2. 3 common misconceptions of Occupational Therapists.
  3. The concept of treating the “whole child” and how it pertains to the roles and responsibilities of an Occupational Therapist.

Co-Presenter

Paul Tardy, OTR/L

Paul and his wife Jennifer are the owners of “PT the OT Therapy and Wellness” established in 2007. He provides home based early intervention OT services to kids throughout The Midlands. Paul grew up in Maine and after high school, he enlisted in the US Army and was stationed Alaska! After serving a four-year tour with the military, he was encouraged to become an occupational therapist by his brother who was studying to be a physical therapist at the time. Paul earned his Bachelor of Science degree as an occupational therapist from the University of New England in 1995.

Paul has 24 years of clinical expertise in a variety of settings using an array of therapeutic applications to include: Sensory Processing/Sensory Integration; NDT (Neuro-developmental Treatment); PNF (Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation); Rood Technique; manual therapies; ‘Wilbarger Protocol’, Brain Gym®, ILS(Integrative Listening System); RMTi (Rhythmic Movement Training); The Haller Method / Foundations for Clinical Neuroplasticity; therapeutic feeding and positioning; splinting; wheelchair assessments; assistive technologies and other Durable Medical Equipment; and occupational performance applications.

Paul is a teacher/encourager at his core and is using his education as well as his passion as a consultant to help develop more of a sensory friendly preschool in the area. He also created and developed a sensory gym at a local pediatric therapy company. Currently, Paul’s focus is centered on helping medically fragile children reach their highest functional potential.