Hometown: Edmonton, Alberta
What sparked your interest in pursuing a career in occupational therapy?
I first learned about occupational therapy while I was completing my undergraduate degree in Alberta. At the time, I was really struggling to choose a career path. I had the perfect idea of what I wanted to do, but I wasn’t really sure it existed. While volunteering at a pediatric day program I met two occupational therapy students who were completing their fieldwork placements. I remember talking with them and having an “ah ha!” moment of realization when I discovered my dream job had a name….occupational therapy! I love that occupational therapy is a practice that extends beyond the medical model of treatment by considering all aspects of a person’s wellbeing and how we can enable them to engage in the activities that they find meaningful. It still amazes me that I have a job where I get to help people overcome their challenges and return to the occupations that are important to them.
What’s the single biggest lesson you learned, or memory you’ll take away from your time as a MOT student at UBC?
During my time in the MOT program, it was essential to build relationships with my classmates and network with the various professionals involved in my educational experiences. The occupational therapists in British Columbia are very interconnected and you will find yourself continually running into the same people. I strived to build positive relationships with people that I met during my time in the MOT program because I knew that it was very likely that I would be working with them in the future. Being able to establish those relationships early will increase your access to resources and knowledge translation, which will be beneficial even after graduation. The extra bonus is the lasting friendships that you will develop as a result.
What’s in store for you next?
I am currently working at the Neil Squire Society, a national not-for-profit organization that focuses on using technology, knowledge, and passion to empower Canadians with disabilities. As part of the Solutions Team at the Neil Squire Society, I work with occupational therapists and assistive technology assistants. We use a client-centered approach to assist individuals living with a variety of injuries, impairments, and disabilities to reach their goals, which frequently include returning to work. We conduct a variety of assessments involving assistive technology, specialized ergonomics, worksite assessments, home evaluations, and much more.
As an occupational therapist with the Neil Squire Society, I am responsible for completing a variety of assessments and recommending appropriate assistive technology, adaptive equipment, and environmental modifications to help a client achieve their goal. This can include providing someone with computer access for quality of life, assessing an individual’s capacity to return to work after an injury or disability, or consulting with employers to determine the accessibility of their workplace. I enjoy the challenge and variety that this role offers.
Where will you be based?
My office is technically located in Burnaby, but I am steps away from the city border of Vancouver. As a community based program we do a lot of travelling which extends beyond the Lower Mainland to places all over the province, including remote rural areas such as Gold Bridge, Fort St. John, and Terrace.
What attracted you about working for this organization?
It’s hard to list only a few! I completed a fieldwork placement with the Neil Squire Society so I was able to integrate myself with the team here while I was still a student. I have always valued working as part of a team committed to positively influencing the community, and that’s exactly what I found at the Neil Squire Society. One of the main things I value about this organization is that a percentage of proceeds are allocated into free programming for individuals living with disabilities, such as our computer comfort program which offers computer training tutorials.
What excites you about the next stage of your OT journey?
I think I am most excited about the prospect of not knowing what lies ahead. On a day-to-day basis I really never know what type of problems I will encounter and it is rewarding to collaborate with clients to create solutions for barriers they are experiencing.
Occupational therapy is such a diverse field, which makes the possibilities for the next stage of my OT journey endless. At the Neil Squire Society, we are encouraged to discover what areas we are passionate about and pursue further training and certification in these areas. I feel extremely supported and excited that I have a role in determining the development of my career.