Do You Have a Compelling OT Story to Tell?
10/02/08

Attention Occupational Therapy Practitioners!

Editors at AOTA are compiling stories for a future book from AOTA Press. Do you have a compelling story to tell? What was your most memorable challenge as an occupational therapy practitioner? How did a mentor change your practice? How do you "live life to its fullest" as an OT or an OTA?

If you would like to submit a story (1,000 to 3,000 words) for consideration, please send your story to mollys@aota.org or ahoffman@aota.org. Thank you!

PT Project in Peru
09/22/08

Austill's is pleased to share the word about an amazing wheelchair project in Peru.

Austill's therapists, Jodee Fornter, MS, PT and Heather Sherwood, PT have worked with a team of medical personnel and other PTs in a clinic in Peru. The clinic hosted 400 new patients with a total 500 patient visits. Used equipment and donated funds were used to obtain new pediatric wheelchairs from Hope Haven International Ministries.

Overall, 160 adult and peiatric wheelchairs, over 60 walkers, canes, crutches and Cascade Dafos were distributed. Austill's is pleased to have donated 2 wheelchairs!

This Thanksgiving, November 22nd - 29th, 2008, a small team will assemble again in Peru. If you are interested in attending, please contact Jodee Fortner directly at jodeefortner@yahoo.com. The 2009 project is planned for August 8-22, 2009. Jodee can help you with further information.

Good luck to all involved in this awesome cause!

Website Links - Free Worksheets/Ideas
01/31/08

Learning Resources for Kids

www.kizclub.com provides tons of pages for sequencing, upper/lower case letters, cutting out shapes, weather diary, pattern matching, decorations/crafts for different seasons, puzzles, etc. Again, these sheets are printable and able to be downloaded/saved to your personal computer for FREE!

Touch Typing Website
01/10/08

Austill's wanted to share information about a free and fun program for touch typing at www.bbc.co.uk/schools/typing. The website is designed to introduce touch typing to 7 - 11 year olds. There are 4 levels to easily monitor progression.

First Wheelchair Backflip!!!
04/02/07

Aaron Fotheringham, a 15 year old from Las Vegas, NV has executed a wheelchair backflip!! Aaron was born with spina bifida, spending his first 8 years using braces, but sometimes fooled around with a wheelchair when other children were on bicycles. He began using the chair full time at age 8, after his third painful hip operation. Six years ago, his brother, riding a BMX bicycle, coaxed him into "dropping in" to a half-pipe at a skate park near their home. Aaron fell, climbed back in the chair and did it again. He got a motocross helmet, elbow pads and a seat belt. Now he practices wheelchair tricks almost every day, sometimes for international audiences.

Check Aaron out at http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=656193898147576910&hl=en