AdventHealth University’s Occupational Therapy Program Comes to Quest’s Camp Thunderbird
Quest’s Camp Thunderbird is over, but we wanted to highlight the amazing AdventHealth University Occupational Therapy Program students who joined us this past summer to complete their clinical requirements. Clinicals give students an opportunity to use their training in a real-world setting and Camp Thunderbird provided the perfect opportunity.
AdventHealth University has partnered with Quest Camp Thunderbird in the past. “Our university volunteered to help with physical improvements a few years ago and several of our faculty provided music and returned at Christmas for a holiday sing along,” says Angela Sampson, Academic Fieldwork Coordinator for the Occupational Therapy Assistant Program. This particular group of students had not been to Quest previously, but they were very excited for the opportunity. “We love completing clinicals where the students can be hands-on and involved with the clients. Quest offers that opportunity for the students to not just observe, but interact with the clients.”
Occupational therapy (OT) is similar to physical therapy, but with different goals. Both are on the rehabilitative side of medicine, but while physical therapy focuses on a patient’s ability to move their body, occupational therapy focuses on a patient’s ability to complete everyday tasks.
“We help people do things in their daily lives,” says Jess Varghese, an OT program student. “For example, if someone gets into a car accident and loses motion in their arm, we can help them relearn how to hold a pencil and write.”
Occupational therapy is helpful for individuals with developmental disabilities because it can ease a caregiver’s list of duties. “There are some tasks that caregivers are doing that they don’t need to do,” says Erin Keough, an OT program student. “However, their patient has always had this help, so they don’t know they can do it on their own. We can get them to a place where they can become more independent and their caregiver can have some of that pressure taken off of them.”
At camp, the OT program students help the counselors by modifying different activities so everyone can enjoy them. They can grade an activity up or down once they see where people are at in their abilities. Common modifications are going slower and/or using bigger equipment that’s easier to handle.
“One thing I’ve learned working with this population is to focus on what they can do,” says Madeline Gensolin, an OT program student. “Because focusing so much on what they can’t do is something that they do every day. It’s something that everyone around them does every day. They don’t need people who tell them they can’t do a certain activity. What should happen is that we should make the activity available to them.”
To make activities available to everyone, there are different types of adaptive equipment the OT program students use. For example, there are scissors with a customized grip so someone with limited hand mobility can cut paper and participate in crafts. Another example of a modified activity is bowling. Bowling with a normal bowling ball and pins can pose a challenge for some of our guests. The OT students modified this activity by having a larger ball and bigger pins.
At Quest’s Camp Thunderbird, OT program students are able to have just as much fun as the guests. “I feel like I really lucked out,” says Erin. “In my perspective, this is the brighter side of the psycho-social setting because these people are so happy to be here.”
“My favorite memory is dancing with the campers,” says Jess. “They love to do everything and they love dancing and dancing with you.”
We are so grateful to have these students with us. “Every single student is extremely friendly and professional at all times,” says Faye, Senior Director, Independent Living and Camp Thunderbird. “They are always willing to help in any way that they can with all of the activities including archery, arts and crafts, sports and games, and canoeing. It has been a pleasure working with each and every one of the students.”
Thank you to the Advent Health OT Program students for helping to make camp extra special this past summer! We hope that they can come back again next year to enjoy camp with our guests.
