Hi, my name is Kim Quayle. I am an itinerant occupational therapist (O.T.) for the School District of River Falls. I work with students who qualify for special education, and require the related service of occupational therapy to benefit from their special education program.
I have a B.A. in Occupational Therapy from the College of St. Catherine St. Paul, MN and an M.S. in Adaptive Education – Assistive Technology from St. Norbert’s College, DePere, WI. I initially worked in transitional rehabilitation at Ebenezer Caroline Center, Abbott Northwestern Hospital, Fraser Whitbeck School in the Birth to Three Program and ISD # 287 before coming to River Falls.
I enjoy working with the variety of students I see everyday. As a school based occupational therapist working within the school setting, I evaluate a child’s ability to perform in everyday situations. For example, I serve students with identified developmental delays; students with cognitive and physical disabilities; students with learning disabilities; students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD); and students who have other identified delays. O.T. collaborates with the teaching staff and families of students with disabilities to determine what adaptations and modifications need to be made and used by the student to assist in improving overall classroom/school performance. O.T is provided to facilitate a student’s ability to adapt to and function in an educational program. We are trained to evaluate performance, identify deficit and strength areas, develop goals for each student, and evaluate progress. As a related service under special education, occupational therapy must be educationally relevant and necessary.
Occupational therapist may work with students identified under special education on the following:
· fine motor development
· sensorimotor processing
· postural control
· hand control
· in hand manipulation
· body awareness
· bilateral coordination
· visual perception and visual motor skills
· spatial concepts
· adapting self help skills to be successful in the classroom/school environment
· cognition and problem solving
· assistive technology (pencil grips, word processors, adaptive keyboard, adaptive software programs)
· adaptive equipment – positioning