Goodwin College and Creative Development, LLC: Community Partnerships and the Chapter 126 Occupational Therapy Assistant Program

Since January 2019, students enrolled in Goodwin College’s Occupational Therapy Assistant Program have been pairing with Creative Development, LLC, an occupational therapy company for children, Chapter 126 to complete their clinical internships. The OTA clinical program meets at Chapter 126 Sports & Fitness site, an adaptive recreational center for those with physical disabilities. In this community-centered internship program, Goodwin OTA interns address an array of client health and wellness concerns.

“Chapter 126 was fantastic!” Casey Saunders of the Goodwin College OTA Program shared. “I had the opportunity to interact with a variety of groups that had different limitations and needs…We worked on building relationships with the clients to help them feel more comfortable… modeling the task at hand while standing next to them to ensure their safety and understanding.”

Affiliating with Creative Development, LLC provides studentsthe opportunity to work with exercise physiologists, fitness professionals, teachers, paraprofessionals, and organizations like The Miracle League to serve locals with limitations and disabilities. Supervised by seasoned occupational therapists, students are able to apply the skills they learned across their academic curriculum at Goodwin. During their clinical internships, students are able to observe, evaluate, and complete home assessments— recommending environmental and equipment changes. They also have the opportunity to work with clients on abilities like fine motor skills, balance, and strength. Interns completing their OTA clinicals also facilitate participation in veteran’s programs and, with experienced staff, co-lead groups to improve the conditioning of clients with conditions like Alzheimer’s disease and Multiple Sclerosis.

“I would recommend Chapter 126 to any student,” Alan Riopelli Jr, COTA/L endorsed. “[The program] opens your eyes and mind to a whole different world beyond regular therapy. The experience at Chapter 126 really made me think outside the box… In the small amount of time I was there, I feel I helped the client’s… facilitate and maximize their independence. Chapter 126 was an extraordinary experience.”

By collaborating together at Chapter 126, both Goodwin College and Creative Development, LLC teamed-up to make supporting research, establishing programs, and connecting communities possible.