MSOTA Celebrates National OT Month

The Misericordia Student Occupational Therapy Association [MSOTA] is planning numerous events for National Occupational Therapy Month.

National Occupational Therapy Month offers students a chance to understand the occupational therapy field. Events include demonstration booths in Banks Student Life Center featuring tests administered by occupational therapists, such as the Jamar grip strength test and vision test.

MSOTA president Megan Ettinger is excited for the first annual Health Science Volleyball Tournament the association is cosponsoring with the physical therapy club. All of the health sciences departments are participating on Thursday, April 16 at 6 p.m. in the Anderson Sports and Health Center. All of the donations collected by the associations benefit an organization or foundation of the winner’s choice.

“I love volleyball, so I can’t wait to go to this tournament because it also helps an organization that needs it,” said freshman Erica Krakosky.

The club is also participating in the ALS walk on April 19, along with a stand in Banks Student Life Center on April 22, which will offer prizes to students after answering a series of questions related to the occupational therapy field. The game will be called “What’s This Thingamajig.”

On April 29, MSOTA will help students make stress reliever balls to give students a way to soothe anxiety before finals week. “We thought of making stress reliever balls because OT’s work with stress anxiety, so it was a great idea,” said Ettinger.

“I was completely excited to find out that MSOTA is going to make stress reliever balls right before finals -- I love them. They help me concentrate on everything I need to get done,” said freshman Megan Carey.

MSOTA wants students to understand the importance of OT Month and the field. “The main thing is to promote OT and to promote what we do. We are trying to get more people involved in the field,” said Ettinger.

The theme for this year’s National OT Month is Autism, according to the American Occupational Therapy Association’s website, www.aota.org. Occupational therapists help individuals with disabilities perform everyday tasks and become more independent.

MSOTA recently participated in community service projects. The club worked with First Books, a group that provides books to under privileged children.

“I am so excited [about becoming an OT]. It is a chance to be able to help people and make a difference in their lives,” said Ettinger. MSOTA has more than 50 members and is looking for more students who are interested in majoring in the field.