1. Welcome to POTA! T Nicole Ashby -OT related activities -networking
-fun bonding events
-get you prepared for grad school

2. What is Occupational Therapy?
Charlea
Break into groups, discuss, come up with a definition
Occupational therapy is the only profession that helps people across the lifespan to do the things they want and need to do through the therapeutic use of daily activities (occupations). Occupational therapy practitioners enable people of all ages to live life to its fullest by helping them promote health, and prevent—or live better with—injury, illness, or disability.
Common occupational therapy interventions include helping children with disabilities to participate fully in school and social situations, helping people recovering from injury to regain skills, and providing supports for older adults experiencing physical and cognitive changes. Occupational therapy services typically include:
an individualized evaluation, during which the client/family and occupational therapist determine the person’s goals,
customized intervention to improve the person’s ability to perform daily activities and reach the goals, and
an outcomes evaluation to ensure that the goals are being met and/or make changes to the intervention plan.
Occupational therapy practitioners have a holistic perspective, in which the focus is on adapting the environment and/or task to fit the person, and the person is an integral part of the therapy team. It is an evidence-based practice deeply rooted in science.

3. What does POTA do? Nicole Ashby -OT related activities -networking
-fun bonding events
-get you prepared for grad school

4. ICEBREAKER TIME (NOT SORRY)
Tomi

5. What do you need to do to get into grad school?
JMU’s Master’s of Occupational Therapy (MOT) requirements:
Health Sciences Major (with a concentration in Health Studies)
Successfully completed all prerequisite courses
Personal Statement
Resume
GRE Test before November 15th (
40 minimum observation hours at multiple settings
3 Recommendations
3.0 or higher GPA and a “C” or better in prerequisites
Application is online
Charlea Olmstead
**If applying to Occupational Studies, you must attend a mandatory info session! (and see us if you have any questions)** FIRST ONE IS FRIDAY AT 1:30 HBS OT LAB (SECOND FLOOR SOMEWHERE)
Prerequisites:

6. Grad Schools in Virginia:
*JMU
*Jefferson College of Health Sciences
*Murphy Deming (Mary Baldwin)
*Radford University
*Shenandoah University
*VCU
Holly

7. Future meetings for this semester:
Thursday, 09/28/ POTA/SOTA potluck & games clinic)
Monday, 10/9/ Admissions Board Speakers/Possible Case Study HBS)
*Ariana
OTCES clinic: 131 W. Grace Street

8. Set up text/email reminders
Admissions board speakers are coming to the next formal meeting! What questions do you have for them?
Set up text/ reminders
Thursday 09/14: SOTA Benefit Jalapeno’s
Next meeting: bring dues ($20) & money for extra t- shirts if you want them ($5 short sleeve; $10 long sleeve)
Volunteer Opportunities: OTCES clinic, accepting applications for Spring 2019 semester 010/15-10/30
**clarify formal vs. informal meetings
Charlea

9. Questions?
Carol