By Elisa Wern, M.Ed., OTR/L, ATP
AT & OT Consultant at Verge Learning and XceptionalED
Owner of AT & OT Consulting and Coaching
This past year and a half has been the most unique of the century. A global pandemic, a shift in the entire way we approach educating students, and even getting groceries. Yet we forge forward, trying to create change in the education space.
My name is Elisa Wern, and I am an occupational therapist by training. Part of my role at Verge Learning is to help others know about what occupational therapy is and what role it can play in the special education world!
My vision in supporting students is to do so through a holistic viewpoint, which aligns nicely with Universal Design for Learning, a very well known educational framework for supporting all students. All students have the ability and right to be educated. For me, all means all. Many ways to support a student's learning and independence is through the practice of OT. We are definitely the lesser known of the allied health professionals, with Speech/Language Pathologists and Physical Therapists being known.
Myth: OTs help people find jobs.
Truth: While we might support vocational skills...our role is in the parts that help people fulfill their roles, be it student, mother, daughter, employee, friend, ….
Myth: OTs just work on handwriting.
Fact: In the schools this is very much a misnomer. We address the underlying skills like visual perception , small hand muscle coordination, tracking, visual memory...and so much more that go into producing written work.
Myth: Teletherapy as an OT is complicated and takes a ton of prep time.
Fact: It doesn’t have to be this way. Combining your goals, your knowledge of your students/clients, and platforms like Verge Learning can make therapy exciting and engaging!
Fun Facts About Elisa
When I am not helping others, I enjoying hanging out with my puppy, my niece and nephew, and officiating NCAA Division 1 women's volleyball!
Contact Elisa
Over the next few months we will be sharing more about how Verge Learning and XceptionalED can support the quest to educate and assist all students and their teams.
We want to hear from you!
What do you want to know more about? What questions do you have about teletherapy and professional development? Please take a moment to let us know here...PLEASE FILL OUT THIS FORM!
Let us know what you want to know more about in the areas of professional development and teletherapy and tele-learning. Hope to hear from you soon!
Elisa Wern, M.Ed., OTR/L, ATP
AT & OT Consultant at Verge Learning
Owner of AT & OT Consulting and Coaching
