"GREATitude" Program honoring our therapists

In the spirit of optimism and gratitude, PTS has initiated “GREATitude”, a program which honors our therapists and their work to support thousands of students throughout the Delaware Valley. Each month PTS performs a drawing from a collection of “school wishes” submitted by our therapists. Those selected are “granted” and the requested item is donated to the designated school on behalf of that therapist. The donation of these items is in recognition of all of our therapists who give generously of themselves, their talents and their time.

Recent Greatitude winners include:

May 2009

Dorothy Kogan, SLP at the Folk Arts-Cultural Treasures Charter School, requested inflatable stability balls with feet and stools for students in the elementary and middle school learning support classrooms.  Dorothy has been a member of the PTS team working in Philadelphia the past few years, and has 10 years of experience working with pediatric populations in early intervention, medical, rehabilitation, and school settings.

Mary Adolf, OT at West Chester Area School District, who has 13 years of experience as a pediatric occupational therapist with extensive expertise in working with children with autism and sensory processing disorders.  In her work with these populations, she has developed skill in using the TEACCH method, Greenspan’s floor-play, PECS, Social Stories and other associated treatment strategies.  Mary has worked with a team to develop a feeding protocol for clients with feeding concerns, and she co-developed a “TOT” Class (Teaching our Toddlers Concepts, Language, and Social Skills) for toddlers with autism.  Mary worked with an interdisciplinary team to develop a playgroup, called “SMILE” (Sensory Motor Integration with Language and Education), for children with sensory needs.  Mary has also supervised COTAs and shared her excellent clinical skills.  She is currently working for PTS at Exton Elementary school where she manages a varied caseload.

April 2009

Adrienne Hefton, OT at the Chester Upland School District, who requested a Sand or Water Table to be donated for the Autistic Support Class at Columbus Elementary. Coming to PTS shortly after graduation, and being highly recommended by her fieldwork supervisor, Adrienne Hefton has been working with PTS for many years in a variety of venues. Most recently she has been the dedicated OT serving the Life Skills and Autistic kids at Columbus Elementary in Chester PA. Her request for the sensory table meets some of the significant needs of these students and their teachers who have very limited classroom resources. Often she obtains materials and resources for the OT sessions she provides in the classroom in close collaboration with the teachers’ curriculum. She serves as a Clinical Specialist in autism for PTS.

Stacey Cuddeback, OT at the Reading Area School District, who requested a Sand or Water Table to be donated for Mrs. Kopil’s Autistic Kindergarten Class at Millmont Elementary. Stacy is a COTA who has a number of years of experience. During her transition from working with an adult population to working in the school-based therapy two years ago, Stacy did a fantastic job in taking over a large caseload, covering numerous schools per day and managing all this with supervision from Liz Bentz, OTR. This year, Stacy has taken the initiative to help the teachers set up sensory areas in the Autistic Support classes she serves.