Rehabilitation Services Staff Round Table

Read the Q&A below to meet Sara, occupational therapist (OT), Kevin, physical therapist (PT), and Victoria, speech and language pathologist (SLP), as they describe their journey and why working at ESMA is the right fit for their career.

Describe a little bit about yourselves: 

• Sara, OT – I began working for ESMA as a new graduate in 2016 after completing my Master of Science degree in Occupational Therapy from the University of New Hampshire. Upon graduation, I was unsure exactly what client population I wanted to work with, so ESMA provided the perfect opportunity for me to gain valuable experience in multiple settings and with various populations.
• Kevin, PT – I have been an ESMA physical therapist for the past 14 years. I graduated from St. Paul University in the Philippines with experience in orthopedic and neurological rehabilitation. During my time with ESMA, I have had the opportunity to work in day habilitation programs, schools, Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNFs), and home-based services, including Early Intervention (EI).
• Victoria, SLP – I went to Northeastern University. I grew up loving languages, my ELA and science classes, and generally working with people. I first discovered Speech Language Pathology on a career matching site, along with other language careers, but I quickly realized I did not want to go into linguistics and translation. I then observed a few SLP clinical sessions, knew it was what I wanted to do, and I have loved every moment since! 

What connected you to ESMA, and what keeps you passionate about your career here? 

• Sara, OT – I love my contracts and the people I work with, and I have been at a lot of my contracts for years. I love the clients that I see and the therapists that I work with. We make a great team, and I feel like everyone I work with is really helpful! My contracts have predominantly been at day habilitation programs and schools, and, with the knowledge I have gained over the last seven years, I can share my knowledge with other therapists, both at ESMA and the sites I work at. With my school and day hab experience, I have the ability to bridge the gap when students graduate school and go onto day habs.
• Kevin, PT – After seeing my Aunt’s Easterseals calendar, I researched the company and saw that ESMA had a Rehabilitation Services Department that would allow me to work to expand my existing knowledge by working in a multitude of settings, with clients across the lifespan who have a variety of medical needs. I cannot imagine working in just one setting at this point in my career as I love the variety that I experience on a day-to-day basis. I also enjoy the fact that sometimes we can work with clients over a longer period of time and see great progress. Another special aspect of working for the RS Department is the ability to be involved in other programs within ESMA. For example, a few months ago, a few of us from Rehab Services were given the opportunity to make exercise and stretching videos for Flex Friday, a Youth Services program.  It may seem like a small thing, but it was fun for me to be able to help that program out!
• Victoria, SLP – One of my friends from graduate school mentioned ESMA and their really good mentoring program for Clinical Fellows. When I looked into ESMA, the advocacy for access for people with disabilities was something that I really admired, and I wanted to be part of a company that valued that. Even ESMA’s mission statement of providing individuals with disabilities equal opportunity to live, learn, work, and play resonated with me. I knew that joining the ESMA team would provide opportunities for me to gain experience with a variety of client populations and help me learn how best to serve those in our community to achieve their highest potential. 

How does your work at ESMA relate to the mission, which is to provide equal opportunities for children and adults with disabilities to live, learn, work, and play? 

• Sara, OT – My position at ESMA relates to the mission because, as OTs, we are always trying to provide equal opportunities to live, learn, work, and play.  We are always trying to figure out ways for students to be able to play and participate with their peers in class. At day habilitation programs, we are attempting to find ways to support staff and clients to be able to participate in their work. ESMA’s mission is exactly what OT means to me.
• Kevin, PT – The interdisciplinary approach that ESMA often takes provides well-rounded services for clients. My understanding of my clients’ needs has deepened through this interdisciplinary approach as I am able to receive valuable feedback from other disciplines. For example, there are times when an SLP is having an issue with the positioning of a client’s speech device, and I am able to help out because of my wheelchair positioning experience.  As a PT, we work with our clients to be able to physically access the curriculum (i.e., schools) or participate in activities offered (i.e., day habs). I work with a lot of assistive and adaptive mobility equipment (wheelchairs, standers, positioning devices, gait trainers, walkers, or orthotic devices) that provide our clients with the mobility, positioning, and safety they need to participate in activities that they enjoy. More importantly, we work with our clients to improve their physical condition and functional mobility so they can actively engage in activities that provide them with opportunities to live, learn, work, and play.
• Victoria, SLP – In my school setting, I have been working on providing therapy relating to communication in conjunction with learning specialists and teachers to relate what is going on in therapy to what is happening in their classroom. Taking this approach has allowed many of my students to make large gains within the classroom. In my dab habilitation settings, I have worked to assess individuals’ communication, cognitive, and swallowing abilities to provide communication and cognitive recommendations to staff members for ways to facilitate communication for play during games like 20 Questions and programs during their day. I have also provided recommendations for swallow studies to be performed and strategies to ensure each client’s safety when consuming food and drinks, not just in the day habilitation program setting, but at home too. 

What would your advice be for other therapists who are thinking of joining ESMA?  How has ESMA helped support your success? 

• Sara, OT – When I started at ESMA, I had two other OTs at my site, and that was very helpful as I was just starting out as a new grad OT. Also, in the beginning, there were times when I would work with other disciplines, and they would help me out with the little nuances of ESMA that I was not sure about, like billing, or they would offer advice for other contracts that I was at. Now, I always try to be the one offering my assistance because I know when I first started, I would reach out with a question and someone on the team would get back to me and we built such great relationships that way! The supervision from my Clinical Supervisor and the mentorship that new therapists receive is awesome and important for new graduates… and something that you do not always get! A therapist can email the Rehab Services department, which comprises OTs, PTs, SLPs, and BCBAs, with a question and they could receive a response from a therapist from a different discipline that they have never met before but has an answer to their question.
• Kevin, PT – Keep an open mind and be willing to try new things! For example, I had never tried pediatric physical therapy and now it’s part of my ongoing schedule and I love it!  Also, despite the itinerant nature of Rehab Services, I never feel alone. I know that the PT team is always available via email to answer any questions or offer any suggestions I might need. My PT Clinical Supervisor is always a phone call away and regularly checks in to see how I am doing and if there is anything she can help with. The team approach to support is not just PT-specific; oftentimes, I find myself collaborating with fellow ESMA OTs and SLPs.
• Victoria, SLP – Be flexible and communicative!  My success at ESMA stems from having a great Clinical Fellow Supervisor, and continued support from our SLP Clinical Supervisor. Discussions around approaches to evaluations, treatment, access, and recommendations have continued to inform my clinical decisions and ensure that every client I work with is getting the best support and instruction from me.

Are you interested in joining the Easterseals Massachusetts Rehabilitation Services team?  If so, click here to learn about our current career opportunities.