OTS 173: Advocating for School-Based OTP Leadership
- Jayson Davies
- 4 days ago
- 42 min read
Updated: 3 days ago
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Welcome to the show notes for Episode 173 of the OT Schoolhouse Podcast.
In this episode, Jayson has a compelling conversation with guests Jaime, Kim, and Serena. They discuss their research on the barriers and opportunities for OTP’s aspiring to leadership positions within the educational system.
Discover the historical and legislative challenges OTPs face, the vast impact on school communities, and the innovative ways states are beginning to address these issues. With engaging insights and passionate advocacy, this episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in transforming the role of OTs in schools and ensuring their potential is fully realized for the benefit of students and educators.
Listen now to learn the following objectives:
Learners will be able to explain how historical perceptions of OTs influence their current exclusion from leadership roles in education.
Learners will identify legislative and credentialing differences that affect OT administrative eligibility across the U.S.
Learners will identify the barriers that prevent OTs from being recognized as instructional staff in various states.
Guests Bio
Kim Wiggins, OTR/L is an experienced occupational therapist specializing in pediatrics who has worked extensively in public school settings, outpatient, and home-based services to children of all ages with a variety of diagnoses and special needs.
Kim is currently a full-time therapist at the Binghamton City School District and the owner of OTKimWiggins LLC, which primarily focuses on providing educational opportunities for parents and professionals. She is an experienced National program developer who has produced and presented training workshops and seminars on a variety of topics related to handwriting, vision, primitive reflexes, sensory techniques, and technology to therapists, teachers, administrators, and parents, She has presented to audiences nationwide since 2010. She is also the co-author of Just Right! A Sensory Modulation Curriculum for K-5.
Jaime Spencer, MEd, OTR/L is a school-based occupational therapist and passionate educational advocate. With a Master’s in Special Education and specialty certifications in Assistive Technology, Handwriting, and PuzzleArt, she works to elevate the role of OTs in school systems. Jaime is the founder of MissJaimeOT.com and author of several books, including The Handwriting Book and FUNctional Visual Perception. She also leads multiple grassroots advocacy groups across the U.S. focused on improving school-based OT services and expanding leadership pathways for practitioners.
Serena S. Zeidle, OTD, OTR/L has over 40 years of experience that includes clinical and school-based practice, and higher education. At the time of this research, Serena was a full-time assistant professor at Tauro University. NY. Serena is a passionate advocate for school-based occupational therapy practitioners and has presented locally and nationally on this topic
Quotes
"We are not allowed to be leaders because in most states, we're not considered educational or instructional." Jaime spencer, MEd, OTR/L
"We have a unique skill set and a different holistic viewpoint, and we have a very creative mindset, and we think outside the box, and we come up with unique alternatives that I think a lot of school administrators would not think of, because they don't have the background that we have."
-Jaime spencer, MEd, OTR/L
"Awareness of what people know of what they can and can’t do…only 34% of the people were completely aware that they were able to pursue it, so if you're not even aware of what you have to do to get to that spot, it's gonna be really difficult to move forward with that…bringing awareness to all OTs across the nation about what they have to do to advocate is a key factor."
- Kim Wiggins, OTR/L
“People don't even fully understand how hiring practices, pay equity, and health care benefits can all be impacted by the inability to earn a credential and become an administrator. The power of the unknown is very powerful.”
-Jayson Davies, M.A., OTR/L
“Going to your state association, talking to other OTs, maybe getting involved with a university in doing a study like we did. Our study focused on New York state, but it could be generalized to any of the other states.”
-Serena S Zeidler, OTD, OTR/L
Resources
👉Article Title: Perceptions of occupational therapy practitioners as leaders within the New York state education system
Episode Transcript
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