Nicole L. Maher, MS, OTR/L, CHT - Occupational Therapy/Certified Hand Therapist

  • Miss Nicole

    Occupational Therapy Department
    Phone:  (716) 988-3291, ext. 3419
     
     
    Occupational Therapy focuses on building skills for the JOB of LIVING.  This can be with a variety of populations or in numerous settings, including geriatrics, mental health, early intervention, orthopedics, preschool services, ergonomics, acute care, school based, orthotic fabrication, work rehab, driver evaluation, and the list goes on and on. 
     
    For a student enrolled at Pine Valley his or her "occupation" is student.  A school based pediatric Occupational Therapist will address the needs of students allowing them to participate and succeed in the role of student.  This may involve skill building or adaptation of tasks or environment.  School based Occupational Therapists target the areas of physical development, visual skills, activity of daily living (ADLs), and sensory processing. 
     
    At Pine Valley "Miss Nicole" the Occupational Therapist (OT) provides a variety of services to our students.  She utilizes both direct pull-out (outside of the educational setting), direct push-in (within the educational setting), and indirect consultation.  She sits on the RTI committees, 504 committees, CPSE/CSE committees, and consults with SST (Student Support Team). 
     
    Who are these Occupational Therapists or OTs???
     
    In NYS an Occupational Therapist must have received a Master's Degree in Occupational Therapy from an accredited college or university and passed a national exam administered by NBCOT.  After initial certification an OT in NYS must be licensed through the Office of Professions and meet the continuing education requirements to renew that license every 3 years.  

Sensory strategies and schedules

  • Some of these strategies may help your student engage in learning in an appropriate and effective way.
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  • Sensory Pathway 1

    This is the Sensory Pathway available to our students located in the hallway nearest the 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th grade classrooms.  This pathway taps into a student's sensory systems to assist them with many things including:

    -  Increasing focus and attention

    -  Improving motor coordination, including paper and pencil tasks

    - Improving desk posture and seat tolerance/endurance

    - Better awareness of personal space and overall body awareness

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  • Sensory Pathway 2

    This is the Sensory Pathway available to our students located in the hallway nearest the K, 1st, and 2nd grade classrooms.  This pathway taps into a student's sensory systems to assist them with many things including:

    -  Increasing focus and attention

    -  Improving motor coordination, including paper and pencil tasks

    - Improving desk posture and seat tolerance/endurance

    - Better awareness of personal space and overall body awareness

    Comments (-1)