BEFORE REFERRING: CLICK HERE to view our Referral Process
When you are ready:
- CLICK HERE to access our fillable Referral Form
- CLICK HERE to access our Consent Form – please download in Adobe to complete and print for signature
Additional Resources:
CLICK HERE to access the OT severity scale
CLICK HERE to access the targeted OT resources
CLICK HERE TO ACCESS RECORDING OF 2022 FALL SYMPOSIUM SESSION
CLICK HERE TO ACCESS SOME FREE AHS WEBINARS!
Skills for the job of living!
Each of us have many occupations that are essential to our health and well-being. A child, for example, might have occupations as a student, a playmate, and a helper at home. Occupational therapists help children engage in everyday living, including play, self help skills and participation in family and school routines.
Occupational therapy for school-aged children/youth is designed to assist children/youth that have challenges with:
- Fine motor tasks (writing, coloring, keyboarding, computer use)
- Sensory concerns such as bright lights, textures, or loud noises
- Full active participation in the classroom routines (circle time, following a schedule)
- Their independence in eating toileting and dressing
- Ability to access classroom technology
Occupational therapists work with children in a variety of ways:
- Combine goals within existing classroom routines and academic programming
- Individual work on specific goals
- Modifications and adaptations to activities and environment within the school
- In-class programming to share activities with the whole class
- Work in collaboration with all other team members
Some examples of when you might make a referral to see an Occupational Therapist include:
- If the child seems to have difficulty with fine motor skills such as pencil grasp, printing or developing a dominant hand, writing his/her name or other written work
- If a child has significant challenges with loud noises or bright lights that impact his/her ability to learn at school
- Is slower than his peers to be independent in completing routine tasks such as eating, drinking, toileting or dressing
- If the child has challenges accessing or using classroom technology the same way as his peers
- If the child/youth has difficulty changing from one activity to another
*****************************************************************************************************************************
Meet our Occupational Therapists:
Brad Lissel
Brad has experience working with children, preschoolers, and youth as an Occupational Therapist for multiple Calgary-area school divisions, as well as supporting children and families in-home through Family Support for Children with Disabilities. Brad has trained in, and continues to learn in the areas of picky eating/feeding, regulation and trauma-informed practice through a neuroscience lens (Dr. Steven Porges, Dr. Bruce Perry), and the use and adoption of technology to support student and school needs. Brad keeps busy in his personal time with shop-projects, all kinds of outdoor activities, and helping his wife take care of all her farm animals.
Serving: Livingstone Range, Kainai Board of Education
CONTACT INFO:
Email: [email protected]
Call/Text: 587.370.0947
Jocelyn Byl
Jocelyn recently graduated from the University of Alberta with a Master of Science in Occupational Therapy. Jocelyn has had a life long passion for working with children to support their ability to engage in meaningful occupations. She has experience working as an aide on FSCD contracts with a variety of different aged children and skill levels. Jocelyn is passionate about collaborating with teachers, support staff, families, and other SWCSS disciplines to maximize a child’s full potential. In her free time, Jocelyn enjoys hiking, running, biking, and travelling!
Serving: Horizon and Palliser
CONTACT INFO:
Email: [email protected]
Call/Text: 403-593-4209
Kathryn Leahy
Kathryn recently graduated as an Occupational Therapist from McGill University in Montreal, QC. Since 2014, she has been volunteering with school-aged children of all ability levels and is very excited that she can now use her expertise as an OT to help students reach their potential. Kathryn has experience with using sensory, fine motor, and participation-based approaches to classroom interventions. Particularly, she enjoys collaborating with teachers, support staff, and other health professionals to help create well-rounded strategies for children to succeed! When she isn’t working, Kathryn enjoys reading, gardening, visiting her family, and playing with her nieces and nephews (including the 4-legged ones)!
Serving: AISCA, Westwind, Holy Spirit
CONTACT INFO:
Email: [email protected]
Call/Text: 403-593-2539
Leanne Byl
Leanne has been in private practice for the past 15 years working with preschoolers up to grade eight students in Foothills School Division, FSCD (Calgary) and Okotoks Montessori Preschool / Kindergarten. Rural schools have captured her heart with their genuine interest in supporting students to excel to the best of their ability. Leanne enjoys the challenge of coming up with unique and creative solutions to meet the needs of her students’ challenges. She is an avid lifelong learner committed to keeping current on OT topics and research.
Serving: Calvin Christian School, Piikani Nation, Palliser, AISCA
CONTACT INFO:
Email: [email protected]
Call/Text: 587.370.0992
Nathan Grigg
Nathan is a new occupational therapist joining SWCSS after starting his career working with mostly preschool aged children at Alberta Health Services. Nathan successfully completed a practicum with SWCSS in the fall of 2022 and is eager to continue supporting the collaborative. He has interest and experience in feeding and picky eating, child development, and self-regulation. As a lifelong enjoyer of learning, Nathan has a strong passion for supporting the staff that make schools work, as well as working to promote positive experiences for every child at school. Nathan enjoys spending personal time growing vegetables, cooking, spending time with family, exercising, and playing video games.
Serving: Livingstone Range
CONTACT INFO:
Email: [email protected]
Call/Text: 403.332.0487