Business Spotlight - Occupational Therapy Service and Consultancy

Since graduating I have worked in the Local Authority, NHS and private sectors. Whilst working in mental health I specialized in vocational rehabilitation gaining my post-graduate certificate in Occupational Rehabilitation from Glasgow Caledonian University. I travelled to Halifax in Canada to attend a Mattheson course in Functional Capacity Evaluation and, subsequently, Elevator Repair service became a certificated Disability Management and Rehabilitation Professional through the National Institute of Disability Management and Rehabilitation. I have also been fortunate to have had the opportunity to gain valuable experience working in Occupational Health within the NHS.

Subsequently I have worked with people with learning disabilities and autism and this stimulated an interest in sensory processing disorder. I achieved my post-graduate certificate in Sensory Integration (Ulster University) and have attended numerous short courses, all delivered by world-renowned experts in their field, including: Feeding Difficulties and Sensory Issues (Isabell Beaudry-Bellefeuille); Sensory Defensiveness (Julia Wilbarger and Tracy Murnan Stackhouse; and Sensory Integration Intervention (Susanne Smith Roley).

2. What drew you towards your field of business?

I am committed to person-centred practice and, as an independent practitioner, I have the freedom to develop my service in response to individuals’ needs. I value the opportunity this gives me to work with a wide variety of people (children, those of working age and older adults) in their own homes, communities and places of education or work.

3. What hurdles and challenges have you faced in getting to the stage you are currently at?

Physical difficulties are generally well understood and psychological problems are gaining greater recognition. However, sensory processing dysfunction is not well understood: Many struggle to gain recognition for their problems; there is a dearth of appropriately trained professionals within the statutory sector and waiting lists for assessment can be long.

In all aspects of dysfunction, Elevator Repair failure to receive the necessary input and accommodations can give rise to negative outcomes. Sensory processing dysfunction, however, can compromise learning, exacerbate pre-existing learning disabilities and, if untreated, can impact negatively on psychological wellbeing.