Michela's Story
Student Service Aide to Occupational Therapist
Michela currently works as an Occupational Therapist (OT) within Rehabilitation Services at Easterseals Massachusetts (ESMA), but her career with ESMA began in Canton, MA working first as a Lifeguard at Pappas Rehabilitation Hospital for Children (PRHC), and then progressing to her role as a Student Service Aide (SSA). Michela has worked for ESMA for the last 8 years and has the unique perspective and benefit of traversing departments within the company.
During college, Michela become a lifeguard at PRHC, supporting students with disabilities in the pool and in the aquatic program. She knew she wanted to get more involved in the PRHC community so she took on the role of Recreational Assistant, working with the students after school. Eventually, she added the role of SSA, as this role provided her with the opportunity to not only assist the patients at PRHC with their personal care and recreational programming but it allowed her to also start to provide educational support.
Michela knew she wanted a meaningful career helping others, perhaps as a Physical Therapist (PT) or an Occupational Therapist (OT), but she was uncertain. Her exposure to the programs and students at PRHC, as well the community influenced her career path. “I was unsure until I started at Pappas and it just completely solidified that I wanted to do OT… When I was a lifeguard I got to see the therapists do aquatic therapy. Then I transitioned to other positions. At first, I was only in the pool, but then I would start going to meal times and participating in more rec activities.” Her exposure to this world, allowed her to see that OT was the right fit for her as it allowed her to work on functional activities with students. “I feel like so many people get that experience there (PRHC) and kind of get to decide what's a good fit for them, which is nice.”
Michela worked as a per diem SSA throughout her OT graduate school experience, giving her the ability to put into practice many clinical skills that many of her entry-level colleagues could not due to lack of exposure. She was able to become proficient at providing one-to-one support during the school day, all different types of transfers, activities of daily living, and the use of a wide range of adaptive and assistive technology. While learning in school about the vast world of rehab, she found she already had so many solid functional skills thanks to her position as an SSA. She valued this experience as it allowed her to be part of the student’s life throughout the whole day and participate and support them in various activities throughout the student’s day. “Looking back, that was the best part because you got to see so much and you got to know your students so so so well; better than anyone really.”
Michela’s experience in the PRHC community, which she describes as incredibly supportive, made her transition to a licensed OT in Rehabilitation Services with ESMA almost seamless. She encounters the same level of support and care within the ESMA community as she did at PRHC and is loving her current position as she is able to provide services in a variety of settings. She finds support with her supervisor, mentor, and the other therapists from the team. If she has any advice to future SSAs or clinicians with ESMA it is “to get involved with the Easterseals community and Pappas community as much as you can because they are so supportive, and they will completely take you under their wing. Take advantage of all the community and all the programs that ESMA has to offer.”
| Career Opportunities | ||
