Expanded Resume: Work Expirence

Work Experiences

1.)    FSCD- Family Support for Children with Disabilities

Job Title: Developmental Aide

Time Period: May 2015- December 2015

I worked with a 14 year old girl—whom I shall refer to as “J” hereafter –with Down syndrome in her home twice a week (one evening and one weekend day) as a developmental aide. My title as a developmental aide meant that I worked under  a Speech-Language Pathologist and carried out the goals she had developed for J through activities I created/decided on myself. J’s goals fell under the category of pragmatic—or social—speech, as her articulation and phonology was already very well developed. Her specific goals were turn taking, staying on topic, asking spontaneous questions and participating in unwanted activities (or ones she did not necessarily like, but still had to learn how cope with , as we all must do). I would work on these tasks through everyday activities, such as talking about our days, painting nails, playing board games, looking at photo albums, arts and crafts, learning song lyrics and learning about technology. Learning about technology included how to properly write an e-mail and subsequently reply to an e-mail, as well as how to create a Skype account and how to use her first cell phone. I would also try to include her mom, dad and older brother whenever possible because this was very helpful for her reaching her goals (i.e. more turn taking chances, etc.). It also allowed for them to see what I was working on and gave them the chance to try it on their own. The main thing was to try and keep these activities age appropriate and functional to J’s life, so that she could also work on them when I was not there to provide services. That is why, unfortunately, I cannot provide any examples of my work there due to the work not being concrete or in hard copy form.

2.)    ARBI- The Association for the Rehabilitation of the Brain Injured

Title: Summer Student

Time Period: May 2015- August 2015

 ARBI is a facility that works with adults who have had a brain injury or stroke through providing them with Physical, Occupational and Recreational Therapy and Speech and Language services. My role there was a bit of everything. Firstly, I was a part of the Outreach team, where we would plan, arrange and take clients out on trips into the community, such as to the zoo, a weekly art class or experiencing life in downtown Calgary.  Secondly, I was a part of the Community integration team, where I helped out in the  leisure skills group, stroke group and the Horticulture group. The leisure skills and stroke group were held either on-site (where I would help  plan/create presentations and help to work on wood working activities) or off-site (outings), while the Horticulture group worked on-site and I aided them in planting and maintaining two adapted gardens. Thirdly, I helped to lead the ARBI 101 class, which was a group offered to clientele on the wait list for individualized programs. In this group, we would work on physical and mental activities to give the potential clientele a small taste of what they would do once they were working one-on-one with a volunteer. Lastly, I worked with three individuals on their individualized program plans that included physical therapy (i.e. walking up stairs, stand to sits, etc.), occupational therapy (i.e. grasping/releasing, etc.) and speech-language services (i.e. ORLA method, example provided below). Other duties that I also completed were booking/canceling Handibus trips, tending to the Horticulture group’s gardens (as they were only there once a week), prepping materials for individualized programs and/or group programs, toileting  and reporting feedback to my overseeing supervisors on the performance of my clients after each daily session.

Oral Reading for Language in Aphasia (ORLA)

Leora R. Cherney, Ph.D.

Center for Aphasia Research,

Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago

ORLA Method:

·         Please follow the 9 steps exactly as written here.

·         Please don’t take shortcuts as this method helps with both speech and reading comprehension

1)      Read the sentence out loud to XXX making sure to pronounce the words carefully. Point to each word as you read to XXX

2)      Read the sentence again and have XXX point to each word as you read.

3)      Read the sentence again, have XXX point to each word and have her say it with you.

4)      Repeat step 3. Fade your voice to allow her to read the words out loud independently.

5)      Say a word in the sentence and have XXX point to the word you said.

6)      Point to a word in the sentence and have XXX say the word out loud.

7)      Have XXX read the entire sentence again in unison with you.

ORLA Sentence Examples

·         My name is XXX

·         I am 75 years old

·         I am divorced

·         I have 3 sons

·         XXX is my son

·         XXX is 25 years old

·         XXX is my son

·         XXX is 20 years old

·         XXX is my son

·         XXX is 22 years old

·         My sons live in France

·         I have 2 grandsons

·         They are twins

·         They are 5 years old

·         My sister lives in XXX, British Columbia

·         I moved to Canada 20 years ago

·         I had a stroke

·         My stroke was in 2012

3.)    Autumn House Inc.

Job Title: General Care Aide

Time Period- Summers 2011-2013

Autumn House Inc. is a privately owned assisted living facility that houses 22 residents in private rooms in Gull Lake, Saskatchewan. My role there was General Care Aide. As such, I was required to work 12 hour shifts, either in the daytime or in the nighttime, as a staff member must always be on site. During day shifts (7am-7pm), my duties included: serving breakfast, administering morning/lunch/afternoon and supper time medications, serving lunch, bathing the residents whose bath day it was, dressing (as needed), peri-care, collecting laundry and helping the residents with whatever they may haveed need throughout the day. I would also call them to attend morning exercises or any activity or entertainment we might have been having in the afternoon. I would report any medication changes or pertinent happenings of the day to the night staff coming on, as well I would write this information in the log book kept at the front desk. My night shifts (7pm-7am) had the following duties: preparing bedtime snacks, administering bedtime medications, bedtime preparations, completing the resident’s laundry, setting the tables for breakfast in the morning, cleaning the floors and checking on the residents every two hours (every hour if they were sick, etc.). Again, if anything happened, I would report this to the day staff coming on and record it in the log book. Despite the shift I worked, if there was an emergency, I was to call 911 and prepare the medication lists to send along with the EMTs in the ambulance, so that they had that information if needed. Occasionally, I would work the cleaner shift (we were very short staffed) where I would come in from 7:30am-2pm and help serve meals, make beds, do bedding laundry and clean all 22 rooms and bathrooms or any other additional cleaning required.