This past summer, 好莱污视频 Tech once again hosted EmpowerSCI, a nonprofit residential program that supports individuals with spinal cord injuries through adaptive recreation, peer support, and skill-building. The program is transformative for participants and equally impactful for NEIT Occupational Therapy students, who gain real world experience that brings their classroom learning to life.
Several Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) and Occupational Therapy M.S. (MSOT) students took part this year, serving as residential aides and supporting participants with daily routines, therapy sessions, and adaptive recreation like archery, cycling, and surfing. 鈥淭he most rewarding part was seeing people do things they once thought were impossible,鈥� said MSOT student Brandon Soares, who first got involved after hearing about the program from his professor.
OTA student Elizabeth Capron added, 鈥淢y experience at Empower reaffirmed that I chose the right profession. Watching the team collaborate and seeing participants push themselves was lifechanging.鈥�
For alumna Jessica Thacker, who transitioned from a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant to a registered Occupational Therapist through NEIT鈥檚 bridge program, EmpowerSCI highlighted how much her training prepared her for practice: 鈥淣EIT鈥檚 program taught me to think critically, adapt activities, and work as part of an interdisciplinary team – all skills I used with Empower. Experiences like this show that OT goes beyond traditional clinical settings.鈥�
Together, their experience points to what makes NEIT鈥檚 OT programs distinct – small class sizes, dedicated faculty, and immersive opportunities that build confidence and prepare students for the workforce. As Elizabeth put it, 鈥淲ith NEIT鈥檚 accelerated program, I鈥檓 learning something new every day and Empower gave me the chance to put it all into practice.鈥�
Experiences like EmpowerSCI remind students why they chose occupational therapy: to help people reclaim independence and fully engage in the activities that mean the most to them. For NEIT students, it鈥檚 a powerful glimpse of the impact they will carry into their careers.
