Kayleigh Palmisano

Aside from being involved in special education clubs throughout high school, the most instrumental years working in the field of disabilities started in undergraduate. For three years, I worked at Crane Rehab for as an applied-behavior-analysis (ABA) technician. There, I worked one-on-one with children with varying diagnoses on targeted goals. These typically covered social skills, eating habits, handwriting, grading augmentative communication devices or working towards other personal milestones. Throughout this time, I also became a personal care provider and began assisting children with disabilities in their own home. The children I met during this period of my life touched my heart in such significant ways that I decided to go on and get my masters in Occupational Therapy in hopes of working with the same population later on.

Throughout my time observing and working in health care, I realized the importance of interprofessional communication and collaboration at the table medical professionals, especially where high-intensity needs are concerned. I believe teamwork and establishing the unique assets each individual contributes is what provides the most efficient and effective care. Participating in the program would give me the training to do just this, all while working with and learning from a population that is so near to my heart. I hope to leave a better equipped occupational therapist, coworker and team member.

I hope to utilize the individual gifts, talents and tools I have under my belt to the best of my ability while serving people. Occupational therapy, in particular, usually works within a team, so I hope to take what I learn from the Interprofessional Preparation Program and contribute it later on to provide effective and impactful care.