OTA ribbon-cutting ceremony, open house to be held April 19

 

To celebrate Arkansas Tech University-Ozark Campus’ newly started Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) program, a ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house will be held Thursday, April 19.

Housed in Morton Hall, located at 1700 West C St. in Russellville behind St. Mary’s Hospital, the OTA program began holding classes this spring semester.

OTAs help people across their lifespans participate in activities they want and need to do through the therapeutic use of everyday tasks, or occupations.

Common occupational-therapy interventions include helping children with disabilities to participate fully in school and social situations, helping people recovering from injury to regain skills and providing supports for older adults experiencing physical and cognitive changes.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held at 4 p.m. by the Russellville Area Chamber of Commerce outside Morton Hall, and the drop-in open house will last until 6 p.m. The public is cordially invited to both, and students will be on hand to explain to visitors the many aspects of being an OTA.

OTA Director Adrienne Shelton said, “Our students are very excited about this opportunity to showcase to the community their hard work toward a rewarding career in occupational therapy, which will allow them to change lives.”

The OTA program was approved by the Arkansas Tech Board of Trustees in October 2010 and the Arkansas Department of Higher Education in February 2011.

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