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MCGILL UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF
PHYSICAL AND OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY
P
RESS RELEASE: Montreal: To stay current with what’s
happening at McGill’s School of Physical & Occupa-
tional Therapy (SPOT), check out the School’s website
www.mcgill.ca/spotor join the group on Facebook or LinkedIn.
McGill’s OT faculty are being recognized for their contribu-
tions to the profession:
Dr. Beverlea Tallant has been
awarded the 2014 Alumni Achieve-
ment Award for OT by the University
of Toronto, “…in recognition of her su-
perlative and sustained contribution to
the Occupational Therapy profession”
(see photo at right).
Dr. Bernadette Nedelec, Director of the OT program at
McGill, was awarded the 2014 Mention d’excellence from the
Ordre des ergothérapeutes du Québec, “… in recognition of her
exceptional contributions to OT academically, clinically and ad-
ministratively.” See photo at below, with (from left to right) Mr.
Alain Bibeau, OEQ President, Dr. Nedelec in the centre, and the
award sponsor representative, Ms. Sylvie Laurendeau from La
Capitale Insurance, to the right.
In October 2014, Small Steps won a prestigious Community
Service Award from Fédération CJA! Two years ago, a multidis-
ciplinary paediatric summer camp, Small Steps, was developed
as a partnership project between Ometz, the YM-YWHA (Young
Men’s - Young Women’s Hebrew Association), and McGill Uni-
versity School of Communication Disorders (SCSD) and School
of Physical &Occupational Therapy (specifically the OT program
of SPOT). The summer camp provided rehabilitation services to
children with mild to moderate communication disorders and/or
developmental delays. The camp included 17 children who re-
ceived these therapeutic services, at no additional expense.
This year a total of 4 McGill masters’ students (2 in OT and
2 from the SCSD Program) benefitted from the clinical education
opportunities using innovative supervision models. Stagiaires
learned how work together with other disciplines to help clients.
Getting to know the children quickly, in a non-threatening atmos-
phere with a high frequency of therapy, helped create positive
consequences for overall improvement. Academic coordinators
confirmed that this was an excellent pedagogical experience for
the students. Students were supervised by qualified, registered
OT and S-LP clinicians.
This is a unique program that brings together leadership for
specialized services in our community, with a wonderful and
memorable camp experience for children with a remarkable
learning opportunity for McGill students. See the award photo
on the right (left to right in the photo: Caroline Storr, SPOT; Daan-
ish Mansoory, OT; Deborah Groper; Kelly Root; missing: Marcy
Kastner).
Sarah C. Marshall, Director’s Academic Associate