Andrea Rettig Helps Build Skills Through Occupational, Physical Therapy
For 22 years, Andrea Rettig MS, OTR/L has provided essential therapeutic support to students attending the BCCS Children’s Education Center, first as an Occupational Therapist and now as Clinical Coordinator for the Occupational and Physical Therapy Departments. Over the years, Andrea has remained deeply committed to helping students build practical skills that support their independence – whether its writing with a pencil, opening a juice box, or mastering other everyday skills that shape their growth and development.
“A lot of the children come in with delayed fine motor skills,” Andrea said. “We work towards getting those fine motor skills, whether they’re transitioning into kindergarten and need kindergarten-ready skills, or if they’re going to stay with us for a while, and they need to be able to use their fine motor and visual motor skills to complete pre-vocational activities.”
Sensory Processing
In the Occupational and Physical Therapy Departments, therapists help students manage auditory or visual input and/or learn supportive coping techniques to process their environments.
One way that students can regulate their sensory input is spending time in the Snoezelen Room, otherwise known as the sensory room.
In other cases, children are seeking sensory input. Therapists address this by providing the children with time to play on a trampoline, a platform swing, or a rocker board, which helps the students work on their balance.
“These are practices we can use to get the child to that just-right level so that we can come to the table and maybe do some handwriting or hand strengthening,” Andrea said.
The Occupational and Physical Therapy Departments develop plans for each child annually. The plans highlight skills each child could work towards with their parents, who are included in the therapy and invited to observe. Toys and games, such as Connect 4, are used to capture children’s attention while working on essential skills like hand-eye coordination or sequencing.
“We’re all working together to help the child fulfill their role as a student in the school, as well as at home, and then eventually in their adulthood,” Andrea said.
In addition to delivering occupational therapy services for students, Andrea, in her recently accepted role as clinical coordinator, oversees the occupational and physical therapy team. She also monitors the quality of services, offers feedback for any challenges therapists might encounter, provides ongoing training and education, and acts as a liaison between the therapy team, administration, and parents.
“It is my life,” Andrea said, reflecting on her time here. “And I’m still excited about it.”