Andrea has attained a vast amount of clinical experience in a variety of settings and in doing so has worked with a variety of paediatric conditions gaining a wealth of extensive hands-on experience and knowledge in Occupational Therapy assessment and intervention processes and techniques.
Andrea highly values continuous professional development and has undergone postgraduate training in a number of specialities including Sensory integration therapy, Dyspraxia assessment and intervention, Autism and DIR/floortime, Handwriting, Dysgraphia and Assistive Technology. Additionally, Andrea lectures part-time at Atlantic Technology University on the level 7 Honours degree qualification, Applied Approaches to Childhood Autism.
Andrea worked in the Child Disability Network Teams across Donegal between 2002 and 2021. She is dedicated to facilitating and developing communication between home, school and therapy sessions believing that this collaborative approach is essential to the success of the Individual education plan, the home therapy plan and the overall well-being of the child and the family. Andrea puts the child and the family at the centre of the plan and creates all therapeutic and educational plans in accordance with their needs.
Andrea is passionate about parent and teacher education to facilitate the learning opportunities for the child and therefore making changes to these environments will empower the child and create opportunities for learning and success. She believes that school accommodations (RACE- reasonable accommodation in junior and leaving cert exams and DARE- disability access route to Education) in relation to the child’s individual educational needs and learning is essential for the child’s long-term success.
When to refer for an Occupational Therapy Assessment/Consultation
- If there has been a delay in the developmental profile of your child and you want a consultation/ assessment on developmental and functional skills.
- If your child requires therapeutic interventions in sensory processing, motor skills and everyday living skills.
- If you require a home or school program to support skill development in the home or school setting.
- When applying for RACE, reasonable accommodation in the junior or leaving cert exams certain and specific circumstances or conditions will require an Occupational Therapy assessment and report to support applications.
- This also applies to the DARE process where students are applying to third-level educational institutions. It is imperative to discuss deadlines with your school and have your Occupational Therapy report and recommendations completed and submitted on file with your school before this deadline expires.
- If your child is having difficulty with handwriting i.e. any element of legibility, complaining of fatigue and pain during or after written activities in the school day or during homework, holding the pencil correctly, putting too much or too little pressure on the pencil/ pen when handwriting.
- If your child is having difficulty organising themselves in the classroom and with homework, difficulty during PE time, having trouble keeping on task in the classroom.
- If your child is presenting with postural difficulties and requires an assessment and recommendations
- If your child is having difficulty with everyday living skills and falling behind their peers in areas such as tying their shoelaces, buttoning clothes, using a knife and fork where appropriate at mealtimes, overall functional skills and abilities for their developmental age.
- If your child has a physical and sensory diagnosis and requires assessment for specific accommodation and resources in the exam centre or when contemplating whether to apply for a separate exam centre. Assessment for a detailed sensory profile and recommendations for home and school adaptations and programs to support sensory processing in line with functional everyday living skills.
- Diagnosis of DCD Dyspraxia as per DCD Dyspraxia Guidelines.
How to get in touch?
- +353 (0) 85 1380563
- paedsotconsultancy@gmail.com