Episode Summary
Elizabeth DeBlasi, MS, OTR/L has developed her passion in pediatric occupational therapy into international travel and volunteer work. She immediately took action to make her dreams about volunteering internationally come true. She has since become an integral part of the new non-profit Therapists Without Borders.
Show Notes
Elizabeth DeBlasi, MS, OTR/L is a professor at Long Island University who woke up one night with a passion for international volunteer work. Within two weeks she was on a plane to Cape Town, South Africa to learn more about Therapists Without Borders. She and Sarah discuss their passions for pediatric therapy and how much they value sharing their knowledge around the world. They discuss:
- How many hats OTs seem to wear on a regular basis
- Getting to Cape Town with 2 weeks notice for WFOT
- Finding your calling in OT and combining your passions
- Empowering parents to make the primary difference in their child’s life
- Passion for teaching and training students
- Getting inspiration in the middle of the night
- Balancing work with passions outside of work
- Using yoga with sensory stimulation for young children
- What happens at a Silence Retreat
- Volunteer work within traveling, positive and negative experiences
- Advocating for yourself and skills when volunteering
- What makes Therapists Without Borders a great organization
- How volunteering affects both the therapist and the client
Contact Elizabeth:
Instagram: @the.ot.movement
Find out more about Therapists Without Borders: http://twbinc.org
