POST-SECONDARY GOALS
After I graduate high school I plan on attending the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. I will major in Therapeutic Recreation which is the same as the Kinesiology major but with more psychology classes and added education on people with disabilities. Once I receive my bachelor's degree I plan on applying to graduate school for occupational or speech therapy.
Once I get my graduate degree in occupational or speech therapy I plan on getting a job in a small practice and treat children with special needs. I want to be able to help them become as independent as possible. I feel that my time at Walker Therapy has helped me prepare for my future and was the first step to becoming an occupational or speech therapist.
Along with becoming an occupational/speech therapist I plan on becoming feeding certified so I can work with kids on feeding during therapy sessions. Eating is a vital part of life and I want to help children gain the ability of doing such a mandatory life task. I also plan on becoming fluent is American Sign Language (ASL) so that I can better communicate with those patients who are non-verbal and deaf. This is very important because without a form of communication there is lots of confusion and frustration between therapist and patient.
Once I have been practicing for a few years and saved up some money I hope to open up my own private practice specifically for children with special needs. I hope to offer physical, occupational and speech therapy at my practice through hippotherapy, aquatic and land therapies. I hope to make a difference in the lives of special needs children one at a time.
