Hello & Welcome!
Your presence here makes my heart happy. This page was the most challenging for me to write – I’d rather have you shadow me all day and see the wonderful magic of occupational therapy than type out information about me. I’m better at doing things than talking about things. But, alas, that is not the purpose of an “about” page, so here is a little about me, my occupational therapy journey, and the evolution of OTblueprints. Enjoy!
It’s Me
I’m Janel and I founded OTblueprints (officially) in June 2021. It’s been a rollercoaster of life events leading to this point but whoa am I happy to have arrived at this moment. I love music, dancing, and being outside – walking, biking, swimming, or playing tennis. I like to sing although I can’t really carry a tune… but I sing anyway. :) I am always up for a good cup of coffee with wonderful company (and I will happily swap the cup of coffee for a glass of wine - your call)! Reading has become a favorite pastime as it lets me learn, unlearn, and relearn. So much growth is possible if we allow ourselves the opportunity.
Rising Up
I was born with a certain amount of grit and tenacity, and I was raised with the mindset to always strive for excellence. This mentality – of striving, constantly working toward something – allowed me to understand from an early age that I will always be fighting for what I believe in; I will always be working extremely hard for what I want in life and for those I love in life. Resiliency and love, when I allow my eyes to fully open, have been constant guideposts in my life.
The Beginning
My journey into the occupational therapy profession began my sophomore year of high school during a service trip where I spent a week engaging and working at a center for head injury services. It’s been almost twenty years since that experience, and I think it’s safe to say it was life changing. I wouldn’t be where I am today without it, but I often think that about many of my life events.
The Daily Grind
By day I work as a school-based occupational therapist. Kids are hilarious! They can also be very demanding and kind and sassy and wonderful and all. the. things. No day is dull in the life of a pediatric occupational therapist. School-based occupational therapy providers help students learn independent life skills – so we may focus on activities of daily living (being able to button a shirt or pants, zip a jacket, tie shoes), handwriting, visual perceptual skills, motor coordination, etc. We work on improving all the skills needed to live a meaningful and independent life at school. My passion in the occupational therapy world is working with students or children with sensory processing disorder challenges. We all tick in our own magical way, and I love exploring and problem solving the impact our sensory systems have on how we go about engaging in life.
Get it Girl
My high school English teacher is rolling in his grave for the use of the word “get,” and while I try to not use it in my writing, I certainly say the phrase “get it girl” all the time (so much so a friend gifted me the phrase in decorative plates). While I constantly encourage people to pursue what is good for their soul, I also practice what I preach. Here are some professional accomplishments that I’m pretty dang proud of in my occupational therapy journey:
I graduated with my Clinical Doctorate in Occupational Therapy from Creighton University in Omaha, NE in December 2011.
That’s right - over a decade of being an OT! I’ve definitely learned a few things along the way.
My classmates selected me to be our class speaker which was a pretty cool honor. I think I did a good job! ;)
I obtained my Board Certification in Pediatrics (BCP credential) through the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) in May 2020 after submitting a 57-page portfolio application!
Less than 1% of practicing pediatric occupational therapists have achieved their board certification.
This was a huge personal accomplishment for me.
I have successfully completed the Level I and Level II Mentorships from the STAR Institute for Sensory Processing Disorder in Denver, CO.
Learning the complexity of sensory processing is a passion of mine and if you want to learn more about Sensory Processing Disorder and what I did, check out their website.
The Level II Mentorship is practice altering – I learned so many things I liked and wanted to change in my practice from this experience.
In 2017 I taught a graduate occupational therapy class called Critical Analysis of Occupational Therapy Practice as a “fill in” (for a lack of better language to describe the circumstance). Luckily, I was the teaching assistant of this course for six years prior, but I had never been an instructor of record. I taught 116 entry level occupational therapy students in one cohort that included campus and distance pathways and a post professional cohort of 14 students. It was hard! But, also, it was one of the most rewarding experiences I have had as an occupational therapist.
The entry level OTD class of 2019 awarded me Educator of the Year in 2018 for both the campus and distance pathways. What I appreciated so much from the OTD class of 2019 was that they allowed me the opportunity to grow with them – we made that semester bad ass because we did it together! The OTD class of 2019 will always hold a special place in my heart.
I served as President of the Nebraska Occupational Therapy Association (NOTA) from July 2018 to June 2020.
With the support of the board, I completely revamped the organization. We rebuilt our organization and I hope the foundation we created lasts for years to come. You can check out the Annual Report that identifies many of the great accomplishments NOTA achieved during my presidency.
For me, the greatest accomplishment during my presidency was that NOTA’s membership increased by 42%! It was amazing!
I am a strong advocate for the occupational therapy profession and the individuals we serve daily. I’ve attended five national AOTA Hill Days to speak to senators and representatives about the profession of occupational therapy and the need for greater coverage and reimbursement for our services.
OTblueprints Evolution
Wait, so how the heck did OTblueprints come to fruition? Well, this is round two of business ventures for me. If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again. Right?! There is also no other option for me - so here we are! My hope with OTblueprints is to blend and share my passions in a way that encourages my fellow occupational therapy colleagues to pursue what is good for them and what is good for the people and communities in which we all live. I planned a lot and went through all the necessary “steps” in my first business venture and since it didn’t really work out, I decided to kind of “wing” this venture. I’m not sure what will “take off” but what I do know is I am going to do my best to ensure the next generation of occupational therapy providers feel empowered to create a better world through occupational therapy. I know the vision of OTblueprints, and I do believe it will help create a better world for all. I know I’ve said it before, but thanks again for being here.
The Present and Future
For those who know me, I don’t actually “wing” many things – I take calculated risks and often have analyzed situations and determined numerous backup plans. Come to think of it - isn’t that a characteristic of being a good OT? Yes, yes it is - we create plans but then adapt and modify as we go! That’s why on the homepage I said OTblueprints will be continually evolving. :) The heart of OTblueprints is guiding occupational therapy providers on a journey of empowerment to carve their own path in life. Bookmark our blog page and sign-up on our homepage to receive periodic insights from OTblueprints. Additionally, OTblueprints sells digital treatment ideas through our shop, so be sure to visit and grab anything that may help you within your practice! I have used all the digital downloads in my practice. If you have questions or want to troubleshoot anything, reach out and contact me! I intend to have a no-BS platform and hope OTblueprints will be a resource of trusted information. Be sure to share the website as you know from the homepage my philosophy of knowledge being the power for change.