Burt Continues to Grow Occupational Therapy’s Contributions to the WVU CED

WVU Master of Occupational Therapy Program Director Dr. Amy Burt, EdD, OTR/L continues to channel her passions for pediatric rehabilitation, leadership, and advocacy to support numerous programs through the West Virginia University Center for Excellence in Disabilities (WVU CED). Through her efforts, she has significantly expanded the footprint of occupational therapy across the center to the benefit of those served and students from WVU’s MOT and OTD entry-level professional programs. According to Center Director Dr. Lesley Cottrell, PhD, Burt’s contributions “represent the teaching, service, and research missions of the University.” Burt serves as the occupational therapy specialist for the interdisciplinary Feeding and Swallowing Clinic at the CED designing the occupational therapy component of services for this clinic as well as developing and implementing occupational therapy training components to CED/LEND fellows while seeing families. As a faculty member for the Country Roads Program, Burt teaches self-advocacy and determination courses for students with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities attending college. In this role, she collaborates closely with other occupational therapy faculty to provide independent living skills training to students during their first and second years in the program.

In an effort to improve and expand program offerings at the Center, Dr. Burt has obtained grant funding to examine strategies for increasing comfort with daily tasks such as haircuts and dental appointments for individuals on the Autism Spectrum. She has also recently received funding to establish a sensory room at the Center for children to utilize during their visits. WVU occupational therapy students benefit through both direct client interactions and through collaboration with Dr. Burt on various Center related projects focusing on independent living and individuals with disabilities. Dr. Maggie Jaynes, MD, who serves as Director of the LEND Program, states that Dr. Burt “offers relatable clinical assessment and intervention to our Feeding Clinic families by using a rural-lens view to navigate barriers to equitable care.” Dr. Jaynes credits Burt with advancing the field of occupational therapy at the Center and “exhibits leadership by providing high quality continuing education to colleagues and other professionals across the state as well as offering family-friendly caregiver training.” Burt’s contributions are part of the growing role for Occupational Therapy across the Center. Division of Occupational Therapy faculty Dr. Steven Wheeler, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA and Dr. Amanda Acord-Vira, EdD, OTR/L, FAOTA serve as principal investigators for the federal and state funded traumatic brain injury programs which are housed within the CED.