Communication & Expression – Staying Connected Through Dance
My name is Mara and I am an occupational therapy student from the University of Toronto! For the past eight weeks, I have been working with Mallory and Jade along with three other students to complete our third fieldwork placement. I was ecstatic when I learned I had been matched with the Dance Ability Movement! Dance has always played a big part in my life. I was involved in various dance classes at a young age ranging from ballet to hip-hop and everything in between! I was a competitive dancer for about 12 years and continued dancing all throughout my [...]
What is good for some dancers, is good for all! A student occupational therapist’s perspective on universal design.
Throughout my two years as an occupational therapy student, I have learned the importance of creating an inclusive classroom and allowing individuals of all abilities to have a chance to participate in any activity they enjoy. As occupational therapists, we understand the importance that activities have on an individual’s wellbeing and mental health – each and every one of us fills our days with activities, ranging from things that we need, want or have to do. Participating in fun activities, such as sports teams or joining a dance class, is one of the fundamental ways younger children begin to learn [...]
Volunteering can advance your career!
We all learn at school that everyone has to be treated fairly, to have equal opportunities and to feel part of a community. However, we often don’t truly and fully understand the meaning of these words until we live them. Volunteer work brings students this opportunity. It helps them develop new skills, become more empathetic and think out-side-of-the-box. Rebecca Russo, one of our volunteers from Richmond Hill, is living proof of how volunteering can help you see the world from a different lens and positively impact your life. “Society makes us believe that individuals with special needs are "less than [...]
Double recognition for the Volunteer of the Month for May: Congratulations to Abigail MacDonald and Estelle Tang!
CONGRATULATIONS to Abigail MacDonald and Estelle Tang on being selected as Volunteers’ of the Month for May 2020! Find below how they have been helping us to keep our community connected and thriving! Abigail MacDonald - Ballare Studio Dance This is Abigail's first year volunteering with The Dance Ability Movement at our Ancaster location, Ballare Studio Dance, and we were so glad to welcome her to the team! Abigail has been consistently dedicated to the team throughout our season and continued to do so in our virtual classes! Abigail has attended all of our classes since switching to virtual dance classes, [...]
#KeepDancingChallenge – Week 11: Are you ready for some tunes this week?
Are you ready for some tunes? Grab an instrument to dance along with this week’s #KeepDancingChallenge! This week we have a song by Walk Off the Earth “Gang of Rhythm”. Many thanks to everyone who submitted a video! We loved to see your creativity and positive energy! Check out the video on our YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/yyN1zYd_Iwk Just feel the rhythm and let your inner dancer shine!
Making the Connection: A Student Occupational Therapist Perspective
As a student occupational therapist, one of the main concepts that have been instilled in me is the profound impact that engaging in meaningful activities has on one’s health and wellbeing. When you break down this idea, it truly does make sense as our lives are made up of doing things we like, or need to do, on a daily basis. Quite simply, if we have opportunities to engage in activities we enjoy doing, our physical and mental health will reap the benefits. As the Dance Ability Movement was founded by occupational therapists, it only makes sense that their philosophy [...]