Resume for Betsy Kennedy Jacobs, MS, OTR

Strategies for Better Functioning

Betsy Kennedy Jacobs, MS, OTR
P.O. Box 242, Belleville, WI 53508
(608) 455-1644 (W/cell)
bkjacobs@betterfunctioning.com

Professional Objectives

1. To evaluate and treat children and adults with developmental disabilities and sensory processing disorder.

3. To custom design and create adaptive equipment for greater independence for people of all ages in work, leisure and daily living skills.

Education

BOSTON UNIVERSITY, SARGENT COLLEGE Boston , MA
M.S. in Occupational Therapy, May 1988

BATES COLLEGE Lewiston, ME
B.S. in Geology, June 1981

Experience

STRATEGIES FOR BETTER FUNCTIONING, LLC (founded August 2000)

Home-based business originally founded for the purposes of selling the Jacobs Inventory of Functional Skills (JIFS) and to provide private evaluation and OT services. New private practice office opened December 2006 at 2 W. Main Street, Belleville, WI 53508.

HEALTHSOUTH BRAINTREE REHABILITATIVE NETWORK at

LYNNFIELD PEDIATRIC REHABILITATION CENTER. Lynnfield, MA

Resource Clinician, June 1997-November 1999. In addition to responsibilities as a staff clinician, supported OT services for Adults with Developmental Disabilities Program (see below), trained therapists for the program, gave community inservice trainings for caregivers, and consulted at Day Health centers.

Staff Clinician, June 1996-June 1997. Evaluation and treatment of children with wide variety of diagnosis using developmental, sensory integrative and functional retraining approaches along with strong home programming and family education.

HARBOR AREA REHABILITATIVE THERAPIES Malden, MA

OT Supervisor, March 1995-May 1996. In addition to staff therapist duties, was responsible for assigning caseload and overseeing work of 9 COTA’s and 2 OTR’s.

Staff Therapist, Sept. 1994-May 1996. Evaluation, treatment and consultation to public schools in several towns and Shore Education Collaborative classrooms using developmental and SI approaches.

INTERCITY HOME HEALTH CARE, INC. Malden, MA

Staff Therapist, May 1994-May 1996. Evaluation, treatment and equipment training with home-bound elderly patients. Conducted home health aide training.

COMMUNICATIVE HEALTH CARE ASSOCIATES, INC. Waltham, MA

Consultant and Therapist, Aug. 1988-Aug. 1994. Evaluating, treating and consulting at

1. MASSACHUSETTS ASSOCIATION FOR THE BLIND (MAB): adults’ program, children’s program and Ivy Street School (see below); co-led body mechanics staff trainings with RPT which significantly reduced number of back injuries filed for workman’s compensation at MAB;

2. CONCORD AREA SPECIAL EDUCATION COLLABORATIVE (CASE): worked in classrooms with students representing a variety of functioning levels; collaborated with teachers to incorporate new inclusion model of therapy services;

3. HOGAN T. BERRY REGIONAL CENTER Intensive Care Facilities: conducted direct care, staff trainings and customized assistive technologies for residents in community group homes in Boston, Massachusetts area.

Program Development

1. Adults with Developmental Disabilities. Was the designer of OT aspect of program at Braintree Rehabilitative Hospital Network, Mass.; wrote manual and trained therapists throughout eastern Mass. to work in the program. 1997-1999.

2. Ivy Street School. Was the designer of OT aspect of new residential program for adolescents with traumatic brain injury at MAB. 1993-1994.

Copyright

Jacobs Inventory of Functional Skills (JIFS). A non-standardized assessment tool, developed for use particularly with the developmentally delayed population, to determine level of functioning in home and work/school environment and to help identify underlying sensory and motor reasons for limits in skills. September 1999.

Professional Presentations

1. Presented 1 1/2 day course on the JIFS to OTs and paraprofessionals in Bermuda at their invitation, February 2005.

2. Presented JIFS for WOTA SW District, at their invitation, November 2003.

3. Presented the JIFS at two 1/2 day sessions at CASE in Concord, MA, April 2001.

4. Poster presentation: “Jacobs Inventory of Functional Skills (JIFS)”, presented at the Massachusetts Association of OT Annual Conference, November 2000.

5. Vendor at the Wisconsin ARC conference, September 2004.

6. Vendor at the American Occupational Therapy Association annual conference, May 2004.

7. Vendor at the Wisconsin OT Association Conference, October 2002.

8. Vendor at the Wisconsin OT Association Conference, November 2001.

Community Presentations

1. "Yoga for Kids" class for 5-6 y.o.'s at EAGLE School, Madison, WI in Jan. '06 & '07.

2. "Baby Signs Improve Communication, Lessen Frustration", Spring 2005 article in the "ParentLine" for Oregon, WI community.

3. "Baby Sign Language", Kids Express Learning Center, Madison, WI, October 2004 and March 2005.

4. "The Thought Behind the Toy", Fall 2004 article in the "ParentLine" for Oregon, WI community.

5. "Occupational Therapy and School Readiness", for Mothers of Multiples, Madison, WI; October, 2003

6. “OT in the Head Start Setting”, Salem, MA; February 1998 and April 1999.

7. “Behavior Issues as Indicators of Special Needs”; given for the Child Care Circuit of Lawrence, MA; April 1998.

Certification & Licensure

1. Sensory Integration and Praxis Tests, SIPT #7375, May 1999.

2. Current OTR certification in good standing with NBCOT.

3. Licensed to practice in the State of Wisconsin.

Continuing Education & Conferences

1. "Coding and Billing for Therapy and Rehab", May 2007

2. "Therapeutic Approaches to Dementia", July 20063. Read Occupational Therapy and Dementia Care, The Home Environmental Skill-Building Program for Individuals and Families, Gitlin and Corcoran, 2005.

4. "Therapeutic Yoga: Bridging Ancient Practices with Traditional Therapy Techniques", March 2005.

5. "Nutrition Therapy for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder", December 2004.

6. "First Strokes Multi-sensory Handwriting Inservice", March 2004

7. "Treatment of Individuals with Neurological Dysfunction: From Assessment to Goal Formation", 11/03

8. "Cultural Context Competency and Children", May 2003

9. "Starting a Business: Self-Appraisal and Planning", February 2003

10. "Hand Function", 2-day course, 1/03

Member MAOT 1986-2000. AOTA 1986-2004