Occupational Therapy Facilities

The University of New England’s new Occupational Therapy Lab, completed in summer 2019, is a dynamic space on the Portland Campus that facilitates integrated learning throughout the OT curriculum.

Many OT courses are designed holistically so that faculty and students participate in multiple learning formats within the timespan of one class. Groups may flow between a lecture, small group discussions, clinical practice activities, and reflection. The new lab is designed for such integrated learning. Large and full of natural light, the lab has a classroom for lectures and hands-on lab training sessions, as well as functional fixtures to support skills exercises for key occupations, such as meal preparation (in a full kitchen), sleep and rest, bathing and grooming, and play.

You develop occupation-based practice with infants, children, youth, and families including skill development, theoretical application, and clinical reasoning. You learn hands-on skills and develop occupation-based practice in preparation for work in schools, early intervention settings, community agencies, and medical settings.

The Transdisciplinary Playgroup is a hands-on Interprofessional Education program of the Westbrook College of Health Professions, which was recently the topic of the cover story of OT Practice Magazine. The Transdisciplinary Playgroup services children ages 18 months to 3 years and their families, while providing valuable real world education for occupational therapy, physical therapy, social work, and nursing students. As a second year occupational therapy student, you participate in the playgroup; as a first-year student you document therapeutic observations. 

In physical and psychosocial disability lab courses, you build practical, hands-on skills in evaluating and intervening with adults, throughout the lifespan, who are experiencing disruptions in occupations due to acute and chronic physical and psychiatric disabilities. You develop the technical skills required to competently practice as occupational therapists through interactive learning labs. The labs include use of UNE's Interprofessional Simulation and Innovation Center. These skills include evaluation procedures, case study analyses and structured lessons.

Interprofessional Opportunities

You will engage in a variety of interprofessional learning experiences over two years. This includes working with Physical Therapy, Physician Assistant, Nursing, Dental Hygiene, Pharmacy, Social Work and medical students on projects, clinical work and cases. You will develop skills to work with teams of professionals to benefit future clients.