"Find Your Strength." - Spaulding Rehabilitation Network
Learning Contract
General Information
Name: Kyle Pearson
Internship Hours: ~40 Hours per Week
Internship Placement: Spaulding Rehabilitation Network’s McGraw Center for Adaptive Sports
Internship Supervisor: Stephen Katzenback
Internship Job Title: Adaptive Sports Assistant
Background
Three summers prior to the current one, I did volunteer work with a physical therapist, Kathleen Salas, at Spaulding Rehabilitation Network’s North Shore branch with adaptive sports two times per week plus one day per week in the hospital itself. Earlier this year, Kathleen reached out to my step-mother, who is also a physical therapist, about an opportunity to participate in an internship at the McGraw Center in Brewster, MA, an extension of Spaulding Rehabilitation Network’s Cape Cod branch that focuses on adaptive sports. I chose to pursue this opportunity because I enjoyed the volunteer work I did with Kathleen and this opportunity is a great way for me to further explore the field of adaptive sports.
Professional Objectives
#1: To adapt various sports equipment to participants’ individual needs
Activities/Resources
Training sessions with supervisors on how each piece of sports equipment can be adapted
Identifying each participant’s disability
Consulting my team on how a piece of sports equipment should be adapted
Knowing how each piece of sports equipment can be adapted
Knowing the tools needed in order to make adaptations to sports equipment
Knowing how adaptive modules can be used to fit each participant’s needs
#2: To fill out an incident report clearly and correctly
Activities/Resources
Understanding of different fields that are filled out in accident reports
Understanding of human anatomy and different types of injury
Ability to recall events accurately and report them as truthfully as possible
#3: To innovate ways to make the adaptive sports program more engaging and enjoyable to participants
Activities/Resources
Knowledge of the sport that is being done
Knowledge of the location the sport is being done in
Scouting areas the activity takes place in
Consulting my team to brainstorm ideas
Creating visual piece(s) that is (are) clear and concise for participants to understand
#4: To maintain and care for sports equipment and their adaptive modules
Activities/Resources
Knowing the uses of tools used to maintain sports equipment
Caring for sports equipment
Organizing sports equipment
Knowing how to care for sports equipment
Discussing with my team what might be causing issues with sports equipment
Transportation of sports equipment between different locations
#5: To adapt to unexpected situations that may arise and overcome them either by myself or with my team
Activities/Resources
Using my knowledge to make educated decisions
Consulting my team to take the best course of action
Ensuring the safety of participant(s) or team member(s) involved in situation
Details
Duties Include
Adapting sports equipment to individuals’ needs
Ensuring activities are carried out in a safe manner
Creating a comfortable environment for participants
Maintaining confidentiality of participants and their conditions
Helping organize activities for each day
Ensuring equipment is functional each day
Evaluation Methods
Daily contact with field supervisor
Completion of university provided evaluation forms
Expected Workdays
Approximately 40 hours per week (sunrise to sunset)
Extra days participating in organized events
Start date: May 30th, 2017
End date: August 29th, 2017