Associate Professor of the Department of Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, and Physical Education Participated in the Project “Strengthening Rehabilitation Professional Capacity. Ukraine-2025”
Associate Professor of the Department of Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, and Physical Education, Anastasiia Bai, took part in the training course “Practical Skills of an Occupational Therapist in Pediatrics” within the framework of the project “Strengthening Rehabilitation Professional Capacity. Ukraine-2025”, implemented by the Charitable Foundation Patients of Ukraine with the support of the WHO Country Office in Ukraine. The training was conducted online (June 11 – July 23, 2025) and offline in Lviv (August 27–30, 2025) and Kyiv (September 8–12, 2025). The purpose of this event was to develop and improve participants’ practical skills for both clinical and teaching practice in the field of Pediatric Occupational Therapy.
The training program covered the following areas of occupational therapy practice:
- Conceptual foundations of occupational therapy in pediatrics.
- Clinical reasoning and implementation of occupational therapy interventions.
- Introduction to the occupational therapy process in pediatrics.
- Occupational therapy interventions for neurodevelopmental disorders.
- Occupational therapy interventions for neuromotor disorders.
- Occupational therapy interventions for acquired injuries.
- Play as a central activity in child development and its application in occupational therapy.
- Engaging the child in the intervention process: approaches to motivation, self-regulation, and participation support.
- Modern approaches: telerehabilitation, technologies, and virtual interventions.
- Early identification and occupational therapy support for children at high risk of functional impairments. The role of occupational therapists in neonatal units.
- Family-centered approach in pediatric services. The occupational therapist’s role in early intervention and in a multidisciplinary context.
- Inclusive education and the role of occupational therapists: promoting participation and academic success through environmental adaptation.
- Teaching pediatric skills to OT students, including documentation to ensure quality of skill training, case development for teaching, and training students in the Heilsbrunner model for structured case discussions.
During the training in Lviv, both Ukrainian and international colleagues shared their practical experience, including Marharita Vinogradova, Beate Krieger, Kristina Skrypnyk, Renate Pfann, Marina Vitomska, and Marina Kobzina.
During the internship in Kyiv, hosted at the Kyiv City Children’s Clinical Hospital, participants gained practical experience working with children of different ages who had congenital and acquired musculoskeletal disorders, neurological, and sensory impairments. They became familiar with principles of assessing a child’s functional abilities, methods for creating individualized rehabilitation plans, and selecting therapeutic activities. Particular attention was given to the development of fine motor skills, sensory integration, daily living skills, and the use of play as a therapeutic tool.
Participants had the opportunity to observe and engage in activities aimed at adapting environments to meet children’s needs and support their maximum independence.
The internship contributed to consolidating theoretical knowledge, developing practical skills in working with children, and deepening the understanding of the role of occupational therapy in comprehensive pediatric rehabilitation. The acquired experience will be integrated into the educational process, enriching lectures and practical classes with new clinical scenarios and methods.
