Alexis Frederick and friends during a recent Occupational Therapy session.
Mary Cariola’s Alexis Frederick is a woman of her word.
Alexis was just 10-years-old, working on her Bronze Award...the highest honor a Junior Girl Scout can achieve, when the thought crossed her mind…in the hallways at Mary Cariola Center!
Bronze Awards are completed to make a difference in the community, and help Girl Scouts discover new passions. Alexis created and sewed specialty bags, designed to hold supplies that could be attached to wheelchairs. She delivered them to students at Mary Cariola…in 2010! During that delivery, Alexis discovered her new passion.
Alexis remembers getting kissed by a therapy dog, and loved seeing the energy of the students and the kindness of the staff. She said to her Mom, “I want to work here someday.”
That day came in November 2022, when board certified and licensed Occupational Therapist, Alexis began her Mary Cariola career. In five short months, her dream has come true.
A Fairport High School and Keuka College graduate, Alexis always knew she wanted to work in an educational setting.
“I thought I wanted to be a teacher, I loved science, I loved sensory learning but whatever I decided to do, I knew I wanted to make it fun,” Alexis said.
At Mary Cariola’s Elmwood Campus, Alexis works with our youngest, and perhaps the most fun, eager and engaging learners….preschoolers!
“They are like sponges, Alexis said. “The sky is the limit to what we can teach and what our students learn. Using foam soap on a mirror, motivates a student to draw circles, which down the road can lead to writing; grasping objects can lead to independent drinking from a cup, or self care tasks like cleaning and dressing, she explained.”
A team of 22 Occupational Therapists provide services to 95% of Cariola students, 88% of our residents -- and each other.
“I love it here. The OT Team is always happy to share stories and strategies to help me be better,” Alexis said. “There is so much knowledge, and we have a support group every other week to generate ideas to better serve our students.”
For now, Alexis is focused on her students and her career, and has a message for future visitors to Mary Cariola, especially young ones.
‘If you want to make a difference, and love to work hard, OT is the best profession,” Alexis said. “And at Mary Cariola, you will find a community of dedicated people who are always happy with so many stories to tell.”
Memories of that special visit to Mary Cariola in 2010!
April is Occupational Therapy Month and an essential part of our residential and school days - every day.
OT Supervisor Heather LeFrois says, “Occupational Therapists address functional life skill development and work on increasing a student’s independence in a variety of daily life activities and across all environments ( school, home and in the community). The skills that occupational therapists work on are diverse and may range from addressing a student’s fine motor development (handwriting, scissor skills), visual motor skills, self-help skills (hygiene, feeding, activities of daily living), pre-vocational skills, sensory processing, and creating adaptive equipment or using assistive technologies to help individuals access their environment with greater independence.”
Mary Cariola’s integrated model sets our school-based programming apart from the rest.
“Integrating specific therapeutic supports throughout each student’s school day occurs routinely at the Mary Cariola Center and by all team members,” Heather explained. “Everyone on the student’s team is aware of the specific skills the student is working on and what specialized techniques are required that allow the student to be most successful while addressing these skills.”
In our residential homes, OT services are provided to 38 individuals and consultation services for the other residents as necessary. Residential Occupational Therapy focusses on providing personalized sensory diets to help with emotional regulation and alertness for engagement, providing opportunities for physical activity to promote fitness, strength and coordination, selecting appropriate adaptive devices and training staff to adapt and teach activities of daily living and household tasks to increase independence.
Interested in becoming an Occupational Therapist at Mary Cariola Center?
Mary Cariola currently has a rare opening on our Occupational Therapy team. For information and to apply visit CAREERS.
