Ideas from an Occupational Therapist

Join us this month with one of Atlanta’s most honored occupational therapists, Susan Orloff, OTR/L.  Susan is owner of Children’s Special Services and has over 30 years experience helping children in both schools and the clinical setting.  Susan brings fresh perspective and ideas to help adults AND children with mitochondrial disease through her hands-on experiences.  Read Susan’s article on “Understanding the Energy Connection”.

Susan shares some of her perspective about the frustration people with mitochondrial disease may feel.  She says, “The pessimistic view of life in the early part of the last century seems very close to what some children are probably feeling about their daily life in school. It is anxiety-provoking and tiresome to go to a place everyday where, no matter how hard you may try – you fail. But it doesn’t have to be this way. Occupational therapy is a treatment that is medically based to provide habilitation and rehabilitation to individuals experiencing difficulties in daily life functions. With children, this includes–but is not limited to–assistance with the attainment of age appropriate motor and visual perceptual abilities. The abilities include both academic and social skills required for life success.”

Susan hopes to offer some new ideas to adults and children who face fatigue, muscle weakness, and frustration due to their mitochondrial disorder.  Susan is the author of Learning Re-Enabled and has won many awards for her outstanding contribution to the disability community.