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Groundbreaking Class Leads Way in Residence Design
PT, OT, Construction Management Students Work Together
Written By Colleen Bierstine '15, PR Intern
Unique interdisciplinary project combines skill sets of three programs
Contact - cleogrande@utica.edu
Utica, NY (11/18/2014) - You might not think that occupational therapy, physical therapy and construction management students would have much in common, but with the universal housing project to help individuals with disabilities, they do.Students from Utica College’s occupational therapy, physical therapy and construction management programs, who have been working collaboratively on a universal housing project for several months, will present the first phase of their project on Wednesday, Nov. 19. The presentation will take place at 12:30 p.m. in Donahue Auditorium in the Gordon Science Center.
The goal of the project is to change the way people think about accessibility of residences. Once a week for an entire semester, the students, divided into two groups, meet to plan a universally designed residence that meets the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) guidelines. The interdisciplinary g of students features four students from physical therapy, six from occupational therapy and six from construction management.
The group is in phase one of four in planning this accessible residence. The overall goal is to create an alternative to senior homes where living space is shared, instead allowing for an individual living experience in a single residence. The residence will be tailored to a specific individual’s particular needs.
“The students get to experience different perspective and see the other side of things,” said Richard Panetta, lab director of physical therapy at UC. As the project moves on to phases two, three and four, the students will work with people with disabilities in the community, design the residence for one person’s needs and then implement it.
Building on a liberal arts foundation, UC’s graduate program in occupational therapy’s mission is to facilitate the transformation of students into autonomous thinkers and community leaders prepared to practice occupational therapy. The program is approved by the New York State Education Department and fully accredited through the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA).
UC offers two doctoral programs in physical therapy, each leading to the clinical doctorate in physical therapy. Both programs are distinct, with education that meets the needs of the learners. Students can learn on campus for entrance into the profession or through a combined residency and online model for the practicing clinician who aspires to have the degree equate with the vision for the future of physical therapy.
UC’s construction management program combines foundational study in management techniques with extensive real-world learning opportunities and an emphasis on professional responsibility. It gives students the tools needed to succeed in one of the world's most dynamic and rewarding industries.
For more information about any of these programs, visit utica.edu.
About Utica College – Utica College, founded in 1946, is a comprehensive private institution offering bachelors, masters and doctoral degrees. The College, located in upstate central New York, approximately 90 miles west of Albany and 50 miles east of Syracuse, currently enrolls over 4,000 students in 36 undergraduate majors, 27 minors, 21 graduate programs and a number of pre-professional and special programs.
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