The family of a 28-year-old Iowa woman living with periodic violent seizures has a measure of solace thanks to students working with occupational therapy aids at an Eastern Iowa school, according to the Quad-City Times.
Debby Reed of Eldridge, Iowa, now has an easier time sleeping at night thanks to an assistive technology device created by students at St. Ambrose University. A former student helped develop a computerized seismic apparatus that senses tremors on the bed of Debby’s daughter Erica and alerts Debby once the device notches a certain threshold.
“It has changed things in that I’m able to sleep at night much better, knowing that if she’s to have a convulsive seizure, I’ll know and can help her,” Reed told the publication. “Just to know something is going to beep and wake me up, it really helps.”
Students at St. Ambrose University also merge efforts with occupational therapy agencies to help long-term residents transition home.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates career opportunities for occupational therapists projects to be strong, particularly for treatment of elderly consumers. All 50 U.S. states regulate the practice of occupational therapy.