Occupational Therapist Email Phone: 608.764.5442 My name is Laura Schwertfeger, and I am the occupational therapist for the district. I grew up north of Milwaukee in Grafton and completed my OT schooling at UW-Madison. I have worked as a school OT in the Green Bay area and in Michigan, where I also worked in Birth-to-Three. This is my third year working at Deerfield.
So what exactly does an occupational therapist do? Occupational therapists help people participate in their activities of daily living--those day-to-day “occupations” that we often take for granted. OTs work with people across the lifespan in a variety of settings. School-based OTs help students participate to the fullest extent possible in all the activities that make up their school day. This might include getting dressed for recess, holding a pencil for writing, or paying attention in class. School OTs work with students directly to help them gain new skills, and we also collaborate with teachers and other school staff to make modifications to help students be successful. Being an OT is a privilege and a joy! I am very excited to be here at Deerfield and to be working with Deerfield’s Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant, Wendy Solberg.
When I’m not at school I theoretically enjoy reading, sewing, crafts, gardening, and playing the piano. But usually I am kept busy chasing after my four kids who range in age from 8 to 17. Our family loves to go hiking, especially exploring all the great trails around the greater Madison area. If you know a good hiking spot I’d love to hear about it!
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