Erica Jacoby graduated with her Master of Science in Occupational Therapy from Colorado State University in 2018. Following that, she completed a LEND Fellowship at CU Anschutz in 2019. She has been working with children with disabilities for 11 years, and has worked on three research studies on the topic of autism. Her areas of passion include trauma-informed care, strengths-based approaches, and embracing neurodiversity. In her current position, Jacoby is employed by the Department of Defense as a pediatric occupational therapist working with children overseas. When not helping children with their occupations, she pursues her own favorite ones of travelling, climbing, stand up paddle boarding, and reading.
Describe your current position and some of the responsibilities that come with it.
I provide pediatric occupational therapy services to children on a U.S. military base overseas. Primarily I work in the schools, but we also provide early intervention services. Because of this I’m shifting between different approaches and focuses of intervention. Another unique aspect of this job is that we don’t have all the typical jobs filled here that you would expect in a therapy setting in the U.S., so there is a lot of time spent on administrative activities, such as organizing, planning, and locating resources.
How has COVID-19 changed operations for your industry, and how are you responding to it?
I provided all services virtually over the past year, but now I’m mostly back in-person. I’ve found that some kids and families thrive over the virtual setting, and some really struggle. Specifically, I’ve seen great progress for all my feeding therapy sessions with it, and more difficulty with motor-based interventions. It’s helped me re-think how I teach skills, and has promoted more independence and participation from both parents and kids. I hope it’s something that we can keep as an option in the future.
Why did you decide to pursue your current career path?
For me I’ve known for most of my life that I wanted to work with kids, and also that I wanted to live overseas. Finding a good career option that let me do both was the tricky part. When I discovered that the Department of Defense hires pediatric occupational therapists overseas, I knew this was my answer!
How have your education and experiences at CSU helped you in your career? Was there a faculty member in the College of Health and Human Sciences who inspired you most?
While I had many great professors at CSU, the one who had the biggest impact on me was Peggy Short. She taught me so much beyond basic information and skills. She taught me about how to create and hold safe spaces for people, and how to be a leader without needing to be in control. On our last day of class we presented her with flowers and gave her a standing ovation. I’ve never had a teacher in any school setting impact me in such a strong way. I believe I’m a better therapist because I build my therapy on the basis of trust and safety using strategies I learned from her.
What advice do you have for students looking to join your field?
Plan ahead for the job you want. Look at your dream job postings and gain experience in the areas they require (and all the extras you can too). For my job that was two years of experience in schools, and two years in early intervention. This was a tough combo to find, but I made it a requirement of my job after school. Then, when it came time to apply and interview for this role, not only did I have a resume perfectly crafted to their position, but I was able to tell them up front that I had been planning and working towards this job for over two years. Moving overseas for a job is a big deal, and they want someone who is all in. Starting any new position is tough – add an international move to that and it’s downright overwhelming. If this is what you want though, and you are prepared for the challenges and have a community of support around you, it is so very worth it.
The Department of Occupational Therapy is a part of CSU’s College of Health and Human Sciences.