Kathy Nerz, Occupational Therapist
Mrs. Nerz comes to us from the Gloucester County Special Services Regional Council and is available to identified students Fridays. She works as a consultant to classroom teachers, provides direct therapy to students, tests youngsters for fine motor problems and helps with adapting classroom environments to suit the individual sensory motor needs of students. Assistive technology and specialized are recommended and purchased, often based upon Mrs. Nerz' suggestions.
Graduating from the University of Pennsylvania, Mrs. Nerz has specialized in public school occupational therapy delivery systems since November 1983. Prior to pediatric and educational specialization, Mrs. Nerz worked in adult rehab helping people with spinal cord injuries and various other problems like strokes and amputations.
. Pediatric occupational therapy tends to focus on developing the motor skills needed to use in the classroom, i.e. strength training for developing hand strength for grasping classroom tools pencils, rulers, and scissors. The best thing she likes about the school environment is the collaborative team approach, working with a friendly staff and helping children. Mrs. Nerz makes activities fun but educationally relevant by using such materials as shaving cream, beads, game formats, special squeeze balls and paints, just to name a few. The children are learning, strengthening their motor skills, becoming better handwriters at the came time they are having fun. The purpose behind cccupational therapy is trying to develop skills that are occupationally oriented and relevant. For students, that means being a student. Developing eye hand coordination and multisensory input is a method of helping children become better students.
In addition to the Gibbsboro School, Mrs. Nerz goes to many other districts, including Eastern High School, to work with individual children needing occupational therapy. She often helps train college students from Jefferson University and Atlantic County Community College (CODAs) who look to Mrs. Nerz for her expertise. We are very fortunate to have someone of Mrs. Nerz' caliber to help our students achieve success.