WashU Medicine Occupational Therapy Services

08/18/2026

🎒 Don’t let therapy fall through the cracks during back-to-school!

The transition back to school can be a big adjustment for kids and families. Occupational therapists can play a critical role in helping your kiddo feel confident, supported, and ready for the school year.

OTs can help with:
📚 Learning strategies and classroom participation
🧠 Focus, attention, and organization
💛 Emotional regulation and coping strategies
⏰ Routines, transitions, and independence
✏️ Fine motor and other skills needed for school success

Whether your child needs support getting back into a routine or strategies to help them thrive in the classroom, OT can be an important part of the back-to-school team!

08/17/2026

Occupational therapy focuses on building skills that can be used in someone’s natural environment, including home, school, and the community, specifically places like the Saint Louis Zoo. WashU Medicine Occupational Therapists Jane Lavelle, MOT, OTR/L and Margaret Bassi, OTD, OTR/L, BCP applied this by hosting occupational therapy sessions at the Zoo.

By completing therapy in the community, patients had the opportunity to generalize skills for self-regulation, executive functioning, and fine motor control from the clinic into the places that matter most. Kudos Jane and Margaret for creating this opportunity for your patients. If you or someone you know could benefit from OT services, learn more at https://otservices.wustl.edu/

07/24/2026

👀 Don't let low vision keep you from doing the things you love.

If reading, cooking, managing medications, enjoying hobbies, or getting around safely has become more challenging, you're not alone—and help is available.

While low vision may not be fully corrected with glasses, contact lenses, or surgery, occupational therapy can help you maximize your remaining vision through personalized strategies, adaptive tools, and techniques that support greater independence and confidence.

✨ Take the first step toward living more independently. Talk with your eye care provider or healthcare provider about a referral to occupational therapy for low vision rehabilitation, or contact our team to learn how we can help.

Your vision matters. Your independence matters. Let us help you make the most of both.

07/07/2026

✨ Meet the newest members of our Washington, MO Clinic! ✨

We're excited to welcome three incredible clinicians to our Washington, MO team!

💙 Sarah Tinkey, MS, CCC-SLP joins us as our speech-language pathologist, specializing in pediatric feeding, language, and articulation.

💙 Lauren Kloppe, MOT, OTR/L brings years of experience working with children and adolescents in the school setting and is passionate about helping young people develop the skills they need to thrive.

💙 Alicia Brueggemann, OTD, OTR/L also joins our occupational therapy team, bringing extensive pediatric experience and a commitment to providing compassionate, family-centered care.
Together, they are expanding our therapy services and helping us better serve children, teens, and adolescents throughout our community.

If your child is having difficulty with school-related tasks, organization, attention and focus, executive functioning skills, feeding, language development, articulation, fine motor skills, sensory processing, or other developmental concerns, our team is here to help. We would love the opportunity to partner with your family and support your child's success at home, at school, and in the community.

And don't worry—we continue to proudly provide the same exceptional adult rehabilitation and hand therapy services our community has come to know and trust. Our growing team allows us to expand the care we offer while continuing to meet the needs of patients of all ages.

We are excited to see our team continue to grow and look forward to serving even more families and patients in the Washington community. If you see our newest team members around the clinic, be sure to give them a warm welcome! 💙

To learn more or schedule an appointment, please reach out to our Washington, MO Clinic—we're here to help!

06/23/2026

It's that time of year, being outside, having fun in the sun, but injuries can happen. WashU Medicine Occupational Therapy Program Assistant Professor and Occupational Therapist at the Milliken Hand Rehabilitation Center, Macy Stonner, OTD, CHT was invited to discuss tips on how to prevent summer injuries on KMOV.

Take a few minutes to watch her interview!
https://www.firstalert4.com/video/2026/06/12/washu-assistant-professor-occupational-therapy-talks-about-preventing-summer-injuries/?outputType=amp
Learn more about Milliken Hand Rehabilitation Center: https://otservices.wustl.edu/items/milliken-hand-rehabilitation-center/

WashU's Macy Stonner, assistant professor of occupational therapy, talks about preventing summer injuries

06/16/2026

🎆 Protecting Hands. Promoting Safe Celebrations. 🎆

As we celebrate with family, friends, and fireworks this holiday, the Hand Therapy Team at WashU Medicine Occupational Therapy - Milliken Hand Rehabilitation Center, would like to share an important reminder: firework injuries can happen in seconds and hands are often the most affected.

Even sparklers can cause serious burns, especially for little hands and feet. Sparklers can reach temperatures of nearly 2,000°F, and falling sparks can quickly cause burns.

From your caring Hand Therapy Team at Milliken Hand Rehabilitation Center, we wish you and your family a safe, happy, and injury-free holiday! 🇺🇸✨

06/10/2026

This weekend, our therapy team was honored to participate in the Susan G. Komen MORE THAN PINK Walk in St. Louis in support of those impacted by breast cancer. 💗

As therapists, we have the privilege of walking alongside patients and families through some of their most challenging and meaningful journeys. This walk gave us the opportunity to step beyond the clinic walls and stand with our patients, survivors, caregivers, and those we have lost—honoring their strength, resilience, and hope.

We also had the special honor of walking alongside our colleague Ellen King’s family, continuing to celebrate her lasting legacy of compassion, dedication, and healing within our profession. Her impact continues to be felt in our clinic, our patients, and our community every day.
(https://www.ot.wustl.edu/news/strength-for-the-journey-1541)

We walk in gratitude for the patients who inspire us, in remembrance of those we have lost, and in hope for a future without breast cancer. 💗

06/05/2026

Happy Hand Therapy Week 2026!

06/05/2026

To close out Hand Therapy Week, today’s challenge is: “From Scrap to Solution!” ♻️🖐️

Check out some of the creative ways we’ve repurposed leftover materials in our clinic into useful resources for treatment and patient care.

We can’t wait to see the innovative ideas you’ve come up with—share your creations with us below! 👇