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The University of Pittsburgh Department of Occupational Therapy offers education on assessment tools and programs including the PASS, CPC-E, MAC and Skills2Care in addition to opportunities for continuing education and resources for fieldwork educators. This page serves as a source of information for practitioners, fieldwork educators and community partners.

OT student with faculty advisor

Fieldwork and Experiential Preceptorship

Fieldwork education and the Experiential Preceptorship are essential parts of professional doctoral preparation and are integrated as components of the curriculum design. They are an extension of the OTD Program within the clinical/community setting. The fieldwork experience provides the OTD student with the opportunity to learn professional responsibilities by having them modeled by qualified and experienced personnel and to practice these responsibilities in a supervised setting. The Experiential Preceptorship provides an in-depth professional experience and the completion of a culminating (capstone) project.

Students with faculty performing PASS

Performance Assessment of Self-care Skills (PASS) Tool

The Performance Assessment of Self-care Skills (PASS) is a valid and reliable tool designed to measure occupational performance of daily life tasks. The PASS is a client-centered, performance-based, criterion-reference, observational tool that assists occupational therapy practitioners to objectively document occupational performance and plan occupation-based interventions for adolescent, adult, and older adult populations in a variety of settings.

In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the students and faculty of the Department of Occupational Therapy have compiled and developed several resources to help you stay on track during this time. These materials include Caregiver Information, Isolation Tips, Children and Family Resources and Setting up an Ergonomic Workstation. We hope that you will use these materials and videos to adjust to your new “normal” and continue to live life to its fullest.

Caregiver holding older adult hands

Caregiver Information

Providing care for a loved one is no easy task, especially during uncharted times. That’s why we’ve compiled a list of resources for caregivers of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities which includes guidance on creating social stories and coping with a natural disaster.

student with older adult

Isolation Tips

Occupations include “things people need to do, want to do, and are expected to do.” Social distancing may impact our occupations, but there are many ways to combat “stir-crazy” feelings and engage in normal activities.

student with children

Children and Family Resources

Looking for ways to adjust to a new routine, create an optimal learning environment at home or talk to your child about COVID-19? We have some tips and tricks that address these topics and much more.

woman with computer and mouse

Setting up an Ergonomic Workstation

Working remotely can be a challenge, but small adjustments to your equipment and posture can make a difference. Check out the Computer Ergonomics for U video series for quick ideas about how to set up a comfortable, ergonomic workstation at home.

Group of people at presentation

AOTA Fieldwork Educator Training Certificate Program

The AOTA Fieldwork Educator Training Certificate Program is a 2-day workshop designed to advance the skills of practitioners who provide fieldwork opportunities for occupational therapy students.

Typing on laptop

Cerebral Performance Categories - Extended (CPC-E) Tool

The Cerebral Performance Categories – Extended (CPC-E) is a valid and reliable criterion-referenced tool based on the original Cerebral Performance Categories (CPC). Although originally designed to be used with cardiac arrest survivors, some have found the CPC-E to be useful in the ICU and acute care settings.

Child holding tennis ball

Movement Assessment of Children (MAC) Evaluation

The Movement Assessment of Children (MAC) is an evaluation of functional gross and fine motor control expected in children 2 to 24 months of age. The MAC identifies change in gross and fine motor development in small increments which allow for the precise identification of a child’s motor skills.