Benjamin Olson, BA

University of South Dakota
Occupational Therapy
Graduate - Doctor of Occupational Therapy
Interdisciplinary Approach to Disability in Professional Practice Intern

I'm an occupational therapy (OT) doctoral candidate from the University of South Dakota. My current location is in the Phoenix, AZ area (growing up in northwest Minnesota has me especially thankful for the Arizona winter). Previous to Sonoran UCEDD, I was with the South Dakota Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (LEND) program. I've also completed 12-week fieldwork rotations in an out-patient pediatric clinic and a psychiatric hospital. In collaboration with Sonoran UCEDD and Midwestern University, I am completing a leadership capstone experience that includes a research study involving OT's participation and performance in secondary education transition services. Other research interests include OT's role in inclusive education practice, child subjective well-being, and the use of qualitative methodology as a form of inquiry. I have experience presenting research projects at local, national, and international settings. Decisions to pursue a career in OT and experiences like the Sonoran UCEDD program are rooted in my passion and work experience with pediatric populations, developmental disabilities, and mental health diagnoses. If I'm not in front of my MacBook Air you can usually find me hiking, biking, or reading.