I am Deepika P., a pediatric occupational therapist and Assistant Professor with a strong academic and clinical background in developmental disorders, sensory integration, and early intervention. I am deeply involved in research focusing on task-oriented training in visually modified environments to improve functional outcomes in children with Sensory Processing Disorder. As an educator, I am passionate about mentoring students, fostering their clinical reasoning, research skills, and professional growth. I have presented at national conferences and contributed to academic publications, including co-authoring Raghuram’s Occupational Therapy—The Handwriting Revolution. I strive to blend evidence-based practice with compassionate teaching and therapy to bring positive change to children’s lives and the future of occupational therapy.
1. Curriculum development and evidence-based practice integration in teaching.
2. Experimental studies for NICU babies, Developmental Coordination Disorder, Autism Spectrum Disorder and Neurodevelopmental conditions, involving evidence-based intervention strategies.
3. Development and validation of assessment tools relevant to the paediatric population.
4. Technology integration in the clinical practice.
In my undergraduate project, I focused on addressing stress among hospital housekeeping staff using occupational therapy relaxation training. The goal was to enhance their ability to cope with workplace stress, improve their overall well-being, and increase job satisfaction. Through structured relaxation techniques, I aimed to create an environment where the staff could better manage their stress and improve their daily performance. This project involved using evidence-based relaxation techniques, conducting stress assessments, and evaluating the effectiveness of the training on the participants’ stress levels and work productivity.
In my postgraduate project, I explored the impact of task-oriented training in a blacklight environment to improve functional performance and cognitive functions in children with Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD). I designed an intervention based on evidence-based practices that involved using visual-based environmental modifications (i.e., a blacklight environment) to engage children in specific functional tasks aimed at improving sensory processing and cognitive abilities. My research involved using assessment tools such as the Sensory Profile 2 and COPM, comparing the effects on children in both experimental and control groups. This project focused on evaluating the impact of the blacklight environment on enhancing the functional and cognitive outcomes for children diagnosed with SPD.
I am honored to have received the Kalam’s World Record for my writing on occupational therapy, recognizing my contributions to the field.
I was awarded the 1st prize in the e-poster competition for my presentation on “Trauma-informed Neuroprotective Care in the NICU” at the National Conference on Neonatal Therapy in 2023.
I received a Certificate of Recognition for being a guest speaker at Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research (SRIHER), where I presented on the topic ‘Light, Noise, and Stress in the NICU’ during a COTE session.