Prestigious award for occupational therapist from Kilkenny

Miriam Crennan, an occupational therapist from County Kilkenny, received the Eva Duggan Award at this year’s Association of Occupational Therapists Ireland (AOTI) annual conference.

A Senior Occupational Therapist with the Children’s Disability Network Team in Kilkenny, Miriam leads a group that designed a project that promoted positive oral hygiene practices in children with sensory processing difficulties.

This project focused on teaching parents and caregivers how to introduce helpful sensory techniques and tools to make it easier for children with sensory processing difficulties to tolerate brushing their teeth, while also encouraging children to develop their own independent oral hygiene skills.

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According to Miriam, "children with sensory processing difficulties are at high risk of poor oral hygiene, leading to poor dental care and health in the future."

"I am delighted to support these children and their families so that they can optimise their dental care throughout their lives," she added.

"I’m also delighted that through this project, the group and I can contribute to the profession of occupational therapy."

As winner of the Eva Duggan Award, Miriam will receive a €1,000 bursary towards developing initiatives to enhance their paediatric service.

Odhrán Allen, CEO of AOTI, said that he wanted to extend a huge congratulations to Miriam and the other award recipients.

"The Eva Duggan Award celebrates projects that showcase the use of meaningful occupation, involve clients and encourage role-emerging practice, all of which reflect the values Eva espoused," Mr Allen said. 

"This award recognises and rewards practice-based research projects in paediatric Occupational Therapy and Miriam will receive a €1,000 bursary towards enhancing paediatric services in her area."

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