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Sumudu Rathnayake MA ’22

What brought you to occupational therapy?
I came into the world of OT after seeing broader issues that children with autism face while I was working as an ABA therapist. I saw a lack of meaningful occupations available to them in their communities. I found out that many adults didn’t know how to include these children and I want to do something to change that!

What are some of the occupations you engage in?
I love to paint. Especially during shelter in place, I spend sun up until sun down just painting away! I have an Etsy shop now thanks to all that time spent on many pieces of art.

How do you plan to use Occupational Therapy in the future?
I hope to open a music school where I can hire and train interested music instructors in how to best provide lessons to children with limitations or developmental disabilities. I want any child to have the opportunity to see if music and learning an instrument is an activity they would like to engage in and pursue. This is something I see is currently very limited in many communities!

If you could be immortal, what age would you choose to stop aging at and why?
I would stop at 35. I’m planning by then to be debt free, a seasoned OT, and living my best life! I can’t imagine a better place to be at and stay in forever.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
Recently actually from an exceptional guest speaker in OT 406. I don’t have his exact words but the gist of it is, “Put one foot in front of the other . . . keep moving . . . keep your humor . . . keep breathing.” It’s something so simple yet very empowering! It keeps me going during some tough nights of studying and reminds me to stay resilient.

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USC Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy
1540 Alcazar Street, CHP 133, Los Angeles, CA 90089-9003

ACOTE accreditation | NBCOT certification

The USC entry-level master’s degree program (cost of attendance) is fully accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education® (ACOTE®) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA). The USC entry-level doctorate in occupational therapy (OTD) degree program (cost of attendance) has applied for accreditation and has been granted Preaccreditation Status by ACOTE®. View our program’s ACOTE® standards public data. ACOTE® c/o the American Occupational Therapy Association, Inc.®, 7501 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 510E, Bethesda, MD 20814, (301) 652-AOTA, www.acoteonline.org. The program must complete an on-site evaluation and be granted Accreditation Status before its graduates will be eligible to sit for the national certification examination for the occupational therapist administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy, Inc.® (NBCOT®).

Professional program graduates are eligible to apply for certification by National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy, Inc.® (NBCOT®), nbcot.org. Program results from the NBCOT® can be found online at www.nbcot.org/Educators-Folder/SchoolPerformance.