NIAGARA COLLEGE
College Performance Therapy clinic opens to community clients

Physiotherapy and in-demand pediatric Fine Motor Skills Development program available

The reopening of Niagara College's Performance Therapy Clinic at the Welland Campus is a leap forward for students seeking experience in physiotherapy and occupational therapy, as well as community clients seeking treatment.

The Performance Clinic, which reopened at the College's Welland Campus on January 16 for the first time since 2020, offers physiotherapy assessments and treatment sessions at a reduced cost for staff, students and the public, as well as an in-demand occupational therapy pediatric fine motor skills occupational therapy program for local residents, expected to help alleviate wait times in the community.

This learning enterprise from NC's School of Allied Health, provides hands-on, on-site experience for students in NC's Occupational Therapist Assistant and Physiotherapist Assistant (OTA and PTA) program and opportunities to complete their required work placement hours (500 placement hours are required to graduate from the academic program).

"The Performance Clinic enables us to use our College expertise and state of the art equipment to serve the community while enhancing learning opportunities for our students," said Eva Lemak. "We are thrilled to be able to provide physiotherapy and OT services at reduced costs, and to offer an option for Niagara children and their families who have been facing long wait lists, often for more than two years, for occupational therapy to develop fine motor skills."

OTA-PTA program faculty Kelly Martindale (Physiotherapist) and Sarah Cole (Occupational Therapist) lead the initiative. They conduct client assessments at the clinic and work with students and staff to provide treatment. Graduates of the OTA and PTA program have recently been hired to work at the clinic and to provide treatments.

Read the complete press release