Cathy Schelly, M.Ed., OTR
Director of the Center for Community Partnerships
Cathy is the director of the Center for Community Partnerships, one of the direct service and outreach arms of the department. She coordinates the service, outreach, education and research activities of the center, which provides:
- Community-based supported employment, independent living, and community access support for individuals with disabilities, including brain injury, developmental disability, mental illness and learning and physical challenges. Referred individuals include community members, CSU students, transitioning youth, and injured Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans.
- Education, consultation and training with campus and community partners regarding community-referenced assessment, supported employment, job development, transition of youth with disabilities, self-advocacy, and the American with Disabilities Act (ADA).
- Consultation with employers and the business community regarding the ADA.
- Expert witness work for regional and federal ADA cases.
- Jobsite analysis for employees with work-related injuries and/or disabilities.
- Fieldwork education for Level II occupational therapy fieldwork students.
Cathy is also the Principal Investigator of the ACCESS Project at CSU, a federally funded project that is implementing and doing research on the impact of universal design for learning on persistence and retention of students with disabilities. The ACCESS project is also developing self-advocacy guidelines for college students with disabilities, providing them with resources and encouragement to be successful in their higher education and life pursuits.
Cathy teaches two department courses:
- OT 686 (Fieldwork Seminar connecting OT graduate students with CSU students with disabilities, providing academic mentoring and disability support and guidance)
- OT 645 (Leadership and Administration)
Cathy's personal interests include hiking, biking, camping, fishing, playing piano and spoiling her grandchildren. She adores her kids and grandkids and will take any and every opportunity to tell you how wonderful they are!
