Debbie Burridge
DOT is owned and operated by Debbie Burridge, who is a qualified Paediatric Occupational Therapist. Debbie has been working with children and young people with special educational needs since 2007 and has been qualified as an Occupational Therapist since 2012. Debbie’s passion is working with and helping children.
Debbie’s decision to become an Occupational Therapist arose from her interests in art, art therapy, nursing and working with children. After studying A Levels and then a Foundation Degree in Fine Art at Wimbledon School of Art, Debbie decided to take a break from education and spent a year working for Kingswood, which a Children’s Activity Centre. Here she instructed an array of activities including high ropes, zip wire, archery, computer courses and quad biking. She was then promoted to Welfare Officer which involved taking responsibility for all first line support of medical needs.
Following this, Debbie took the decision to return to education to become an Occupational Therapist, attending South Bank University. This degree involved work placements and Debbie did hers in mental health, physical social services and paediatric brain injury. She funded her degree by being a Teaching Assistant at Carew Manor (now Carew Academy), a Play Worker at Mencap and a one to one carer for a boy with Autism.
Upon graduating, Debbie started work as an Occupational Therapist at Moor House School and College. During these 6 years Debbie created The WHEEL OF INDEPENDENCE™ framework, which is a Life Skills Curriculum used to help track and plan intervention for life skills. This tool was trademarked by Moor House School and College and is now being developed as an online tool. Debbie continues to work at the Moor House Research and Training Institute promoting this work.
Relevant Qualifications, Training and Memberships:
BSc Hons Occupational therapy
Advanced Practitioner in Sensory Integration Therapy (SIPT certified)
Training in the Assessment of Motor and Process Skills (AMPS)
Safeguarding training
Pilates Matwork Level 1
Team-Teach
Registered with Royal College of Occupational Therapy
Registered with Health and Care Professions’ Council
Makaton Foundation and Enhancement
Children, Young people and families’ Specialist Section Membership
Wheelchair committee member for Variety, The Children’s Charity
