‘Life Is What You Bake It’ occupational therapy program helps young adults develop life skills

When young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Florida reach age 22, they are no longer eligible for state and federal programs that help them transition from high school to their next life stage. This includes postsecondary education, employment and independent living.

Recently, a group of these young people gathered at the Coral Gables campus of the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences in Miami to make chocolate pudding dirt cups with family, faculty and occupational therapy students.

The event is part of “Life Is What You Bake It,” created by Christina Bertran, an assistant professor at USAHS Miami, and her colleague Arlenys Loffredo. The program aims to help participants develop aptitude in meal preparation, safely using equipment, bilateral coordination and other life skills.

“Engaging in cooking activities such as practicing how to turn the stove and oven on and off safely are critical skills,” said Bertran. “Our OT students work with the younger adults to follow a recipe and practice these life skills in a real-world environment while promoting an opportunity for social interaction.”

One of those young adults is Bertran’s brother, who has participated in multiple baking classes along with their mother and peers from the community.

Mother Lily Bertran said that “this group is a blessing, allowing me to see my daughter’s profession of occupational therapy provide support and care to her own brother.”

Socialization is also a big component of the baking group gatherings, since lack of access to transportation and other resources for those with disabilities can lead to isolation.

“Oftentimes, these younger adults find themselves no longer qualifying to continue occupational therapy services, much less group sessions that instill social participation and promote independence,” said Loffredo.

“Life is What You Bake It” takes place at least twice each term at the USAHS Miami Coral Gables campus, located at the Douglas Entrance. It is one of several pro-bono clinics there that serve the community and help students enhance their experiences with different patient populations.

“Occupational therapy students get the opportunity to work hands-on with this underserved population,” said Bertran. “Students have reported how meaningful it is to them and how they appreciate giving back through their future profession.”

STUDENT RAISES FUNDS FOR RESEARCH

Elijah Leano, 17, is a rising volunteer in our community. He was inspired by his family, especially sister Isabella, who has raised more than $30,000 for medical research through Stand Up To Cancer.

Both siblings began their giving journeys in memory of their grandfather “Lolo,” who died of acute myeloid leukemia.

And while his sister expanded her passion for tennis into fundraising, Elijah shares his love of music and skateboarding to help.

Since 2021, he has hosted a “Move for Martell” event through the TJ Martell Foundation.

“Move for Martell is the walk-skate-bike-move-a-thon to help raise awareness and funds for cancer research for the TJ Martell Foundation,” said Elijah, who hosted the latest one in October.

“When I was doing my research on what charity to help, I learned about Tony Martell, who was a famous record executive who worked with everyone from George Benson and the Isley Brothers to Joan Jett and Ozzie Osbourne.

“After his son TJ passed away from leukemia at 21, he started the TJ Martell Foundation in his honor. [It has] now been around for more than 40 years, and I thought channeling my efforts towards this foundation was the perfect fit given the fact that my grandfather also died from the same type of cancer.”

A junior in the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme at Gulliver Prep, Elijah recently raised more than $1,000. His four-year cumulative total is now more than $4,000.

When not in school, Elijah stays busy with a part-time job at Publix, skateboarding, volunteering on the Teen Council at the Perez Art Museum Miami and hanging out with friends.

“However, my biggest hobby is music in any way, shape or form. I love all genres of music, having first been given a crash course at the age of 5 on the Beatles by my dad,” he said.

He plays piano, guitar, bass and drums and sings. He is the drummer and vocalist in a band, Nothing Wrong With Wet Socks, with two other guys he met at the School of Rock, Coral Gables.

He said his event brings everyone together to continuously “move.”

“It was nice to have the support from my School of Rock family, Gulliver classmates and other friends and family members who either donated, followed my journey on Instagram, or even joined me for a mile or two to help us fill up our mileage quota.

“Hopefully someone or their younger sibling will see what Isa and I did, and channel a hobby of their own to raise awareness and funds for a good cause, and with the help of social media and some hard work, make it a passion project they can also be proud of for years to come,” said Elijah.

The 2024 fundraiser is open until Sunday, Dec. 15. To donate visit gofund.me/8f719b1d

Write to ChristinaMMayo@gmail.com with news for this column.

This story was originally published December 10, 2024 at 2:23 PM.