Cassandra Dedon Email & Phone Number

Albany, New York Area

Ferndale, Michigan

Va Northern California Healthcare System, Martinez Ca

- Primary Recreation Therapist for intensive inpatient program (Post Deployment Assessment and Treatment) for Veterans with traumatic brain injury and overlapping co-morbidities, most commonly post-traumatic stress, depression with suicidality, chronic pain, and substance abuse. - Additionally served as primary Recreation Therapist for accelerated rehabilitation program for Veterans in need of short-term physical and cognitive care in order to return to community living post-injury.- Created, maintained, and/or facilitated programming with community partnerships including creative art workshops with local artists, animal assisted therapy with an animal rescue foundation, and overnight adventure and adaptive sport trips.- Coordinated facility-wide events involving organizing, leading, and communicating effectively with people from various VA services (nursing, engineering, police, food service, environmental management, etc.) in addition to volunteers, Veterans, and community partners.- Collaborated and co-treated with various treatment team members, including speech therapists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, and psychologists.- Implemented quality improvement initiatives, such as creating online resource access for Veterans and staff members, adapting a leisure education workbook and community recreation resource guide for local Veterans, and creating a new employee handbook for Recreation Therapy Section.- Instructor for wheelchair transportation competency class, covering vehicle and community safety and tie-down training.- Co-presenter of 2015 American Psychological Association Annual Convention symposium, "Robotic Pet Therapy, VR Technology, and Video Gaming in Long-Term Care With Older Adults."

Livermore, California

- Created and facilitated new therapeutic group and individual programming to provide improved care for veterans with multiple co-morbidities including traumatic brain injury, post-traumatic stress disorder, cerebrovascular accident, dementia, depression, and schizophrenia in a 90-bed extended care and palliative care Community Living Center. - Worked closely with interdisciplinary care team members, including co-treating with psychologist and occupational therapist. Provided innovative programming such as robotic therapy, utilizing the Paro robot to improve and maintain mood and social engagement in veterans with dementia or similar cognitive deficits. Member of the team, comprised of care team members in multiple facilities across VA Palo Alto, that designed a data collection instrument to measure the outcomes of robotic therapy interventions using Caretracker. - Produced on-time assessments and documentation for a 30-45 veteran case load, on an annual, quarterly, and as-needed basis using CPRS, MDS, Event Capture, and Caretracker.- Implemented quality improvement systems for improving efficiency and effectiveness. One focus of recent enhancement in communicating information to veterans, staff, and families was being the first facility in VA Palo Alto to use the Telagenda calendar of events, streaming updated information directly to TVs in veterans' rooms and throughout the Community Living Center, and available online from outside the facility.- Responsible for being point of contact and coordinator for multiple facility-wide events throughout the year, while supervising a regular volunteer staff of approximately 120, plus ad hoc community groups and volunteers. Created partnerships with local community members such as Park Rangers and equine assisted therapy groups to provide recreational educational programs on-site for veterans.

Greater San Diego Area

- Conducted research on the use of interactive balance games for rehabilitative purposes for users with spinal cord injury.- Co-facilitator for in service presentation on use of telehealth services in therapy settings.- Assistant Coach for National Veterans' Wheelchair Games, San Diego Team. - Facilitated therapy sessions for veterans with SCI for both rehabilitative and routine stays in hospital (aquatic therapy, animal assisted therapy, adaptive spin classes, community reintegration).- Co-ordinator for pilot music therapy program.

Wallingford, Ct

- Co-instructed a class for teenagers with developmental disabilities, adapting movements to adjust for cognitive, emotional, and social deficits.- Facilitated pro-social behaviors while encouraging expressive emotional skills and increase in physical health through exercise.

New Haven, Ct

- Teaching Assistant for classes, including supervising undergraduate students in providing inclusive adaptive recreation services for young adults with disabilities in the greater New Haven area.- Research Assistant for projects including a study regarding the impacts of volunteer tourism.- Specialist in graphic design projects for the department; creating, compiling, and editing both print and web-based content to meet the department's information and marketing needs.

Hamden, Ct

- Instructed students aged 9 to 77 in ballroom dance. Adapted movements and techniques for students with physical or cognitive deficits, which included below-knee amputation, joint replacement surgery, and traumatic brain injury.- Performed and taught for various charity events, including a state-wide Dancing with the Stars competition benefiting Mothers Against Drunk Driving, and Ballroom Blitz, an after school program promoting physical fitness and pro-social behavior in at-risk children.

New Haven

Wallingford, Ct

Master'S Degree, Therapeutic Recreation/Recreational Therapy, 3.98

Bachelor'S Degree, Game And Interactive Media Design, 3.75

Activities and Societies: Alpha Phi Omega, Gospel ChoirGraduated with second degree at age 19.

Bachelor'S Degree, Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement Administration, 3.67

Activities and Societies: National Criminal Justice Honor Society, National Scholars' Honor SocietyEntered college at age 10. Graduated.