My name is Maire Archbold.  I am from Long Island and moved down to Florida after graduating from York College CUNY in 1991 as an Occupational Therapist.  I have had the opportunity to work with clients in hospitals, nursing homes, special school settings and in their homes.  Since 2001 I have been doing home health care treatments for adults and children addressing functional transfer skills, W/C training, Activities of Daily living, and fine/ gross motor control skills.  I have been using artwork as part of the treatment time. This really has helped improve their sense of self-worth after finishing a mixed media piece.  I am also a Licensed Massage Therapist.  This has helped to improve their functional Range of Motion and grasping skills in order to be functionally independents.  I want to continue helping others with varied needs using artistic expression.

I have stayed active in Church activities since moving down in 1991.   I really enjoy the fellowship with other believers in Jesus Christ.  My husband and I will be celebrating 7 years together this October.  It has been such a joy to live and walk with a man who truly loves Jesus.  Even though I don’t live near any of my siblings, I so appreciate the phone connection.

I grew up on Long Island with 3 brothers and 1 sister.  I had the opportunity to take piano lessons and learn sewing and baking skills from my Mother.  My work experience has included working in MD offices for 7 years and various other businesses in NYC and on Long Island.  I chose to go back to school to become an Occupational Therapist.  After graduating I moved down to St. Petersburg, FL (in 1991) to work at Bay Pines VAMC.  I have been working in hospital, nursing home, and in patient homes as an Occupational therapist.  In 1999 problems developed here in Florida over Medicare payments.  I then went back to school to become a Licensed Massage therapist.  I have worked in various business settings, but I was able to start doing the OT work again in 2001.  I have been with Lamperts Home Therapy since that time treating clients (children to adults) in their homes and in group settings.  I have been using artwork during their treatment time to help address their visual/ perceptual skills, fine/ gross motor control skills, and overall functional independence.  I have learned that I will get greater participation from each one when I have them do what they enjoy doing.  A smile is worth a million dollars!

I started learning to express myself with art after moving to St. Petersburg in 1993 first by taking classes at Michaels.  I haven’t stopped learning or growing as an artist.  This includes doing quilting, crochet, mixed media pieces and acrylic work.  I really enjoy doing pieces where I can include painting the background and then finishing it with mixed media.   My dream has always been to work in the art centered environment in order to help people with physical challenges and even emotional needs.  Your program may be the door that I need to go through to reach such a goal.