Zita Kalandarishvili, OTA-SOccupational Therapy Assistant Student | Occupational Therapist (Ukraine)
zitasun91@gmail.com805-869-9863

Seven years of pediatric occupational therapy experience, now completing my U.S. training

I am Zita Kalandarishvili, an occupational therapist from Ukraine with experience working with children and their families. I am now completing the OTA program in the U.S. to continue doing the work I love.

View resume
Black-and-white portrait of Zita Kalandarishvili
Experience
7 years in pediatric OT: 6 at Mission to Ukraine, 1 in private practice
Current program
A.S. in Occupational Therapy Assistant, Santa Ana College, expected June 2027
Previous education
Master’s Degree in Physiotherapy & Ergotherapy; Master’s Degree in Nursing
Certifications
CPR/AED/First Aid; Mental Health First Aid. NBCOT and California license expected June 2027

Long-term career objectives

After completing my A.S. at Santa Ana College in June 2027, I plan to earn NBCOT certification and my California license and practice as a certified occupational therapy assistant. In the long term, I want to continue supporting people, especially children and their families, in the everyday activities that matter to them.

About me

I am a compassionate, creative, and dedicated person who has always wanted to do something meaningful. Occupational therapy drew me in because it truly changes people’s lives, especially for children and their families.

What I love most about OT is that every person is unique. Every child teaches you something new and helps you stay motivated and on track. I enjoy discovering each child’s strengths and finding creative ways to help them grow, participate, and feel confident. For me, OT is about connection, creativity, and supporting people in the moments that matter.

Areas of experience

  • Pediatric assessments and individualized treatment plans for children ages 1–16
  • Activities of daily living: feeding, dressing, self-care, play, and school-related activities
  • Adaptive equipment and environmental modifications
  • Home evaluations and home programs
  • Parent and caregiver education
  • Wheelchair and mobility evaluations (fieldwork)
  • Community-based mental health (fieldwork)
  • Care for older adults and individuals with disabilities
Zita sitting with a smiling young boy on a play turtle in a bright therapy room
Zita hugging a smiling boy in a blue sweater in a therapy room

Pediatric occupational therapy practice, Ukraine. Photos of children are shared with parental consent.

Selected clinical experience

A teenager in a blue cap types on a large colorful keyboard with a pencil attached to the top of his cap

Creativity in Adaptive Equipment

One of the things I love most about OT is how creative it can be. Sometimes you have to boost your imagination to find a solution that truly fits the client. I once worked with a teenager who had almost no gross motor control except for his head. He wanted to learn how to write, so we decided to start with typing.

Together, we made a simple adaptive tool: a pencil attached to the top of his cap, and used his head control to help him type on the keyboard. It was a small idea, but it opened a whole new way for him to communicate and participate. Moments like this remind me how powerful simple, thoughtful solutions can be.

Zita sitting on a bedroom floor beside a young child, both looking up

Why Home Visits Matter

For me, home visits were always one of the most meaningful parts of my work in Ukraine. It is incredibly important to help clients and their families implement the activities we teach in real life in their own routines and environments.

One of my favorite experiences was coordinating a home-visit program together with PT specialists, speech therapists, and psychologists. Working as a team helped us understand each child from different perspectives and offer support that felt natural and personalized for each family. These moments reminded me why I love OT: it is practical, collaborative, and deeply connected to everyday life.

“Throughout her six years with our organization, Zita was a reliable and compassionate member of our team.”