Faculty

Anita Perr

Clinical Associate Professor of Occupational Therapy

Anita Perr

Phone: (212) 998-5833
Email:

Anita Perr is a Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Occupational Therapy. Ms. Perr uses collaborative teaching to encourage students to explore the best ways to approach clinically relevant issues. Her extensive clinical experience informs her classroom teaching. Students appreciate the problem-based, practical nature of her courses.

Anita Perr has expertise in the use of assistive technology by persons with disabilities and has lectured on topics such as seating and positioning and adaptive computer technology. She has presented at local and national conferences on topics such as environmental accessibility, wheelchair mobility, and assistive technology. Ms. Perr's publications include many papers and textbook chapters.

Ms. Perr holds certification in Neurodevelopmental Treatment of the Adult Hemiplegic and is certified as an Assistive Technology Professional. As a member of the Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America (RESNA), she has been involved in the credentialing process for Assistive Technology Practitioners, Assistive Technology Suppliers, and Rehabilitations Engineers. Collaborations with NYU Tisch's ITP have resulted in the development of new assistive technology devices as well as interdisciplinary courses.

Faculty Profile


Selected Presentations

  • "Assistive Technology (AT) Used by People with Disabilities: Powered Mobility, ECU, Adapted Driving"
    Annual presentation to NYU PT Students, spring semester. NY, NY. Spring 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009
  • "Splinting & bracing choices in veterinary rehabilitation and an introduction to custom splinting with thermoplastics (Two day course)"
    Coauthor: I. Borghese. Sponsored by Canine Rehabilitation Institute, Deerfield Beach, FL. February, 2008
  • "Splinting & bracing choices in veterinary medicine (Two day course)"
    Coauthor: I. Borghese. Sponsored by Canine Rehabilitation Institute, Snowmass, CO. August, 2007
  • "Making an Environment Accessible for Your Autistic Child"
    Annual Techworks Conference. Hosted by the United Cerebral Palsy of New York City. Brooklyn, NY. November, 2005
  • "Assistive Technology Used by People with Learning Disabilities: Selecting Software"
    Grand Rounds. Stanley S. Lamm Institute fore Child Neurology and Development Medicine. Brooklyn, NY. November 2002
  • "Performing postural evaluations for wheelchair mobility and seating: Adults and children"
    Presentation at the AOTA Annual Conference, Miami, May 2002.
  • "Adaptations and Modifications for Driving"
    Guest Lecture, Long Island University Occupational Therapy Program., July 2001, May 2002
  • "Use of accessibility options in computer operating systems"
    Presentation at the AOTA Annual Conference, Miami, 2002.
  • "Manual wheelchair skills"
    Presentation at the RESNA Annual Conference, 2002.
  • "Powered wheelchair skills"
    Presentation at the RESNA Annual Conference, June 2001.
  • "Assistive technology and disability"
    Guest Lecture in the Cooper Union Bioengineering Program, April 2001.
  • "Use of accessibility options in computer operating systems"
    Presentation at the AOTA Annual Conference, Philadelphia, 2001.

Degrees Held

  • M.A. New York University
  • B.S. Virginia Commonwealth University

Awards

  • 2000 : Roster of Fellows, American Occupational Therapy Association

Selected Publications

  • Perr, A. & Bell, P. (2009). Moving from simulation to real-life activity and human occupation. In J. Hinojosa, & M. L. Blount (Eds.), The texture of life: Purposeful activities in the context of occupation (3rd ed., pp. 335-365). Bethesda, MD: AOTA Press.
  • Perr, A. (2009). Range of human activity: Self-care occupations. In J. Hinojosa & M. L. Blount (Eds.), The texture of life: Purposeful activities in the context of occupation (3rd ed., 435-451). Betheseda, MD: AOTA Press.
  • Perr, A. & Miller, J. (2009). Range of human activity: Work occupations. In J. Hinojosa & M. L. Blount (Eds.), The texture of life: Purposeful activities in the context of occupation (3rd ed., pp 409- 433). Bethesda, MD: AOTA Press.
  • Bell, P. & Perr, A. (2004). Moving from simulation to real life activity and human occupation. In J. Hinojosa & M.-L. Blount (Eds.), The texture of life: Purposeful activities in occupational therapy, (2nd ed., pp. 309-334). Bethesda, MD: AOTA.
  • Perr, A., White, S., & Rekoutis, P. (June, 2002). Assistive technology and computer-based intervention in psychiatric settings. American Occupational Therapy Association's Technology Special Interest Section Newsletter, 12(2).
  • Axelson, P., Minkel, J., Perr, A., & Yamada, D. (2002). The powered wheelchair training guide. Minden, NV: PAX Press.
  • Perr, A. (2001). Basic wound healing: Seating support surfaces. Course given by NYU Division of Nursing, May 2001. Published in Course Book provided to attendees.
  • Axelson, P., Chesney, D., Minkel, J., & Perr, A. (1998). The manual wheelchair training guide. Santa Cruz, CA: PAX Press.
  • Hensley, C., Perr, A., & Petit, M. (June 25, 2007). Interactive Telecommunications design: An interdisciplinary Collaboration. OT Practice. Bethesda, MD: AOTA
  • Perr, A. (2004). Range of human activity: Self-care. In J. Hinojosa & ML Blount (Eds.), The Texture of Life: Purposeful Activities in Occupational Therapy, 2nd Edition. Betheseda, MD: AOTA. (link)

Courses

  • Contemporary Aging
  • OT-UE 0001 - Orientation to Occupational Therapy
  • OT-GE 2020 - Occupational Performance in Context
  • OT-GE 2171 - Disability in a Global Context: Ghana
  • Assistive Technology Used by People with Disabilities
  • OT-GE 2721 - Fieldwork I
  • OT-GE 2900 - Developing Assistive Technology
  • Introduction to Assistive Technology
  • Ergonomics for Real Life
  • Physical Disabilities Conditions
  • OT-GE 2039 - Medical and Psychiatric Conditions
  • OT-GE 2736 - Skills and Purposeful Activities II
  • OT-GE 2742 - Rehabilitation Evaluation and Intervention
  • OT-GE 2000 - New Student Seminar in Occupational Therapy

Boards

2006-present       RESNA, Board of Director’s Member

2005-2006            Adaptive Design Association (adaptivedesign.org) Board of Directors

1999-2003            National Institutes of Health (NIH). Grant reviewer for SBIR grant proposals.

1992-2003            ANSI/RESNA Wheelchair Standards Committee

1998-2005            ANSI/RESNA Seating and Postural Support Devices Committee

Research Interests

  • Long term interest in research involving the use of assistive technology especially seating and wheeled mobility, computer use, and environmental access.