Tom Cookson

Professional Experience

Wilton Meadows Healthcare Center, Wilton, CT

June 2019 — September 2020

Therapeutic Recreation Specialist

• Assisted familied with loved ones during height of pandemic; arranged and facilitated communications when visitation was not allowed due to safety and mortality was high
• Planned and facilitated all group activities for dementia unit, including weekly crossword puzzle group, guitar sing along group, news, exercise and special events

River House Adult Day Center, Greenwich, CT

February 2015 — June 2019

Manager of Therapeutic Recreation

October 2017 — June 2019

• Coordinated all activities and trips for over 55 seniors with disabilities; primarily dementia
• Managed all recreation staff (2 full-time and 1 part-time) and recreation volunteers
• Creation of daily schedule which determines location and activities of all recreation staff
• Primary facilitator and creator of materials for Mastermind, a cognitive remediation program to keep seniors minds active

Full Time Activity Assistant

February 2015 — October 2017

• Facilitates groups for seniors with disabilities daily. Provide meaningful experiences for seniors with dementia and other age-related disabilities. Activities often involve music, art and reminiscence.

Laurel House, Inc., Stamford, CT

June 2012 — June 2018

Database Consultant

February 2015-June 2018

• Occasional consulting work to help maintain the health database and implement new features.

New Media Administrator

August 2013-February 2015

• Maintained and built new components for client database (SalesForce), created marketing materials including designing annual report, maintained social media and managed website.

Education Specialist

September 2012-November 2013

• Worked within the Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) funded Supported Education program to help individuals determine educational goals, apply to colleges, get financial aid, register for disability services, and develop skills to succeed in college.

Bureau of Rehabilitation Services (BRS) Employment Specialist

June 2012-August 2013

• Responsible for the BRS employment program at Laurel House. Responsibilities included working directly with clients to determine employment goals, assisting with resumes, assisting with applying to jobs, interview preparation, building relationships with employers to create new placements, and all documentation. Responsible for some job coaching and billing the state for services

Computer Skills Group Facilitator

October 2011-February 2015

• Facilitated computer skills workshops for individuals with severe mental illness as a volunteer before being hired full time in June 2012. Continued facilitating group as an employee after being hired, in addition to other responsibilities.

Other

• Sensational Achievements, Stamford, CT — 2017 - 2019. Volunteer - Worked with occupational therapists (included director Aubrey Schmalle, OTR/L) to provide sensory integration therapy for children with disabilities. Also, assisted director with Wordpress and other technical tasks.
• Security Solutions, Inc., Norwalk, CT — November 2011 - June 2012. Customer Service/Dispatcher.
• Priceline.com, Norwalk, CT — June 2009 - December 2009, Summer 2008. Intern Computer Programmer

Education

• Pace; Enrolled in Masters in Computer Science with 27 credits; GPA: 4.0
• University of Connecticut; Bachelor of General Studies, May 2011; GPA: 3.64

Skills

• Proficient: Python, Java, Outlook, video conferencing software (FaceTime, Skype, Zoom, Duo), social media (Twitter/Facebook primarily)
• Working Knowledge: HTML/XML/Javascript/CSS, Photoshop, Premiere, Audacity, Microsoft Office Macros