Guest Speaker: Stephen Nawotniak

Stephen Nawotniak OTR/L has a Self Designed Masters from Buffalo State College and a Masters in Occupational Therapy from Utica College. For 8 month’s he hiked, biked, sailed and canoed from Buffalo, NY to Key West, FL. He gave presentations to over 1000 youth on the values of volunteerism and education and completed over 230 hours of community service along the way.

Living WITH a condition, not just coping with an illness is the focus of Stephen’s talk. He blends his personal experiences of rebuilding his life after 2 hospitalizations for his bipolar condition and professional experiences as an occupational therapist to share skills and systems to accommodate needs and enjoy a desired quality of life. He has committed to use his experiences to help break down the stigma associated with mental illness and demystify the experience of a mood disorder.