Course Description:

Designed for: Occupational therapists, physical therapists, speech therapists and assistants as well as anyone who works with patients with Autism spectrum, developmental and learning disorders.

This intensive, hands on evidence-based four-day course addresses sensory integrative dysfunction across all ages in those with Autism spectrum, developmental and learning disorders. Participants will leave armed with new strategies to assess and treat across five interdependent systems: motor, sensory, emotional-relational, communication and cognitive problem solving. Participants will learn to treat the root deficit systems instead of isolated deficit behaviors. This effective approach helps patients to show spontaneity and self-motivation to seek out increasingly positive interactions. The focus will be on tools to improve body awareness, postural stability/security, coordinative skill, motor planning, interest and skill with interpersonal communication, organization, and abstract reasoning for learning.

Participants will be able to apply course learning immediately to:
• Identify and access efficacy research diagnosis and treatment of SPD
• Design interventions that address developmental deficits across the five interdependent development systems.
• Assess and document an individual's specific deficit area and establish goals and priorities for treatment.
• Integrate interventions to establish basic attachment relationships and sensory pleasure.
• Develop intervention skills in ball work for SI, muscle tone and postural development.
• Design intervention strategies that enable praxis and academics (including handwriting, visual-spatial thinking, arithmetic, spelling, memorization and abstract problem-solving).

Credits: NY: 30 contact hours, NJ/CT/IL: 25 contact hours (2.5 CEUs), NBCOT: 31.25 PDUs

What course participants say:

“Every Pediatric OT MUST take this course - great overview of neuroanatomy and relation to applications to use in clinic."
Joanie Johnson, OT

"The best and most informative workshop I have been to. The course was very collaborative and touched on all areas of concern."
Catherine Dye, OTR