Now Available! Therapies in the School 23rd Annual Conference – ON-DEMAND 9!

Offering up to 31 Continuing Education Hours!

Includes the popular, complimentary bonus session: Creative Approaches using RTI (Response to Intervention) to Support Students While Reducing the Need for Referrals – presented by Kareen Robbins, MS OTR/L


We are thrilled to announce the release of brand NEW, school-based practice specific content to help you navigate the issues you’re encountering with your students every day: Therapies in the School 23rd Annual Conference – ON-DEMAND 9.

Therapies in the School 23rd Annual Conference – ON-DEMAND 9 is a collection of 13 sessions recorded at our annual 2-day virtual conference for school-based therapists held in November, 2022. Don’t miss this CEU learning opportunity that will invigorate your practice with easily applicable tools and evidence-based interventions!

You’ll learn lots of new information from our school-based practice expert faculty:

Susan Cecere, MHS, PT Amy Lewis, OTR/L Cara Koscinski, OTD, OTR/L
Christy Hupka, PT, DPT, PCS Amy Barr, PT, DPT

Karen Pryor, DPT, PhD, PT
and others!

Browse this year’s line-up of 13 sessions and learn more about each course. You can earn up to 31 CEU hours that appeal to different disciplines (PT, OT, SLP and special educators), spanning many areas of practice: executive function; sensory based strategies; interoception; addressing reflexes through neuroplasticity; trauma informed care and more. Plus, there are plenty of specialty topics: improving learning outcomes for students with vestibular impairments; improving learning outcomes for medically complex students and much more. Download the Brochure for complete details. 

Here’s what other therapists have said about our 2022 virtual conference: 

Two days jammed packed with new information and strategies. A must for all school-based therapists. – Kristie S. 

 

This conference always brings great speakers and current info that is easy to bring home and practice immediately. I plan to return again next year! –  Kathleen T.

 

I learned a great deal of information relevant to physical therapists in the school setting. Many times physical therapists work alone in districts and do not have others to learn from or share ideas. This confirmed many of the methods I am using are being utilized by others in the field and also taught me new strategies to add to my practice. – Tonya H.

Grab your colleagues and learn together on your next in-service day! Together, you’re sure to enjoy inspired, thought-provoking conversations as you learn new information from leading experts in the field that you can put to use in your practice immediately. You can also join our Therapies in the School Discussion Group on Facebook – to ask questions or share knowledge with other therapists. 

Register now and save!

You can purchase the ENTIRE 2-DAY SERIES, just Day 1 or just Day 2, it’s up to you! Once you purchase, you will have access to the courses and downloadable hand-outs from our instructors for an entire year. Each session can be viewed separately-whenever it’s convenient for you!

SAVE $100 when you purchase Therapies in the School 23rd Annual Conference – On-Demand 9 before May 31, 2023 (2-Day series only). Use coupon code THERAPIES9 at checkout.

Group rates are available: $129/person up to 9 additional participants [CEU certificates] when you purchase one 2-Day series/$749. OR $79/person up to 9 additional participants [CEU certificates] when you purchase a 1-Day option/$499. Please share this offer with your colleagues and staff!  

Questions or want to register a group? Please contact ERI at info@educationresourcesinc.com or call 800-487-6530.

ERI Celebrates Occupational Therapy Month!

April is Occupational Therapy Month 

While we think OTs and OTAs deserve gratitude year-round, we love shining a special spotlight on occupational therapists during the month of April. This profession works tirelessly to help restore or improve the ability of patients across the lifespan, and works in a variety of settings including hospitals, schools and outpatient clinics. 

During OT Month, ERI is excited to highlight the vitally important work of OTs and OTAs. With over 200,000 occupational therapists in this country, this profession continues to impact the lives of people by enabling them to participate in the activities of everyday life. THANK YOU for all you do!

Meeting Your Specific OT Needs

Occupational therapists strive to help patients conquer their goals, and experience a life without limitations. ERI wants to honor that hard work by providing OTs with the tools and education they need in order to enable their patients to live their lives to the fullest. 

Whether you’re just starting out in your career as an OT, or you’re a seasoned veteran, ERI provides a range of professional development resources to help you create fuller lives for your patients and their families. By investing in a CEU course—either on-demand, in-person or live webinar—you can expect to expand your skill set and learn techniques to better support patients and their specific needs. 

Celebrating All Month Long…

Follow us as we continue to celebrate OTs all month long. We’ll be running a special OT promotion, feature our OT faculty members, and continue to spread the word of this profession’s value and how it changes lives. Stay tuned for more!

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Have a question? Please reach out to us: info@educationresourcesinc.com or call 800-487-6530.

The 2023 NANT Conference Is Just Around the Corner – We Can’t Wait to See You!

Save the date for April 14 – 15, 2023

We’re counting down the days until the annual National Association of Neonatal Therapists (NANT) Conference in Tucson, AZ. This annual conference is the only one of its kind in the world, serving an international group of neonatal OTs, PTs, and SLPs in order to advance the specialized knowledge and skills required to work in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).  

Stop by booth #114 and say hello

ERI has the privilege of being a professional partner with NANT, and is excited to be in attendance for this year’s convention. Our partnership with NANT helps to strengthen the quality and accessibility of continuing education for our neonatal therapist community. We are passionate about providing the best education possible to this extraordinary group who care for the tiniest of patients. This year, visit us at booth #114. We love listening to your needs, suggestions and thoughts for future educational topics. We look forward to seeing old friends and meeting new ones!


Meet and chat with ERI faculty 

We are so honored to have such passionate, dedicated faculty on our team. Many ERI faculty members are attending this conference, with some presenting as well. Below is a list of those presenting, as well as an indication of who will be stopping by the ERI booth #114. Take some time to meet and greet with these exceptional professionals: 

Presenting on Friday, April 14:
Building Confidence Through Competency – Overview of Practice Competencies for the Neonatal Therapist
10:00 – 10:45 am
Anjanette Lee, MS, CCC/SLP, CNT, NTMTC

 

Kati KnudesnPresenting on Friday, April 14:
Neonatal Therapy Science: Review of Current Evidence
2:30 – 3:30 pm
Kati Knudsen, PT, MPT, CNT, PCS, DCS, CLE
*Visit Kati at the ERI booth on Friday at 9:15 am and 4:45 pm 

 

Presenting on Saturday, April 15:
Striking a Balance Between Neuroprotective Care and Neurodevelopmental Opportunities During Sedation Weaning in the NICU
9:00 – 10:00 am
Holly Schifsky, OTR/L, CNT, NTMTC, CBIS
*Visit Holly at the ERI booth on Friday from 7:00 – 8:00 am and
9:15 – 10:00 am 

Lynn Wolf, MOT, OTR, IBCLC
*Visit Lynn at the ERI booth on Friday from 7:00 – 8:00 am

 

 

Robin Glass, OTR, MS, IBCLC
*Visit Robin at the ERI booth on Friday from 9:15 – 10:00 am

 

 

Shanna Semmler, PT, DSc, PCS
*Visit Shanna at the ERI booth on Friday from 4:45 – 5:45 pm and
Saturday, 7:30 – 9:00 am 

 

 

Conference Information and Raffle Prizes

Be sure to visit the NANT conference page to set up your agenda ahead of time. And while at the conference, don’t forget to stop by our booth to chat with us and to also be entered to win some fabulous raffle prizes. Have your badge scanned to enter the raffle – you won’t want to miss it! ERI’s exhibitor profile will be shared on the Whova app once again – so you can always check-in on the app for any of our updates throughout the conference. 

See you in Arizona! 🌵

New CDC Guidelines on Child Development

new CDC guidelines on child development

As a speech-language pathologist (SLP), physical therapist (PT) or occupational therapist (OT), you’re likely familiar with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines on child development. These guidelines serve as an aid to help you evaluate a child’s development in several areas, such as their social, emotional, language, cognitive and physical abilities. 

While it takes more than a checklist of milestones to determine how well a child is developing, these guidelines can be a useful tool for early intervention. In this guide, we’ll discuss the new CDC milestones vs. the old milestones, how professionals have responded to these changes and how you can continue your education in this field to grow your knowledge and skills and provide a better standard of care.

What Are CDC Developmental Guidelines? 

The CDC’s Act Early guidelines for child development help therapists and other health professionals monitor how a child is progressing, growing and developing the habits and behaviors that will impact their long-term health. These milestone checklists act as communication tools between therapists and families to determine if additional screening and evaluation are needed for a developmental concern. 

The developmental milestones describe certain behaviors, movements, learning abilities and language skills that a child possesses at certain ages, starting from two months to five years old. The milestone checklists on the CDC’s guidelines include:

  • Open-ended questions for therapists to use to address concerns.
  • Reminders to conduct developmental screening.
  • Information about child early intervention.
  • Tips for parents and caregivers to help promote development in their children.

While the developmental milestones are not the same as the CDC’s overall guidelines and should not be used as screening or diagnostic tools, they can be helpful for therapists to note developmental concerns and determine if further tools, referrals or services are needed. 

The CDC formed these guidelines based on evidence-based research for different child development stages, and they represent a norm for 75% or more of children during those life stages. However, these milestones do not list every milestone children should or will exhibit.

OTs, PTs, SLPs and other therapy professionals can use these markers and create more actionable interventions, such as prompt screening and referrals if even one milestone is missing. These CDC milestone changes were largely intended to speed up access to treatment and reduce the “wait and see” method that many professionals often use when a child is missing one or more milestones for their average age.

What Has Changed? 

In February 2022, the CDC revised and added to the milestones of the “Learn the Signs. Act Early” guidelines. Here are the three major updates that occurred:

1. Lower Standards for Language 

The previous language milestones stated that children should be able to communicate at least 50 words by the time they are two years old because it’s expected in at least 50% of children. The new guidelines push this milestone to 30 months, when 75% of children should have a vocabulary of about 50 words. Consequently, this lowers the speech and language standard for children to start combining words at a younger age.

2. New 15-Month and 30-Month Milestones    

The most significant change to the CDC developmental milestones was the addition of guidelines for 15-month and 30-month-old toddlers, which were not previously listed. The 15-month milestone checklist includes behaviors like:

  • Mimicking other children while playing.
  • Clapping when excited.
  • Showing affection, such as hugs and kisses.
  • Recognizing familiar objects. 
  • Pointing at something to ask for help.
  • Taking a few steps on their own.

The 30-month milestone checklist includes behaviors like:

  • Playing with other children.
  • Following simple routines, like clean up time.
  • Saying two or more words together.
  • Playing pretend with dolls or toys.
  • Exhibiting simple problem-solving skills.
  • Knowing at least one color.
  • Using their hands to turn doorknobs, flip through a book or undress.

3. Additional Removals and Changes to Existing Milestones

The CDC also made other changes to milestones to show signs of certain developmental disorders like autism spectrum disorder (ASD). It bumped up new developmental milestones to older ages, such as the average age for displaying fine motor skills. It also added some milestones, like calming down when spoken to or picked up at 2 months old or smiling to get attention at 4 months old. 

Many milestones were removed, however, due to potential confusion over the redundancy in some of the milestones. One of these removed milestones includes crawling, which requires multiple reflexes like neck, feet and leg control.  

the overall goal is to make it easier to identify social-communication disabilities

Why Did the CDC Change the Milestones? 

The CDC updated these guidelines — for the first time since 2004 — to more effectively support professionals and families as they communicate about a child’s development. With these changes, the CDC hopes to help professionals and parents identify, track and take action on developmental concerns at more specific ages so children may get the treatment they need. 

The overall goal is to make it easier to identify social-communication disabilities like autism in children and immediately place them in speech therapy or another form of developmental therapy. Some parents and professionals speculate that pushing certain milestones to older ages is a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, where many young children were born into social isolation that may have led to an increase in things like speech delays or communication skills.

How These Changes Impact Therapists 

The new CDC milestones may affect how therapists determine developmental delays in children. The response to these changes by many professionals in the community reflects the controversy about how to interpret and use these new guidelines. These CDC milestones for therapists and parents may seem conflicting and confusing — removing crawling as a milestone, for example, can eliminate the evaluation of certain physical and cognitive skills. 

Early identification of such delays or concerns is critical for helping children receive the treatment they need to reach their full potential. The previous guidelines were based on the 50th percentile, whereas the new guidelines are based on the 75th percentile. 

While the goal of this change was to make it easier for therapists and parents to conduct treatment sooner, some professionals worry that these lowered standards may encourage the “wait and see” approach, which involves waiting longer to refer a child to a specialist until their delay becomes more severe. As a result, therapists may see more cases of new child patients arriving with more severe symptoms that may be more difficult to treat and extend time in therapy.

Lowering standards for speech and langauge, for instance, could prevent children from receiving a late individualized family service plan (IFSP) or individualized education plan (IEP), delaying their access to much-needed services and assessments. Additionally, the CDC did not have any SLPs involved in revising the speech and language developmental milestones, which has caused some concern for therapists and what they should advise parents. 

learn more about development with courses from ERI

Learn More About Development With Courses From ERI

It’s important to stay informed about the new CDC guidelines for child development. Parents and caregivers who bring their child to your care will likely have questions about these new updates and what that means for their child’s growth and development. Some parents may feel their child is not reaching their full potential, especially with these new changes. 

As an OT, PT or SLP, it’s always best for you to continue learning and educating yourself in the field to improve outcomes for your patients and help parents understand their child’s unique needs and timelines. At ERI, it’s our goal to provide therapists like you with access to professional development and educational courses to help you maintain your license, provide better care and remind yourself why you love what you do. 

We offer Continuing Education Unit (CEU) webinars, online courses and in-person courses to fit your educational needs. Browse our courses online or contact us today to learn more.

Spotlight on Vestibular On-Demand Courses

With life feeling like it’s getting busier by the day, and spring calendars already filling up, we know it can be difficult to schedule your professional development CEUs. This month, ERI is shining a spotlight on the broad range of on-demand vestibular courses available to you. Take the course anytime, anywhere!

What does on-demand include?

The biggest advantage of on-demand courses is that you choose the time and the place. On-demand courses have been recorded from live webinars. Upon registration, you’ll have access to the course for up to one year. This includes any additional handouts provided by the speaker. Once the course has been completed and you’ve passed the exam, you’ll receive your CEU certificate. 

Which topics are available for on-demand?

We have a broad selection to choose from! From pediatric to adult, ERI’s affordable on-demand vestibular courses include: 

Our library is growing…

Our faculty are experts in the vestibular world and provide content that includes the latest updates and advancements in the field. With an ever-growing on-demand library to choose from, therapists have the opportunity to enhance their knowledge from wherever they are around the world. Check back as we continue to add to our vestibular courses!

Please reach out to ERI with any questions at info@educationresourcesinc.com or call 800-487-6530.