Course description: Big “T” Trauma, little “T” Trauma, what does this mean for us as therapists? Are we truly trauma informed? Does it change the way we work? Join us for this short webinar as we take a deeper look into the world of trauma, how it relates to development, pediatric care and sensory processing. Included will be a brief overview of the Polyvagal Theory and its relevance to social engagement, engagement in therapy, including the notion of what it means to be truly present and safe for our children who struggle with trauma present or past. Find out what the research states regarding resilience and how to promote this in the children we care about every day.

Speaker Bio: Maude Le Roux, OTR/L, SIPT, DIR/Floortime Expert Trainer: Maude Le Roux is an occupational therapist with an extensive following of professionals across the globe. She is a returning speaker to our group. She studies human development in different capacities of growth spanning ages and stages, neuroanatomy, assessment tools as well as current trends of intervention. Maude is certified in multiple different techniques that she applies uniquely through her Developmental Pathways Model (DPM). She owns and directs a clinical practice in Glen Mills, PA, where she has become known for her effective assessment and intervention protocol. Since 2007 Maude travels the globe extensively to train and mentor other professionals. She opened her center in September 2001 and her online Maude Le Roux Academy in January 2019.

Level of Difficulty: Intermediate

Course objectives:

1. Support and explain why school districts must address swallowing and feeding.

2. Identify the necessary steps to establish and maintain safe feeding at school for students with swallowing and feeding disorders and define why each step is important.

3. Identify the importance of working as a team and the roles of each core team member (SLP, OT, PT, school nurse) in establishing and maintaining safe mealtimes at school.

Course description: This presentation will discuss the foundations for addressing swallowing and feeding and the importance of understanding why school districts must address the disorders and how they can best serve these students utilizing a comprehensive, time-tested, district-approved interdisciplinary team procedure that establishes and maintains safe and efficient feeding at school for students with dysphagia and feeding disorders.

Speaker Bio: Emily M. Homer, CCC-SLP, ASHA Fellow : Emily M. Homer, CCC-SLP is known nationally as an advocate school-based swallowing and feeding services. She helps school districts, state organizations and school teams establish swallowing and feeding procedures. She focuses on utilizing a team approach to establish and maintain safe, efficient, and enjoyable mealtimes for children at school.

Level of Difficulty: Intermediate

Course objectives:

1. Define executive function

2. How music affects the brain

3. What are the different musical techniques that can improve EF

4. What are some hands on activities you can incorporate into therapy sessions

Course description: Leverage the power of music to create dynamic and engaging interventions that promote the development of executive function skills while completing fine and gross motor skills.

Speaker Bios: Cathleen Riso, PT, ATP, PCS has been working in pediatrics for 24 years as a school based physical therapist. She is a board-certified pediatric clinical specialist as well as an assistive technology professional. Cathy has presented at area schools, colleges, and previous speaker series events. Cathy currently works at St. Mary’s School for the Deaf. She is collaborating with the PE department to write a curriculum that supports both the PE and PT departments.

Level of Difficulty: Introductory

Course objectives:

1. At the end of the session, participants will be able to articulate challenges that can impact motor development during childhood. 

2. At the end of the session, participants will be able to describe methods for measuring sensorimotor challenges in children. 

Course description: In this session, we will discuss underlying factors, such as sensory function, executive function, etc., that plays a role in motor coordination challenges in children. These children are often described as clumsy and have difficulty planning and organizing their movement. Sensory challenges are also often commonly observed. We will discuss these challenges and how they impact the children’s occupational function. We will explore how these challenges are quantified in research and discuss how to assess these challenges in the school setting.

Speaker Bio: Virginia Chu PhD, OTR/L is an assistant professor in the Department of Occupational Therapy at Virginia Commonwealth University. She is the director of the Sensorimotor Performance and Rehabilitation Engineering Lab. Her research focuses on the interplay between sensory and motor development during early childhood and in children with developmental disorders.

Level of Difficulty: Intermediate