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Upcoming Events
Integrative Education offers a variety of learning opportunities:
Natural Postural Engagement for Pediatrics
Irene Ingram, OTR/L, Live Online Webinar
April 16th, 2021, 9:00 am - 12:00 pm CT
CEUs: 3 contact hours
Recording access approximately 1 week after the event, viewing available for 2 weeks after release
Cost: $90
Course Description
This course will provide a valuable set of tools for every therapist’s toolbox to jumpstart systems and engage the child’s natural ability to organize through the vestibular system.
Natural Postural Engagement (NPE) assists the child in accessing his original system of organization. It uses many techniques to organize the child for body awareness, sensory processing, symmetry, midline, range of motion, rhythm, core righting, use of limbs and oral motor efficiency. It specifically treats above and below the hyoid in relationship to the integration of the sublingual floor, infra hyoid muscles, with the function of the lips, jaw, and tongue.
The NPE program rapidly changes the neurological function of the child when techniques are effectively carried out. It is excellent for home programing due to the simplicity and playful attributes.
Lunch & Learn Series, On-Demand Bundle & Save
Michelle Emanuel, Rhoda Erhardt, & Kim Barthel, On-Demand
Available for purchase February 1, 2021 - April 30th, 2021
CEUs: 3 contact hours (.3 AOTA CEUs)
Recording available for 30 days following your purchase
Cost: $75 USD
Course Description
The Lunch & Learn series presented in November 2020, December 2020 and January 2020 are bundled together for a unique 3-hour on-demand learning opportunity. In this course, there are three modules of these topics:
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Michelle Emanuel, Polyvagal PopUp: The Neuroscience of State Behavioral Organization, held as a live webinar on November 6, 2020.
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Rhoda Erhardt, Visual-Perceptual-Motor Interventions for Developmental Coordination Disorders, held as a live webinar on December 2, 2020.
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Kim Barthel, Sleep as a Contribution of Regulation, held as a live webinar on January 7, 2021.
Each module includes the recording, course handouts, references and chat transcript from the live events.
PolyVagal PopUp: The Neuroscience of State Behavioral Organization
Michelle Emanuel, On-Demand
Available for purchase February 1, 2021 - April 30th, 2021
CEUs: 1 contact hour (.1 AOTA CEUs)
Recording available for 30 days following your purchase
Cost: $30 USD
Course Description
This course covers the essentials of autonomic nervous system function as seen through the lens of the Polyvagal Theory. Understanding the neuroscience behind dysregulation and regulation provides a strong foundation for therapists to provide helpful interventions which optimize regulation and resiliency. State behavioral organization is the key to safe and meaningful negotiation through the sensorimotor territory of human development in the pre-crawling period.
Visual-Perceptual-Motor Interventions for Developmental Coordination Disorders
Rhoda Erhardt, On-Demand
Available for purchase February 1, 2021 - April 30th, 2021
CEUs: 1 contact hour (.1 AOTA CEUs)
Recording available for 30 days following your purchase
Cost: $30 USD
Course Description
This course will focus on practical approaches for providing services to children with Developmental Coordination Disorder, which is recognized by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders - Fifth edition (DSM-5). Theoretical foundations for impairments in skilled motor movements that are linked to implications for occupational performance will be explored. Participants will walk away with examples of intervention strategies including principles for individualizing therapeutic activities.
Sleep as a Contribution to Regulation
Kim Barthel, On-Demand
Available for purchase February 1, 2021 - April 30th, 2021
CEUs: 1 contact hour (.1 AOTA CEUs)
Recording available for 30 days following your purchase
Cost: $30 USD
Course Description
Virtually every neurological and mental health issue manifests in sleep-wake dysregulation (Garcia-Rill, 2019). Therapists who evaluate, support and enhance function are constantly questioned by their clients “How do I help myself or my child sleep better?” This lunch and learn session will focus upon the science of sleep and its impact upon regulation.
Using Innate Sensory-Motor Intervention to Help Overcome ADHD Symptoms—Rationale and Supporting Evidence
Sonia Story, Lunch & Learn
May 6th, 2021, 11:30 am - 12:30 pm CT
CEUs: 1 contact hour (.1 AOTA CEUs)
Recording access approximately 1 week after the event, viewing available for 2 weeks after release
Cost: $30
Course Description
Huge numbers of children and adults live with the symptoms of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Research evidence shows that ADHD symptoms are associated with motor challenges and with sensory processing challenges. Research also shows that the brains of individuals with ADHD are less developed than the brains of individuals who do not have these symptoms.
This leads to important questions: Can innate sensory-motor activities provide increased brain development and maturity? Is there evidence showing that innate sensory-motor activities may help to reduce ADHD symptoms? Join us for this 1-hour lecture to explore the answers to these questions.
The Pervasive Impact of Breath on Function: What to Know and What to Do
Eileen Richter & Patricia Oetter, On-Demand
Available for purchase February 26th, 2021 - May 30th, 2021
Community of Practice Q&A session, June 15th, 11:30 am - 12:30 CT
CEUs: 3 contact hours (.3 AOTA CEUs)
Recording available for 30 days following your purchase
Cost: $90
Course Description
Breath has not always been a focus in pediatric treatment. New information is shedding light on how respiration impacts many aspects of development. It is therefore necessary for us to take a more in-depth and active approach to breathing function in our clients with regulatory, sensory processing and/or sensory motor dysfunction.
Current study of breathing restrictions be they structural, functional, or the result of trauma or allergies is identifying associations with regulatory disorders such as sleep apnea, sleep patterns, ADD, and ADHD; as well as motor skills such as feeding, posture and other skills. Observation of respiratory patterns leads to a better understanding of development and sensory motor outcomes. Identifying where 3-dimensional rib cage expansion, i.e. breath, is restricted (diaphragm, upper chest, neck, mouth, nose) provides clues to function and is a foundational focus for treatment. Rate, depth, rhythm and gradation are required for attention, self-regulation, endurance, postural control, eating, voicing for speech, and many other development achievements.
This workshop will emphasize the process of respiratory development, from in utero on, as it relates to typical and atypical sensory processing, and sensory motor processing and development. We will discuss how this applies to assessment and treatment of pediatric clients with varied diagnoses. Using lectures, slides, & videos, we will explore assessment and treatment options to address various dysfunctional respiratory patterns.
Inner Ear, Inner Drive: Unlocking the contributions of the auditory & vestibular systems
Sheila Frick, On-Demand
Available for Purchase April 1st - June 30th, 2021
CEUs: 3 contact hours (.3 AOTA CEUs)
Recording available for 30 days following your purchase
Cost: $90
Course Description
The inner ear plays a critical role in forming the “felt sense” of ourselves relative to the world around us, which is a necessary foundation for emotional regulation, praxis, and higher level cognitive skills. This felt sense and its associated perceptions helps us to develop a working map of our bodies and our physical environment, as well as a foundation for connection. Furthermore, the development of the vestibular-postural-ocular connections support both stable and dynamic positioning of our body relative to the salient events around us.
Starting from the sensory and neurophysiological roots, we will explore the vestibular and auditory portions of the inner ear and their relationship to our innate drive to adapt and gain mastery over our environment. Beyond the role of the inner ear in the development of our physical mastery over our body in space, this course will discuss the relationship of vestibular and auditory sensory processing to our innate drive to connect with another. Ultimately, at the highest level, our innate inner drive contributes to the development of the sensory motor foundation for social engagement, play, and learning.
Avanti Pre-Camp Conference 2021: The Spirit of Engagement
Patricia Oetter, Irene Ingram and Kim Barthel, Live Online Webinar
Thursday June 17th, 2021, 8:45 am - 4:30 pm CT
CEUs: 6.25 contact hours (.625 AOTA CEUs)
Recording access approximately 1 week after the event, viewing available for 2 weeks after release
Cost: $195 early bird registration ends May 15th, regular price, $215
All Proceeds Benefit Camp Avanti!
*Group discount for $10 off per course for groups of 5 or more
Email at Education@integrativeot.org for a coupon code
Course Description
The day’s program will focus on empowering and equipping therapists with reflection, healing, enlightening, knowledge, and creativity as all 3 speakers provide their expertise and gifting engagement. Breakout rooms will be embedded into the course to allow for small group reflections along with a panel discussion of experienced occupational therapy practitioners to contribute to the discussion of each topic presented.
Equipping as a Healing Practitioner: Irene Ingram
Practitioners evolve with repertoires of skills that lead them to their individual gifting. Setting goals for oneself such as “I want to be able to engage in amazing ways”, is the necessary catalyst for acquisition of greater gifting in an area. Understanding the relationship of self with the spirit of healing, the power of imagination and vision, and limiting or empowering beliefs will be explored during this portion of the course.
Relationship as a Healing Force: Kim Barthel
Present and connected relationships are a powerful healing force. They are an intrinsic modulator, a co-regulator of arousal states, and a motivator for all kinds of positive change. With secure relationship at the core of any intervention or frame of reference, there is much reason for hope. It is my belief that therapeutic relationship skills can be cultivated; they can be taught, and they can be learned. What is attunement? How do we learn to connect to ourselves so we can better connect with others? How do we harness the advantages of understanding non-verbal communication? These are some of the questions that will be explored during this portion of the course are intended to deepen our compassionate self-inquiry – towards supporting our relationships whether they are in clinical settings or far beyond.
Developmental Expression of Engagement: Patricia Oetter
This last section of our conference will focus on the development of connection and engagement from womb to school age. It will be done in the context of my Extended Matrix Model which was somewhat based on the work of Joseph Chilton Pearce. His work considered social emotional development in the developmental stages of Womb, Mother, Kid Power and Brain Power. The Extended Matrix Model Considers these stages from the perspectives of Task, Environment, and Interaction. It will also integrate
the interdependent concepts of co-regulation and regulatory functions with the development of engagement and connection skills.