Educational Session Descriptions

Below are descriptions of each of the sessions that will be delivered in Winston-Salem. To download these descriptions, see the link at right.

Session A: Saturday October 1, 2011 - 1:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.

A-1: Home Health Practice 2011: Ensuring the Value of Occupational Therapy

Presenter(s): Carol Siebert, MS, OTR/L, FOATA
Changes in Medicare requirements in home health have created confusion for agencies and therapists. Despite the confusion, the changes create opportunities. Patients and payers are looking for outcomes that make a difference in patient’s daily life. This session explains what is—and isn’t—in the new rules, as well as what Medicare is expecting in terms of functional assessment. Learn how to develop careplans that meet Medicare requirements but also produce outcomes that matter to patients and to agencies. OT specific home health resources will also be identified.

A-2: Assessment and Treatment Interventions for Incontinence (Urinary and Bowel)

Presenter(s): Lania Kelley, OTR/L Stephanie Rogers, PT, DPT, MPS, GRT
The presentation is designed to teach clinicians how to effectively identify pelvic floor disorders and utilize strategies to successfully treat such dysfunctions. This common but debilitating condition is often overlooked or deemed a normal part of aging. Leaving incontinence untreated may lead to limited engagement in occupations, depression, social isolation, falls, and skin breakdown. This presentation will enhance a clinician’s skills with assessment and treatment. The clinician will be able to: identify normal versus abnormal bladder and bowel functions, understand the role the pelvic floor and core musculatur plays in incontinence, identify appropriate treatment strategies to be implemented based on symptoms, and be able to teach their clients behavioral strategies to reduce incontinence.

A-3: Handwriting Readiness Programs in Pre-K Settings: Implementation and Evidence

Presenter(s): Denise Donica, DHS, OTR/L, BCP, Brittni Winslow,OTS, Amy Goins, OTS. Leslie Wagner, OTS
The importance of teaching handwriting skills continues to appear in the literature and in practice. Within this workshop, the explanation of two structured handwriting readiness programs (Handwriting Without Tears Get Set For School and the Fine Motor and Early Writing Pre-K curriculum) will be discussed as well as the benefits they pose in the Head Start Pre-K setting. A detailed account of the implementation and execution of each program will be presented as well as the gains identified in the areas of handwriting, fine motor and visual-perception. Hands on learning activities will also be conducted to provide further exposure to these programs.

A-4: New Insights about Therapeutic Relationships: Effectiveness across Practice Settings

Presenter(s): Lynn Wakeford, MS, OTR/L, Virginia Dickie, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA, Sue Coppola, MS, OTR/L, BCG, Jenny Womack, MS, OTR/L
Therapeutic use of self” is acknowledged as a legitimate method of OT intervention in the OT Practice Framework, 2nd Edition, and is often recognized as a key professional tool by OT working in mental health settings. However, recent literature from both OT and other professions reflects the importance and power of the therapeutic relationship across practice settings, and challenges practitioners to re-think ways in which this relationship can be used to effect greater client outcomes. In this session, we will present several new perspectives on this familiar concept, discuss ways in which OT practitioners can/do develop the necessary skills, and encourage reflection in a manner that allows new ideas to be integrated into current practice situations in a wide variety of practice settings.

Session B: Saturday October 1, 2011 - 3:20 p.m. - 5:20 p.m.

B-1: Assistive Technology Applications Across The Lifespan

Presenter(s): Celeste Helling, M.A., CCC-SLP, ATP
Assistive technology (AT) devices offer a variety of options for individuals with disabilities to maximize functional capabilities across life domains. This session will provide an overview of common AT devices and highlight how they can be essential for achieving and/or maximizing functional independence and productivity. Frequently used frameworks for assessment and intervention, as well as follow up services and support will be presented. A variety of AT devices will be available for demonstration as well as “hands-on” participant evaluation. As a result of this workshop, participants will be able to apply a person-centered process to identifying AT needs, selecting assistive devices, and evaluating the effectiveness of AT implementation.

B-2: Still Safe to Drive? Evaluation of Aging Drivers

Presenter(s): Cyndee Crompton, OTR/L, CDRS Brenda Kennell, OTR/L, CDI
As people age, changes in physical, mental and sensory abilities can challenge their continued ability to drive safely. AOTA believes that OT practitioners have the skills to evaluate a person’s overall ability to operate a vehicle safely and to provide rehabilitation, if necessary. This presentation provides information regarding the OT specialist’s evaluation process and unique challenges encountered with aging clients related to safe driving. Video case studies will be utilized to show what a driver evaluation consists of and difficulties encountered by aging clients. We will discuss strategies that will help them live life to its fullest by keeping aging individuals active, healthy, and safe in their communities. Clinical reasoning learned and utilized in driver evaluation will be extrapolated to other OT practice areas.

B-3: Supporting Young Adult Transition from High School to Life after Graduation

Presenter(s): Lauren Holahan, MS, OTR/L
This workshop will help participants understand the role of school-based and community-based OTs working with young adults with disabilities who are transitioning from high school to community life. Background knowledge in special education requirements for post-school transition will inform how occupational therapy practitioners can collaborate with families and across agencies/practice settings to support student/graduate success. Statewide resources for postschool educational and employment options for students with disabilities will be shared to promote participant application of concepts covered in the course.

B-4: Inclusive Tourism in Thailand: Collaborations between UNC, Chiang Mai University, and Disabled Peoples’ International

Presenter(s): Joy Agner, OTS, Kate Luettich, OTS, Ailsa O’Neill, MS, OTR/L, Sue Coppola, MS, OTR/L, BCG, FAOTA
In a 1998 study, Simon Darcy found that 74% of people with disabilities wanted to travel more if their needs were met in all stages of tourism. Furthermore, many older adults are taking advantage of retirement by aging actively, and pursuing new opportunities for travel. In this workshop, presenters share their experiences from an OT Fieldwork II experience in Thailand focused on inclusive tourism. Key aspects of inclusive tourism, as well as tools and activities of the project will be discussed. Participants and presenters will expound on the potential role of NC OTs in promoting inclusive tourism locally and internationally.

Session C: Sunday, October 2, 2011 - 8:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.

C-1: Managing Chronic Disease in the Community: A Home Health Perspective

Presenter(s): Jennifer Martin, PT, MS, DPT
Do you struggle with patients with common chronic disease or treat patients who don’t ever seem to get better? This session will incorporate lecture and interactive group discussion to identify effective, evidence-based strategies that improve patient outcomes and decrease re-hospitalization and re-admission to therapy. In the context of home health, we will use the framework of the International Classification of Function (ICF) to develop evidence-based plans of care, identify appropriate interventions, set patient-centered goals and choose multi-disciplinary outcome measures.

C-2: Distance Caregivers of People with Dementia/Alzheimer’s Disease

Presenter(s): Megan Edwards, PhD, OTR/L
This session will discuss the findings of a doctoral research study that included interviews with 10 adult children who provide (or provided) care to a parent with dementia/Alzheimer’s disease from at least two hours away. Their overall experience and implications for health care professionals are discussed. Alzheimer’s disease will also be defined and basic treatment strategies for working with clients who have dementia/Alzheimer’s disease will be explored.

C-3: OTs and Educators Merge Handwriting Instructional Strategies: A Plan for Student Success

Presenter(s): Diane Wheeler, BS, MEd.
Because of a packed curriculum that requires time to be set aside for so many previously non-existent or non-valued activities such as technology and hands-on programs, handwriting instruction has simply been assigned a “backseat,” or no seat at all. As a result, classroom teachers are referring students to OTs, not for intervention, but for initial effective instruction! When handwriting is initially and appropriately instructed in inclusive classrooms, most children easily and happily learn automatic and legible handwriting skills.

C-4: Adding Video Technology to Your Toolbox: for Clinicians, Clients, and Classroom

Presenter(s): Brenda Kennell, OTR/L CDI Elizabeth Fain, OTR/L
If a picture is worth a thousand words, how valuable is a video? Video can help clients remember how and what to do for their home program, help caregivers who were unable to attend training with therapists and is a powerful marketing tool when promoting an OT program or service. Students and employees can refer to training videos repeatedly until they feel competent with new techniques or concepts. In this interactive workshop, participants will use various media to create video clips for a variety of therapeutic purposes. Limited to 25 participants. If possible, please bring laptop and photos in jpeg format.

Session D: Sunday, October 2, 2011 - 1:00 - 3:00 p.m.

D-1:Management of Progressive Disorders

Presenter(s): Amber Ward, MS, OTR/L, BCPR, ATP
Many therapists do not often treat persons with progressive disorders, and if they do, they may wonder how to treat or write goals for a person who is not necessarily getting better. This session will focus on specifics about MS, ALS and muscular dystrophies, as well as treatment ideas and goal setting.

D-2: Cognitive Training for the Alzheimers Patient

Presenter(s): Jay Moore, MS, OTR/L
The Presentation will focus on how to assess and treat cognitive deficits in individuals who are experiencing the onset of Alzheimers. The main focus will be understanding the full spectrum of cognition, from the most basic cognitive skill, volition, to the highest level of executive function. Second, discussions about the importance of functional, familar treatments and home exercises will occur. Finally, caregiver education for the best implementation of functional cognitive activities, will be addressed.

D-3: Role of Occupational Therapy in Psychosocial Rehabilitation: Current Trends and Unique Perspectives

Presenter(s): Allison Taylor, MS, OTR/L, CPRP
This workshop addresses the similarities between Occupational Therapy and Psychosocial Rehabilitation and what makes Occupational Therapists unique providers in the mental health field. This workshop will offer an update on current trends in the mental health field within the US and the international community. Discussion regarding education, research and practice challenges for Occupational Therapists working in mental health will be included.

D-4: Community Partnerships: Win-Win Opportunities for Fieldwork Educations

Presenter(s): Janice McDonald, MEd, OTR/L, Dorothy Bethea, PhD, OTR/L, Dan Parsons, BS, Greg Cooney, BS Chino Ingram, OTS
This session details a community fieldwork experience developed locally for a mental health fieldwork educational experience for the Occupational Therapy Program. A Community Partnership with Winston Salem State University and Winston-Salem Rescue Mission was formed to provide a learning experience for OT students in the program by providing Life Skills training to participants from the homeless shelter program. Participants were able to help students understand homelessness and addiction. This shows that there are possible sites in nearly every community.