Sensory Integration Intervention for Children with Visual-Vestibular Integration Problems: Intensive  Mentorship Training

 

Presented by Teresa May-Benson, ScD, OTR/L, FAOTA

Sunday, January 19 to Thursday, January 23, 2020

This unique five-day intensive mentorship training is limited to ten therapists who wish to develop further expertise in sensory integration observational assessment and intervention. This advanced course will assist therapists in developing clinical reasoning and implementing intervention strategies for visual-vestibular integration deficits.

This course focuses on hands-on experience using specialized therapy equipment. Therapists work in pairs with the same children three times throughout the week under the supervision of an experienced occupational therapist. After each session, ample time is given for in-depth discussion, analysis of session, and feedback from our experienced clinicians. Daily lecture / discussion sessions and videotape presentations encompass your individual requests as well as include topics such as treating vestibular deficits, assessment of oculomotor skills, and integrating visual-vestibular activities into treatment.

Completion of both a Sensory Integration Theory Course (e.g. Essentials of Sensory Integration Theory, WPS Course 1) and a Sensory Integration Intervention Course (e.g. Essentials of Sensory Integration Intervention, WPS Course 4) is highly recommended. It is also recommended that applicants have read Sensory Integration Theory and Practice and Understanding the Nature of Sensory Integration with Diverse Populations.

Learning Objectives:
At the end of this course participants will be able to:

1. Plan and implement intervention for visual-vestibular integration deficits under the mentorship of an experienced therapist.
2. Administer clinical observations of sensory integration, posture, oculomotor skills, and complete a clinical assessment to assess children for visual-vestibular related sensory integration problems.
3. Use suspended equipment for sensory integration intervention safely and appropriately to maximize children's adaptive responses.
4. Develop a therapeutic relationship with children with visual-vestibular problems to maximize the child's sensory integration intervention.

About the Speaker: Teresa A. May-Benson, ScD, OTR/L, FAOTA is the Executive Director of the Spiral Foundation as well as a practicing occupational therapist at OTA The Koomar Center. She is active in conducting research related to sensory integration through the Spiral Foundation's Sensory Processing Research Center and Laboratory. She is a well-known lecturer and researcher on sensory integration theory and intervention, has authored book chapters and articles on praxis and sensory integration, and completed her doctoral dissertation on ideational praxis. Dr. May-Benson received her bachelor's degree from Ohio State University and her master's degree from Boston University with a concentration in sensory integration and school system therapy. She was a Maternal and Child Health Fellow in the Doctoral Program in Therapeutic Studies at Boston University. She has received the Virginia Scardinia Award of Excellence from AOTA for her work in ideational praxis.

Tentative Course Schedule: Days One and Two
 Subject to change depending on the availability of clinic space and the needs of participants.

Day One

8:00 – 8:30   Registration

8:30 – 9:30   Introductions; Course and Clinic Set-up and Safety

9:30 – 10:30   Lecture: Overview of SI Concepts Related to Visual-Vestibular Intervention

10:30 – 11:30   Lecture: Clinical Observations and Assessment of Visual-Vestibular Difficulties

11:30 – 1:00   Lab: Set up and Analysis of SI Equipment

1:00 – 2:00   Lunch (provided)

2:00 – 3:00   Lecture: Assessment of Vestibular Deficits

3:00 – 4:00   Lecture: Assessment of Oculo-Motor and Visual Deficits

4:00 – 5:00   Lecture: Interpretation of Assessment Information and Clinical Reasoning for Visual-Vestibular Intervention

5:00 – 5:30   Chart review; Plan for Child #1; Clinic exploration

 

Day Two

8:30 – 9:30   Lab: Clinical Assessment of Visual-Vestibular Deficits

9:30 – 10:30   Process and document assessment information

10:30 – 11:30   Lunch (not provided)

11:30 – 12:00   Plan and set-up for Child #1

12:00 – 1:00   Therapy Session: Child #1

1:00 – 2:00   Process therapy session, complete treatment forms, write therapy note.

2:00 – 3:00   Lecture: Promoting Postural-Ocular Control

3:00 – 4:00   Lecture: Treating Visual-Vestibular Problems- Astronaut Program and More

4:00 – 5:00   Lecture: Facilitating Visual- Vestibular Activities

5:00 – 6:00   Optional: Observe treatment, clinic exploration

(Schedule may vary depending on participant needs. Full tentative schedule available on request.)

Tuition:  $1500 
($750 initial application fee is due on registration, along with a resume and acceptance to course to hold your space; final payment of $750 and King of Swings registration, if appropriate, is due two weeks prior to course)

Register Now!

 NOTE:  Cancellation Fees - The $750 initial fee will be refunded if you are not accepted into the course.  Cancellations happening 2 weeks prior to the start day will incur a $75 processing fee.  Cancellations occuring within 2 weeks of the course start day will incur a $150 cancellation fee.