MiniCon 2023 Schedule

Session Details:

• Content Level: Beginning
• Practice Settings: Pediatrics
• Downloads: If available link will be placed here

Session Description:

In-person community of practice to discuss trends in systems and programs that affect the delivery of occupational therapy services.

Learning Objectives:

• Network among students and practitioners within similar practice settings.
• Identify current practice concerns.
• Develop methods to address current issues.
• Develop a timeline to continue discussion for the next meeting. 

Speaker:

President Angela Bosse, MOT, OTR/L,  is an Occupational Therapist that currently works at Bellevue School District. She has previously worked in Academia, School Districts, and in Rehab facilities. She has previously held positions on the Executive Board as VP and Continuing Education Chair. She graduated from Pacific University with her Masters in 2004.

Session Details:

• Content Level: Beginning
• Practice Settings: Mental Health
• Downloads: If available link will be placed here

Session Description:

In-person community of practice to discuss trends in systems and programs that affect the delivery of occupational therapy services.

Learning Objectives:

• Network among students and practitioners within similar practice settings.
• Identify current practice concerns.
• Develop methods to address current issues.
• Develop a timeline to continue discussion for the next meeting.

Speaker:

TBD

Session Details:

• Content Level: Beginning
• Practice Settings: Pediatrics
• Downloads: If available link will be placed here

Session Description:

In-person community of practice to discuss trends in systems and programs that affect the delivery of occupational therapy services.

Learning Objectives:

• Network among students and practitioners within similar practice settings.
• Identify current practice concerns.
• Develop methods to address current issues.
• Develop a timeline to continue discussion for the next meeting.

Speaker:

Emily Nugen graduated from Eastern Washington University in 2016 and is currently working at Olympic Sport & Spine in Puyallup, WA. She fell in love with the WOTA Community the first time she became involved as a student in 2014. Since then Emily has moved from a student volunteer to a member of the Conference Committee and Continuing Education Chair. Emily enjoys all the networking opportunities WOTA has offered her over the years! In her free time Emily enjoys cooking, crafting, spending time with her husband and baby boy, and some graphic design.

Session Details:

• Content Level: Beginning
• Practice Settings: Pediatrics
• Downloads: If available link will be placed here

Session Description:

In-person community of practice to discuss trends in systems and programs that affect the delivery of occupational therapy services.

Learning Objectives:

• Network among students and practitioners within similar practice settings.
• Identify current practice concerns.
• Develop methods to address current issues.
• Develop a timeline to continue discussion for the next meeting.

Speaker:

Stephanie Brubach, COTA/L graduated from Pima Medical Institute in 2014. She has worked as a pediatric OTA at Lewis County Co-Op and a private outpatient clinic. She has returned to the schools and is currently working for Kent School District. She has been involved with WOTA since 2013 as a student volunteer and membership chair; and is currently the Continuing Education Chair. On her free time Stephanie enjoys spending time with her husband and three young boys, reading and being crafty. She looks forward to continuing her journey and being part of the wonderful WOTA team.

Session Details:

• Content Level: Beginning
• Practice Settings: Pediatrics
• Downloads: If available link will be placed here

Session Description:

The research says thousands of repetitions with variation (moderate differences) are critical to learning any new motor task (retrieved from Linda Burkhart Two Switches for Success). How is that possible to make happen on a daily basis in a busy classroom? In this session, we’ll take you through a typical school day routine to show examples of how to implement multiple meaningful switch activities into what you’re already doing. The session will also include a review of switches, switch interfaces and placement. There will be time to work with a group to create a school day switch plan for one of your students, as well as, creating a 4 week interdisciplinary lesson plan.. You will leave with activities you can feel confident starting right away with your students!

Learning Objectives:

• Learners will be able to use a voice output switch to implement three different engaging activities that can be incorporated throughout the school day.
• Learners will be able to operate a PowerLink to create 3 engaging switch activities.
• Learners will be able to apply skills learned in this session to create a motivating, collaborative lesson using at least two different switch activities.

Speaker:

Heidi Brislin, MS-OTR/L (she/her) is an Occupational Therapist and Assistive Technology Specialist for the Special Education Technology Center, Edmonds School District, and owns a private practice in Kingston, WA. Heidi has extensive experience in school-based practice, inpatient and outpatient adult rehab settings. She has degrees from Boston University and the University of Washington. Heidi is passionate about teaching teams to create authentic learning opportunities, improving literacy skills, switch access, power mobility and helping children become autonomous communicators. Heidi has presented Nationally and throughout Washington. In her free time, Heidi enjoys knitting, traveling, and spending time exploring the Pacific Northwest with her husband and two dogs. 

Mackenzie Light, MS, OTR/L (she/her) is an Occupational Therapist for the Edmonds School District. She has 6 years of experience in school-based practice in Washington and North Carolina. Mackenzie earned degrees from Pennsylvania State University and Gannon University. She enjoys collaborating with teachers and therapists to increase children with special needs and complex bodies participation and engagement in classroom activities. In her free time, Mackenzie likes to cook, camp, hike, paddle board, and backpack.

Katie Galvagno

Session Details:

• Content Level: Beginning
• Practice Settings: Outdoor setting
• Downloads: Will be Link here if available

Session Description:

“In nature, children learn to take risks, overcome fears, make new friends, regulate emotions, and create imaginary worlds.” — Angela J. Hanscom, OTR/L

In this pandemic time, outdoor therapy is an amazing opportunity to connect to clients, nature, and yourself to fight the ever-increasing burnout we feel while increasing effectiveness and lowering the amount of time we spend treatment planning. Join me in learning about the What, Why, Where, and How of Nature-based OT and immediate ways to apply it to your practice area. 

Learning Objectives:

• WHAT is nature-based/outdoor occupational therapy practice
• WHY outdoor OT can lessen treatment planning while learning intervention ideas to apply immediately, despite your setting
• WHERE to do nature-based OT and opportunities to connect to your communities
• HOW nature-based therapy can be applied to many practice areas, treating outside can fight burnout, and being outdoors can promote client’s independent thought, social skills, creativity, and healthy sensory/motor development thus increasing effectiveness

Speaker:

Emily graduated with her MSOT from Stanbridge University in Orange County, CA and moved to the PNW 4 years ago to work in the Bremerton School District. She now works at Center for Therapeutic Intervention clinic on Bainbridge Island and started her own nature-based practice, Little Fern Forest. She is trained in the Cedarsong Way forest kindergarten method and runs a developmental forest kindergarten program on her property. She is also certified in Ayres Sensory Integration and Therapeutic Listening and is so very passionate about ASI. She specializes in outdoor OT and neurodivergence in nature and LOVES taking OT students. She currently lives in Indianola, where she has an outdoor clinic, with her husband and three cats.

Session Details:

• Content Level: Intermediate
• Practice Settings: Adult – outpatient
• Downloads: If available will be linked here

Session Description:

This workshop will prepare Occupational Therapy practitioners to utilize evidence-informed interventions to treat adult patients with long COVID related functional impairments. Long COVID has been defined as signs, symptoms, or conditions of COVID 19 that persist at least 4 weeks after initial infection. Fatigue, brain fog, and psychosocial concerns are among the most common symptoms of long COVID. Functional effects of the symptoms of long COVID include decreased ability to complete basic and complex activities of daily living, decreased functional mobility, inability to return to work, and reduced ability to participate in leisure activities. Due to the newness of the diagnosis, high-quality evidence on rehabilitation interventions for long COVID is limited. However, evidence-based interventions for the functional impairments typically associated with long COVID exist in the literature base. Current best practice is to employ existing evidence to inform interventions that address the functional impairments associated with long COVID. Because of the functional implications, adult patients with long COVID are presenting to Occupational Therapy practitioners in a variety of settings. Practitioners need to be prepared to treat these patients. To prepare practitioners, this workshop will identify the functional impairments associated with long COVID, present a case study, share evidence-based OT interventions for fatigue, brain fog, and psychosocial challenges, and will allow participants to work through a case study to make treatment recommendations. Effective implementation that includes adaptability, feasibility, and sustainability will support health equity and improved patient outcomes.

Learning Objectives:

• By the end of this workshop, participants will identify the functional implications of long COVID symptoms.  
• By the end of this workshop, participants will apply evidence-informed interventions that address the functional impairments of long COVID symptoms.

Speakers:

Sarah Punshon has been practicing as an Occupational Therapist for 14 years with the last 10 years in the VA system. She received her Master of Occupational Therapy degree from the University of Pittsburgh in 2008. Sarah is pursuing her post-professional Doctor of Clinical Science Degree (CScD) at the University of Pittsburgh with an anticipated graduation date of December 2023. Sarah is a Whole Health Clinical Specialist at the Seattle, WA VA Hospital where she is a member of a multidisciplinary long COVID rehabilitation team.

Session Details:

• Content Level: Intermediate
• Practice Settings: Acute Care & Rehabilitation Settings
• Downloads: If available will be linked here

Session Description:

Occupational therapists in acute care and in step down settings have a unique skill set to aid in a team’s recognition of a patients changes in functional cognitive status. However, cognitive changes are frequently under addressed, or even recognized in the first place in these settings, which can have detrimental impacts on the patient. On a trauma unit of a level 1 trauma center the fall rate was very high. Through interdisciplinary rounding and the initiation of a common language around cognitive presentation the fall rate began to decline. From this rounding practice a tool, the Cognitive Pyramid, evolved which helped team members better interpret behaviors and implement safety planning for patients at their ability level. In this session you will learn how to integrate functional cognitive assessment data in the treatment planning and interdisciplinary team communication for increasing safety of your patients. Research will be presented on the importance of interdisciplinary rounding, delirium mitigation, and OT’s unique position to champion patients with cognitive changes who are hospitalized.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify 3 unique opportunities for OT in addressing delirium in the hospital
• Learn about the Cognitive Pyramid as a “common language” communication tool regarding cognitive change for all hospitalized patients
• Identify appropriate interventions for patients with delirium and other cognitive changes

Speakers:

Sabine Kaul-Connolly, OTR/L, MEd has been an OT for 15 years, working in intensive and acute care settings, subacute rehabilitation, and outpatient. In these settings I have focused on the functional impacts of cognitive impairments and how we can improve our treatment for this population as a team as patients heal from critical illness. With a focus on improving team communications, I co-created with nurses a tool to help better understand and treat hospitalized patients with cognitive impairments. It is my goal to share this tool with OTs who have struggled with translating their knowledge to their team members.

Session Details:

• Content Level: Beginning
• Practice Settings: Pediatric Settings
• Downloads: Link here is available

Session Description:

I would like to speak about the different methods that can be used for mindfulness when working with pediatrics. I would like to speak about which population of students at this could be appropriate for and different interventions that can be used. I also like to speak about what happens to the mind when using mindfulness.

Learning Objectives:

• Benefits of mindfulness
• Interventions that support mindfulness
• Populations that this would be appropriate for
• Techniques to implement with students an patients

Speaker:

Nikky Jost is a COTA who has worked in a wide range of settings from home health to SNF to pediatrics in private settings and now works for public schools. She has a passion for helping others and loves working with kids! 

Session Details:

• Content Level: Beginning
• Practice Settings: All
• Downloads: Will be linked here is available

Session Description:

People can be hard to deal with at times. They can come across as aggressive, scared, manipulative, or avoidant -to name just a few.  These behaviors can be hard to address in the limited treatment time, and even more so in public areas.

This session will provide strategies for dealing with specific behaviors in the clinic as well as on the street. Actions to avoid in situations will be discussed. Options to diffuse situations, engage those who are reticent, and block obvious manipulations will be demonstrated.  

Attendee participation is encouraged.  This session is to help you deal with situations that you are not currently comfortable in.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify behaviors that telegraph mood and foreshadow actions
• Identify at least one way to address each situation discussed

Speaker:

Karla Gray, OTR/L; LICSW is the current WOTA Membership Chairperson. She has previously served the organization in a variety of positions. She is a published author and contributor to AOTA. Her career has included serving children and adults with a variety of conditions, including cognitive and physical limitations and behavioral health disorders, in both clinical and administrative roles. She is a member of the PNWU School of Occupational Therapy Advisory Council and a member of the editorial review board of the Occupational Therapy in Mental Health Journal.

Session Details:

• Content Level: Beginning
• Practice Settings: across the OT client spectrum
• Downloads: Will be linked here is available

Session Description:

Irlen Syndrome is a problem with the brain’s ability to process visual information.  This disorder affects approximately 15% of the general population, 50% of individuals with reading and learning difficulties, 30% of individuals with ADHD and autism, and a significant portion of individuals with brain injury, chronic headaches, and migraines. These are the individuals seeking our support as Occupational Therapists!  This presentation will cover what Irlen Syndrome is, how symptoms may manifest in patients seen in Occupational Therapy, Schools or places of work and how to help if the syndrome is suspected.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand What Irlen Syndrome is
• Understand Functional impact of Irlen Syndrome
• Learn how to help if Irlen Syndrome is suspected

Speakers:

Lucia Lara, OTR/L has over 30 years’ experience as an Occupational Therapist.  Her career spans many different practice areas, with specialized focus in Pediatrics and Sensory Health in Wellness for all ages.  Lucia has advanced training in multiple therapeutic approaches that address the sensory processing basis to self-regulation and development.  She completed an intensive mentorship with Dr. Lucy Miller at the STAR Center in CO in 2018 and participated in the standardization of the SP3D assessment with WPS Publishing in 2019.

Lucia earned Certification as an Irlen Screener in April 2017, after hearing about Irlen Syndrome while completing a course in Reflex Integration.  She values Irlen as a tool to address challenges with the visual sensory system, and its role in supporting overall Sensory Processing for individuals with a variety of diagnoses. 

Lucia is based in Kitsap County, WA. She is the owner of LPL Consultation, LLC, offering consultative services, to include Irlen Screening.  In addition, Lucia works part time with children and their families at the Center for Therapeutic Intervention on Bainbridge Island. Lucia has given virtual presentations on topics including Irlen Syndrome, Sensory Tools to access Virtual Schooling (during the Covid pandemic) and Sensory Informed Care.

Terry Carlson, owner of Irlen® Services Northwest, has a master’s in special education/endorsement in reading and had been teaching in the public-school systems; in secondary Special Education Literacy Programs; for over 20 years. Terry was introduced to Irlen® overlays by the literacy coach while searching for specific interventions when student’s progress had stalled. She noticed an immediate improvement with reading comprehension. Students often told her, “The words don’t move anymore, I can see the words clearly now.” Encouraged by the results with her students and realizing their potential once this visual barrier was removed, Terry elected to be trained as an Irlen® Screener in 2008. In 2011, she trained as an Irlen® Diagnostician, which enabled her to administer Irlen® Spectral Filters, as well as train other educators and professionals who support this population, as Irlen® Screeners. Terry has since retired from the public school system to dedicate her work to identifying and supporting clients who will benefit from the Irlen® Method.

Session Details:

• Content Level: Beginning
• Practice Settings: All US-based traditional and emerging practice settings
• Downloads: Will be link here is available

Session Description:

This session will provide OTPs an orientation to the field of Occupational Science and it’s recent formal incorporation into the 2020 release of the Occupational Practice Framework 4th Edition. This session will be a great fit for OTPs that would like an overview of the key updates and changes made to the most recent practice framework that defines our national scope, domain, and process in the US. This presentation will also explore exciting new developments in the field of Occupational Science (OS) with a guidebook provided of key OS terms/researchers/and connection to international OT professional documents and commitments. Participants will be provided tangible examples of how to incorporate occupational science and practice framework into their own traditional settings in how it can support your clients and your practice from a distinctly occupational perspective backed by our own unique international science base that few OTPs have gotten exposure to since it’s founding in 1989.

Learning Objectives:

• Participants will develop familiarity with foundational Occupational Science concepts embedded in the 2020 release of the OTPF4. 
• Participants will connect foundational occupational science concepts to their own life as an occupational being and practice as an OTP
• Participants will identify key updates to the 2020 OTPF4 and opportunities to enhance occupation based/centered/focused practice in their current/future practice settings across the lifespan.

Speakers:

Dr. Josie Jarvis, OTD, MA-OTR/L, BA, BS. Has been practicing throughout WA state as a generalist lifespan OT since 2016 in Acute/Post-Acute/Memory Care/School-Based/Adult Transition/and Outpatient Pediatric Settings. Feeling discouraged by limitations to holistic occupation-based practice in traditional practice settings in 2019 she returned to academia to pursue a post-professional clinical doctorate  with the University of Utah where she completed her degree in January 2023. There she re-discovered the field of Occupational Science and her passion for OT practice   with OS’s transformative potential  in empowering dynamic and innovative OT practice world-wide. She found her calling in finding ways to bring the developments of OS to field clinicians, clients, and community stakeholders so OTPs and our clients can experience increased empowerment and wellbeing in these times of rapid change. If you are looking to rekindle your passion for occupation and need more confidence, excitement, and empowerment in your setting I highly recommend getting exposed to occupational science and it’s relationship to the OTPF4. You can find more information on OS empowered OT practice here: swiy.co/engagingoslinktree and on Josie’s Podcast Engaging Occupational Science.

Session Details:

• Content Level: Beginning
• Practice Settings: Adults
• Downloads: Will be linked if available

Session Description:

We will have a go over what industrial Rehab is, and how OTs are an important and vital role to this population.

Learning Objectives:

• What is industrial rehab
• What does OT contribute to industrial rehab
• How to plays a vital role to pts in this circle
• How to carry out a industrial rehab program

Speaker:

Emily Nugen, MOT, OTR/L graduated from Eastern Washington University in 2016 and is currently working at Olympic Sport & Spine in Puyallup, WA. She fell in love with the WOTA Community the first time she became involved as a student in 2014. Since then Emily has moved from a student volunteer to a member of the Conference Committee and Continuing Education Chair. Emily enjoys all the networking opportunities WOTA has offered her over the years! In her free time Emily enjoys cooking, crafting, spending time with her husband and baby boy, and some graphic design

Session Details:

• Content Level: Intermediate
• Practice Settings: Pediatrics, Mental Health
• Downloads: Will be linked if available

Session Description:

For this capstone project, the occupational therapy doctoral student designed a series of evidence-based, family-centered interventions to help families navigate children’s sensory needs, play and social skills, and ways to promote parent-child interaction by utilizing DIR Floortime techniques, evidence-based sensory integration strategies, and evidence-based emotional regulation strategies. The interventions were evaluated using both quantitative and qualitative measures.

Learning Objectives:

• Participants will learn about different strategies and models that were used in the program. 
• Participants will learn about the effectiveness of the program according to the presented results.
• Participants will learn about how to further expand the parent program and its sustainability.

Speaker:

Jane Change, MA, OTS is an Occupational Therapy doctoral student from West Coast University, graduating in April 2023. Had 2 years of work experience in the pediatrics field. Completed OT fieldwork rotations in an in-patient setting in Seattle, and at a non-traditional pediatrics/mental health setting in Los Angeles. I hope to bring more awareness about sensory processing and emotional regulation to families and educators through continuous coaching and education.

Gabriela Rivera, MPH is a Mental health coordinator at Volunteers of America Los Angeles’s Children’s Services Division.

Session Details:

• Content Level: Intermediate
• Practice Settings: School- Based
• Downloads: Will be linked if available

Session Description:

In this session, a panel of speakers will present on the role of OT in supporting executive function skills in the school based setting. We will discuss why this is within the AOTA Scope of Practice, how we evaluate executive function skills and make students eligible for OT services to support these skills, examples of IEP goals, what kinds of interventions we provide (including real life examples), and resources. We will also answer any questions you might have.

Goodwill, empathy, and relating to another person’s brokenness, will set you apart as a leader in the workplace, at home, and in the community. Making an emotional connection with a customer, staff, and with ourselves, goes far deeper than a Facebook ad, Amazon PPC ad and consultants charging thousands of dollars.

People don’t quit jobs. They quit toxic work environments. How many of you have left a job because of the way you were made to feel and not because of a dollar amount? Employees, CEO’s, managers, and volunteers are crying to be heard. Let’s listen to their needs.

It is time to get re-connected with the basics.

Learning Objectives:

• List evaluations that can be used to evaluate executive function skills.
• Give an example of an executive function goal.
• Explain why this is an appropriate role based on the AOTA Scope of Practice.
• Identify interventions that help students improve their executive function skills.

Speakers:

Genie Charvet, OTD, OTR/L received her BS in OT from University of Puget Sound in 1980, MS in OT from San Jose State University in 2008, and OTD from Loma Linda University in 2015. She has worked for the Kent School District since 2007. She has been a presenter at WOTA, OTAC, ATIA and AOTA Conferences.  She has held multiple offices on the WOTA Executive Board and is currently Past-President.

Stacey Jillson, OTR/L received her BS in OT from Colorado State University in 1980 and her MA from Fuller Theological Seminary in 2014. She has worked for the Kent School District since 2016. In her free time she enjoys traveling, cycling, photography, and anything on, in, or near the water.

Session Details:

• Content Level: Intermediate
• Practice Settings: Physical Rehabilitation
• Downloads: Will be linked if available

Session Description:

Understanding the neuroscience behind why humans operate the way they do can give insight into guiding patients through difficult and chaotic recoveries. This session will evaluate motor learning principles and methods to enhance neural circuitry for optimal physical rehabilitation. Interactive discussion through patient-specific cases will provide participants with tangible treatment ideas to apply to their own practice. 

Learning Objectives:

• Participants will articulate the neuroscience supporting purposeful occupations.
• Participants will identify methods to strengthen neural circuitry for optimal recovery after injury.
• Participants will apply learned concepts to patient-specific cases.

Speakers:

Amy Jennings OTD, OTR/L, BCPR