This two-hour virtual course examines executive function through an interoception-informed, state-based lens, emphasizing that access to executive skills depends on nervous system readiness rather than motivation or compliance. Participants will explore how neurological up- and down-regulation influence executive access and how movement serves as a primary pathway for organizing state, supporting attention, and preparing the brain for cognitive demand. Using The Executive Function Express framework and its Move the Train to Build the Brain strategies, the course demonstrates how purposeful, developmentally appropriate movement can stabilize the “tracks” needed for planning, initiation, flexibility, and follow-through. A strengths-based, neurodiversity-affirming approach is emphasized throughout, guiding participants to shift from behavior-focused interpretations to interventions that build capacity, access, and self-trust.
Live Webinar
Thu, May 28, 2026 at 3:00 pm EDTCEUs/Hours Offered: AOTA/0.2 Intermediate, OT Service Delivery, Foundational Knowledge, 15821; CE Broker/2.0 CE Broker #20-1368591; IACET/0.2; IBCCES/2.0; NBCOT PDUs/2.5 Intermediate, Rehabilitation
Learning Outcomes
- After this course, participants will be able to analyze the relationship between interoceptive awareness, nervous system state, and executive function access, using The Executive Function Express model to determine when executive demands exceed regulatory capacity.
- After this course, participants will be able to differentiate between neurological up-regulation and down-regulation states and differentiate the use of Move the Train to Build the Brain movement strategies to support executive readiness across varying states.
- After this course, participants will be able to analyze executive function challenges through a strengths-based, neurodiversity-affirming lens, distinguishing state-based access needs from behavior-based interpretations in order to design supportive, capacity-building interventions.
Agenda
| 0-25 Minutes | Executive Function Express overview; Interoception as the gateway to EF; Why EF challenges are often misread as behavior |
| 25-55 Minutes | State-based regulation and EF availability; Indicators of over- and under-activation; Why regulation needs differ across tasks and environments |
| 55-85 Minutes | Movement as regulation, not reward; Matching movement strategies to nervous system state; Preparing the “tracks” for EF demands |
| 85-115 Minutes | From behavior to capacity - reframing EF challenges using strengths-based reasoning; Integrating interoception, state, and movement; Practical application across settings |
| 115-120 Minutes | Summary; Q&A |
Presented By
Cara Koscinski
OTD, MOT, OTR/L, CAS
Dr. Cara Koscinski is an occupational therapist with over 28 years of clinical experience, specializing in pediatrics, interoception, executive function, regulation, and professional mentoring. She earned her bachelor’s in health sciences and master’s in occupational therapy from Duquesne University and completed her post-professional doctorate at Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions.
Cara’s work is deeply shaped by both professional expertise and lived experience as a parent of two adult autistic sons. She founded a family-centered pediatric OT clinic, authored multiple award-winning books, one of which has been translated into five languages, and founded The Pocket Occupational Therapist, one of the field’s early evidence-informed online resources. Cara is the owner of the largest pediatric OTP group on Facebook, supporting over 52,000 clinicians worldwide.
She is the founder of the OTP Hivemind Mentoring Circle, which supports therapists at all career stages, and of The Executive Function Institute, home of her signature Executive Function Express program, an engaging, research-based approach to executive function development. The institute provides neurodiversity-affirming resources and programs. A lifelong learner and mentor, Cara is known for blending clinical depth with warmth, clarity, and practical wisdom.
“Love what you do, and you’ll never work a day in your life.”
More
Financial: Cara Koscinski received an honorarium for presenting this course. She is also the founder of The Executive Function Institute. Non-financial: Cara is the mother of two adult autistic sons.
Sponsor Disclosure: This Course is presented by OccupationalTherapy.com, a Continued site.
Content Disclosure: This learning event does not focus exclusively on any specific product or service.
Course participation information
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NOTE: Full attendance for all courses is mandatory. For self-study courses, this includes reading the full text, listening to the full audio recording, or watching the complete video, as appropriate for the format of the course.
Passing an online exam and completing a course evaluation will be required to earn continuing education credit.
Live Webinars allow presenter and participant interaction. The exam and course evaluation for these courses must be completed within 7 days of the event.
On-demand courses include texts, video and audio recordings of live webinars, and multimedia formats. The exam and course evaluation for on-demand courses must be completed within 30 days of course registration.
To participate in the course, complete the exam and course evaluation, and earn continuing education credit, you must be a OccupationalTherapy.com member. Participants must complete the entire course; partial credit is not allowed.
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American Occupational Therapy Association
OccupationalTherapy.com is an AOTA Approved Provider of professional development, #7659. Course approval ID# 15821. This distance learning - interactive course is offered at 0.20 CEUs/contact hours (Intermediate level, OT Service Delivery, Foundational Knowledge Area). The assignment of AOTA CEUs does not imply endorsement of specific course content, products, or clinical procedures by AOTA.
CE Broker
OccupationalTherapy.com is an approved provider for CE Broker, provider #50-14558. This course is offered for 2.00 hours. If you are an OT/OTA in Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina or Tennessee, CE Broker may be of interest to you.
International Association for Continuing Education and Training
continued, LLC, DBA OccupationalTherapy.com, is accredited by the International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET). continued complies with the ANSI/IACET Standard, which is recognized internationally as a standard of excellence in instructional practices. As a result of this accreditation, continued is authorized to issue the IACET CEU. continued, LLC, is authorized by IACET to offer 0.20 CEUs for this program.
International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards
The continued family of websites, including OccupationalTherapy.com, is a Certified Training Partner of IBCCES. This course is offered for a maximum of 2.00 CE hours for the autism certifications issued by IBCCES.
National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy
AOTA approved CE can be used to meet NBCOT® continuing education requirements for certification renewal. This course is offered for 2.50 NBCOT PDUs (Intermediate level, Rehabilitation Area). NBCOT® is a registered trademark of The National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy, Inc.