Occupational therapy practitioners frequently support children and families who are navigating educational challenges, school-based services, and special education systems. This training will provide a practical overview of K–12 supports, accommodations, and resources, while highlighting the OTP's role in collaborating with families and school teams. Participants will gain tools and strategies to help children and caregivers navigate, access, and advocate for school-based services and supports.
Live Webinar
Tue, Jul 28, 2026 at 12:00 pm EDTUnder Review: AOTA/0.1 - Application has been made to the American Occupational Therapy Association's (AOTA's) Approved Provider Program.
Learning Outcomes
- After this course, participants will be able to describe sources of stress, frustration, and anxiety experienced by both kids and families as it pertains to the school setting.
- After this course, participants will be able to explain the school landscape of services and supports.
- After this course, participants will be able to list strategies to support school-age children.
Agenda
| 0-10 Minutes | Welcome, Introduction, and Overview of Educational Stress and Supports |
| 10-25 Minutes | School-related challenges, impact on well-being, and complexities Understanding risk and resilience |
| 25-35 Minutes | Factors relevant to the school landscape and to consider in supporting students |
| 35-50 Minutes | Understanding 504 plans and IEPs, and advocating for support; Behavior supports and behavioral manifestations, Strategies and techniques |
| 50-60 Minutes | Recap, resources, and Q & A |
Presented By
Christina Marsack-Topolewski
PhD LMSW
Dr. Christina Marsack-Topolewski is an associate professor of Social Work in the College of Health and Human Services at Eastern Michigan University. Dr. Marsack-Topolewski received her PhD in Social Work with a dual title in Gerontology from Wayne State University. She has worked with individuals with various intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) for 20 years. Her research focuses on individuals with autism and other neurodevelopmental disabilities, their caregivers, advanced care planning, the service delivery model, and service utilization. She has over 90 publications in national and international journals and encyclopedias, mainly focusing on individuals with IDDs, caregiving, and services and supports. In addition, she has presented her work locally, nationally, and internationally.
More
Financial: Christina Marsack-Topolewski received an honorarium for presenting this course. Non-financial: Christina Marsack-Topolewski has no relevant non-financial relationships to disclose. She is an associate professor of Social Work in the College of Health and Human Services at Eastern Michigan University.
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.
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