The presentation will focus on the importance of and positive influence on mental health from the cultivation of leisure interests. Examples with individuals and with whole group activities and positive outcomes for students will be discussed.

This course will introduce occupational therapy practitioners to the use of the horse, horses’ movement and the equine environment as a treatment tool. Occupational therapy practitioners will be introduced to hippotherapy in relation to the occupational therapy practice framework.

The interoceptive system, often referred to as the ‘eighth sensory system’ is often neglected or misunderstood. However, this system is critical to self regulation. This course will explain how understanding the 8th sensory system can contribute to better sensory modulation, social interaction and ultimately as better sense of self-awareness.

The limited literature available points to a critical need for a sexual education that appropriately addresses the needs of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. This review provides promising strategies that can be utilized by occupational therapists for effective sexual education for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Infants are born with a set of primitive reflexes that should inhibit within the first year after birth. This course looks at the impact that primitive reflexes have on brain and body development when they do not inhibit properly.

This course is about the complex process of normal development. Its goal is to help participants understand what happens when children develop typically so that they can have a better understanding of what happens when things go wrong.

Children with Down Syndrome often exhibit differences in tone, joints, feeding, heart and respiratory problems, as well as behavioral and comorbid conditions. Understanding the complexities of the condition as well as adapting daily life tasks can bring great success to this population.

The purpose of this course is to provide an overview of pediatric feeding disorders and how behavior analysts and occupational therapists can have similar goals in the treatment of the disorder. Potential therapeutic goals and strategies will be discussed.

Millions of children experience learning disorders. As occupational therapists we are poised to teach techniques that improve functional outcomes that continue throughout the lifespan. As such, providing intervention at early stages in learning can positively impact students. By forming an individualized treatment plan tailored to the student’s specific needs, better outcomes occur. Course attendees will list learning disorders as well as treatment strategies for each. This course will provide detail about learning disorders and techniques which can be applied immediately for improved function in both the home and classroom setting. Accommodations, modifications, use of visual and kinesthetic techniques, sensory processing strategies, communication considerations, and social skill improvement add to your tool box as you work with students who have learning disorders.

Individuals with ASD often struggle with sensory processing disorder, dyspraxia, overweight and obesity, social-communication impairments, anxiety, and impaired cognition and executive functioning, all of which persist into adulthood and can interfere with independent living, paid employment, quality of life, and community participation. This course will explore current knowledge on the impact of ASD throughout the lifespan, discuss the role of therapy in serving this population, and identify resources and strategies to empower patients and families for successful transitions to adulthood.