In this edition, we highlight Dr. Sharon Cermak’s career and contributions to occupational therapy. Dr. Cermak is renowned for her expertise in Developmental Coordination Disorder. She was selected as one of the 100 leading occupational therapists and has received many awards for her working in sensory processing.

Professional relationships are essential in the pediatric clinical setting for successful patient outcomes. Occupational therapists and registered dietitians can together identify feeding and nutrition problems, determine a treatment plan and educate caregivers.

A variety of groups and group intervention activities will be presented that may be used in mental health, skilled nursing, school-based and a variety of other practice areas. This presentation addresses groups specific to occupational therapy and provides a basic outline of how to facilitate a group.

This course presents an overview of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD). The role of occupational therapy and how and why approaches need to be modified for individuals with an FASD are highlighted.

The purpose of this course is to provide tools and strategies for therapists in supporting inclusive classrooms. The course will incorporate evidence-based classroom supports for students with autism, highlighting Universal Design for Learning.

As the population ages, health care providers, including occupational therapists and occupational therapist assistants, must employ effective methods of fall risk assessment, prevention, and management to prevent the serious injuries, decreased mobility, and loss of independence caused by falls. This session will discuss evidence-based interventions for falls, emphasizing the role of occupational therapy in the interdisciplinary management of falls in both the institutional and community settings.

Life trauma can lead to lifestyle practices that influence development of chronic illness. Understanding past traumatic events in individuals' lives can be key to effective care. Trauma-informed care is an approach to engaging people with a history of life trauma that recognizes trauma symptoms and acknowledges the role trauma plays in their lives. This session explores how trauma-informed care can be used by clinicians with individuals who have experienced pervasive adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). This session provides suggestions for using the five guiding principles of trauma-informed care: safety, trustworthiness, choice, collaboration, and empowerment, as the best clinical practice.

Human trafficking is a widespread form of slavery that exists today, even within the United States. Victims of human trafficking come in all sexes, genders, nationalities, and ethnicities. This course will explore the nature and scope of human trafficking in the United States. Participants will learn about the dynamics of control in human trafficking, impact on victims, how to identify and report human trafficking, and efforts to combat human trafficking through education, advocacy, and legislation.

This course will offer insight into the role of occupational therapists in addressing the mother's mental health, occupational performance, and role satisfaction.

A key component of wheelchair seating evaluation is the mat assessment. This course will present the mat assessment, including supine and sitting, and will include case studies and videos.