Program
Friday, December 3
| 8:00 AM-9:00 AM |
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Understanding the Hidden Curriculum: Occupational Therapists Helping to Create Life Success for Students with Autism and Related Exceptionalities
Speaker: Brenda Smith Myles, PhD, Ziggurat Group, Plano, TX |
| 9:15 AM-12:15 PM |
| |
Addressing the Sensory Needs of Individuals with an Autism Spectrum Disorder
Speaker: Renee Watling, PhD, OTR/L, University of Puget Sound, Tacoma, WA |
| 1:45 PM-4:45 PM |
| |
Social Participation and Communication Strategies for Individuals with Autism across the Lifespan
Speakers: Lisa A. Crabtree, PhD, OTR/L, Towson University, Towson, MD, Zosia Zaks, MEd, CRC, Consultant, Baltimore, MD |
| Concurrent Sessions: |
| 5:00 PM-6:00 PM |
| |
- AOTA and You: Working Together to Promote The Policy and Practice of Occupational Therapy for Persons with Autism
Speakers: Marcy M. Buckner, JD, AOTA, Bethesda, MD; Sandra Schefkind, MS, OTR/L, AOTA, Bethesda, MD; Chuck Willmarth, AOTA, Bethesda, MD
- Evidence-based Review of Interventions for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders
Speaker: Jane Case-Smith, EdD, OTR/L, FAOTA, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
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Saturday, December 4
| 8:00 AM-9:00 AM |
|
You Say 'Deficit' I Say 'Defines Me': Daring to Celebrate the Unique Contributions of People on the Autism Spectrum
Speaker: Winnie Dunn, PhD, OTR, FAOTA, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS |
| Concurrent Sessions: |
| 9:15 AM-10:45 AM |
| |
- A Family Affair: The Voices of Parents and Individuals with Autism
Speakers: Janet V. DeLany, DEd, OTR/L FAOTA, Towson University, Towson, MD; Barbara B. Demchick, MS, OTR/L, Towson University, Towson, MD; Zosia Zaks, MEd, CRC; Wolf Dunaway; Lorraine Bergkvist; Yalonda Lewis; Pat Amos
- Professional Collaboration to Maximize Successful Participation Across the Lifespan
Speaker: Lisa Crabtree, PhD, OTR/L, Towson University, Towson, MD; Peter F. Gerhardt, EdD, McCarton School, New York, NY; Brian Freedman, PhD, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD; Alisa Rosenbloom, MS, CCC-SLP, Private Practice, Baltimore, MD; Anita Woods, MEd, Cape Cod Collaborative, Osterville, MA; Linn Wakeford, MS, OTR/L, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC
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| Concurrent Sessions: |
| 11:00 AM-12:30 PM |
| |
- Developing Evidence-Based Interventions in Early Childhood Aged Children with an ASD Across Contexts
Speaker: Scott Tomchek, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY
- Partnering with Adolescents and Young Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders: Challenges and Opportunities
Speaker: Kristie Patten Koenig, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA, New York University, New York, NY
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| Lunch 12:30 PM-1:30 PM |
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Emerging as Leaders in Autism Research and Practice
Speaker: Roseann C. Schaaf, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA |
| 1:30 PM-3:00 PM |
| |
Community Partnerships - Panel Presentation by Autism Society and Easter Seals
Speakers: Marguerite Kirst Colston, MA, Autism Society, Bethesda, MD; Patricia Wright, PhD, Easter Seals Headquarters, Chicago, IL |
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Friday, December 3
8:00 AM-9:00 AM
Understanding the Hidden Curriculum: Occupational Therapists Helping to Create Life Success for Students with Autism and Related Exceptionalities
Speaker: Brenda Smith Myles, PhD, Ziggurat Group, Plano, TX
The hidden curriculum is assumed knowledge -- the expectations, rules or guidelines that are not directly taught because they are universally known. The absence of instruction, however, does not belie their importance. The hidden curriculum is significant and can impact social interactions, school performance, and safety. Despite its considerable value, little information on hidden curriculum has been published because it has been largely considered ‘common sense’ and is often only recognized after a hidden curriculum error has occurred.
9:15 AM-12:15 PM
Addressing the Sensory Needs of Individuals with an Autism Spectrum Disorder
Speaker: Renee Watling, PhD, OTR/L, University of Puget Sound, Tacoma, WA
Sensory processing and integration deficits are common among persons with an ASD and have a widespread impact on occupational performance among this group of individuals. This session will discuss the evidence regarding the prevalence of sensory processing and integration deficits among persons with an ASD and the impact of these deficits on occupational performance. Methods for evaluating sensory processing and integration deficits will be discussed and intervention strategies for addressing deficits in this area will be presented.
1:45 PM-4:45 PM
Social Participation and Communication Strategies for Individuals with Autism across the Lifespan
Speakers: Lisa A. Crabtree, PhD, OTR/L, Towson University, Towson, MD, Zosia Zaks, MEd, CRC, Consultant, Baltimore, MD
With the rise in the incidence of autism, there is a critical need for occupational therapy practitioners to address social participation, communication, and community integration for these individuals across the lifespan. In collaboration with families, educators, and other professionals, occupational therapy practitioners can facilitate positive outcomes for children, youth, and adults with autism, impacting healthy social and emotional development.
This presentation describes adaptive strategies and environmental modifications to support health and participation in life for all individuals on the autism spectrum through engagement in occupation. Participants will explore the components of optimal programming for children and adults with autism, and be ready to implement strategies in a variety of settings.
Concurrent Sessions: 5:00 PM-6:00 PM
- AOTA and You: Working Together to Promote The Policy and Practice of Occupational Therapy for Persons with Autism
Speakers: Marcy M. Buckner, JD, AOTA, Bethesda, MD; Sandra Schefkind, MS, OTR/L, AOTA, Bethesda, MD; Chuck Willmarth, AOTA, Bethesda, MD
This session outlines AOTA efforts in both the policy and practice of occupational therapy services for individuals with autism. The first half of the presentation will profile the current legislative activity affecting the care for persons with autism by occupational therapy practitioners and look to the future. As states enact autism reform legislation, how can AOTA members capitalize on these new opportunities and be ready to address the challenges? The second half of the presentation will focus on scope of practice. New AOTA resources such as a FAQ on Autism and activities such as an AOTA Autism workgroup will be reviewed. Participants will be invited to engage in a national dialogue on the role of occupational therapy in autism by participating in virtual chats and by joining interdisciplinary coalitions.
- Evidence-based Review of Interventions for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders
Speaker: Jane Case-Smith, EdD, OTR/L, FAOTA, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
The presentation summarizes the up-to-date research evidence for interventions used by occupational therapy practitioners with children with ASD. The current research evidence for sensory integrative, sensory-based, social skills, behavioral, relationship-based, and comprehensive interventions is explained, including what we know about effectiveness with different levels of severity and age groups. Themes that emerge across intervention trials are identified and described. These themes define elements that are central to effective intervention, including: intensity of services, family roles and support, strategies for increasing child engagement, and models of practice.
Saturday, December 4
8:00 AM-9:00 AM
You Say 'Deficit' I Say 'Defines Me': Daring to Celebrate the Unique Contributions of People on the Autism Spectrum
Speaker: Winnie Dunn, PhD, OTR, FAOTA, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS
Anyone who has known someone on the autism spectrum has experienced pure joy when the logic that underpins a quirky behavior washes over you. You have also recognized the perfect synchrony of a reaction that reflects the experience EXACTLY as it happened, providing you with an opportunity to live completely in the moment. These experiences reflect the growing sentiment that characteristics we have labeled as problems, people with autism consider part of who they are. In this session we will explore the authentic experience of autism, and how that experience calls us to change our way of defining ourselves as professionals who support them.
Concurrent Sessions: 9:15 AM-10:45 AM
- A Family Affair: The Voices of Parents and Individuals with Autism
Speakers: Janet V. DeLany, DEd, OTR/L FAOTA, Towson University, Towson, MD; Barbara B. Demchick, MS, OTR/L, Towson University, Towson, MD; Zosia Zaks, MEd, CRC; Wolf Dunaway; Lorraine Bergkvist; Yalonda Lewis; Pat Amos
A panel of parents of children with autism and youth and adults with autism will discuss their lived realities. They will emphasize the supports that positively contribute to their quality of life, as well as difficulties they face. Panelists will focus on analyzing needed services for full inclusion in the community throughout the life course.
Additional topics will include the availability, benefits and limitations of service delivery, including occupational therapy; the connectedness of existing services to family goals and cultural expectations; and fiscal and legislative constraints.The presentation will conclude with an exploration of occupational therapy practitioners as advocates in collaboration with individuals with autism and their families.
- Professional Collaboration to Maximize Successful Participation Across the Lifespan
Speaker: Lisa Crabtree, PhD, OTR/L, Towson University, Towson, MD; Peter F. Gerhardt, EdD, McCarton School, New York, NY; Brian Freedman, PhD, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD; Alisa Rosenbloom, MS, CCC-SLP, Private Practice, Baltimore, MD; Anita Woods, MEd, Cape Cod Collaborative, Osterville, MA; Linn Wakeford, MS, OTR/L, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC
The needs of individuals on the autism spectrum are complex, requiring team collaboration to maximize successful participation in daily life activities. This panel presentation by professionals working with individuals with ASD of all ages will provide session participants with practical strategies that have been implemented in schools, clinics, and the community. Examples of collaborative practices will be followed by a question/answer session to address particular situations of audience members.
Concurrent Sessions: 11:00 AM-12:30 PM
- Developing Evidence-Based Interventions in Early Childhood Aged Children with an ASD Across Contexts
Speaker: Scott Tomchek, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY
Given the social-communication difficulties and repetitive behavioral patterns inherent in young children with an ASD, assessment and intervention processes are often impacted by challenging behaviors. Therefore, addressing these challenging behaviors within the occupational therapy process is a significant component of practice for occupational therapy practitioners. Practice guidelines and evidence-based reviews from multiple fields have begun to elucidate common themes across interventions yielding favorable outcomes in young children with an ASD. This session will present these evidence-based themes, apply these to occupational therapy practice in early childhood, and across contexts.
- Partnering with Adolescents and Young Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders: Challenges and Opportunities
Speaker: Kristie Patten Koenig, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA, New York University, New York, NY
Adolescents and Young Adults with ASD are generating a large volume of personal narratives and self-advocacy work, highlighting the challenges and opportunities in their lives. These perspectives have to inform practice, in order to impact the participation and quality of life that the person with ASD wants. By viewing interests solely as restricted and deficit based, the OT practitioner will miss an avenue for utilizing interests to facilitate improved outcomes for adolescents and adults. This presentation will present a conceptual model of intervention for ASD that offers an "inside out" perspective with the voice of the individual with ASD as central; and highlights strategies and methods to engage interests, presume intellect, see beyond surface behaviors and adapt the environment for improved outcomes for adolescents and young adults with ASD.
Lunch 12:30 PM-1:30 PM
Emerging as Leaders in Autism Research and Practice
Speaker: Roseann C. Schaaf, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA
Occupational therapy (OT) is one of the most frequently requested and utilized services by professionals and parents of children with autism spectrum disorder. Yet, the value of occupational therapy services for this population often goes unrecognized and is devalued, under-funded, and under utilized. Dr. Schaaf will urge the profession to take on the challenge of becoming leaders in autism practice and research by identifying key areas where OT can meet emerging needs. Critical gaps that OT can address include transitions from school to work, creating evidence-based, systematic protocols for interventions, and developing clinical trials to evaluate outcomes. Current research and training efforts underway by Dr. Schaaf’s research team at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia will be presented as examples of such efforts.
1:30 PM-3:00 PM
Community Partnerships - Panel Presentation by Autism Society and Easter Seals
Speakers: Marguerite Kirst Colston, MA, Autism Society, Bethesda, MD; Patricia Wright, PhD, Easter Seals Headquarters, Chicago, IL
The Autism Society is the oldest grassroots organization dedicated to autism in the United States. With 155 chapters nationwide, the Autism Society sees first-hand the challenges parents face in getting autism identified and then finding appropriate services for them once identified. Occupational therapy and related services have been shown to be critical components to early intervention in children with autism, yet the hurdles parents face in getting access to these services in a timely manner can mean effective windows close for both the child...and the therapist. Moreover, incorporating occupational therapy into an early intervention treatment plan is too often denied by insurance, or even by school districts as "not an autism treatment" like speech and behavioral therapies. The panelist will discuss the current national challenge in access to treatment, the policy and program areas the Autism Society is pursuing to ensure access, and services the Autism Society provides to both parents and professionals navigating the medical, educational and behavioral systems that currently serve autism spectrum disorders.
The increasing prevalence of autism has placed a significant responsibility on service providers to meet the needs of this population. Occupational therapy is one field that has been significantly impacted in addressing this increased service demand. There is a growing research body documenting effective interventions, however, the field of autism treatment has experienced widespread implementation of strategies that have no empirical validity. Occupational therapy is one of many fields engaged in promoting evidence-based service delivery. This session will provide participants with an insider’s view of how one large service organization - Easter Seals - is building capacity in delivering effective interventions. Specific strategies and approaches as well as a discussion of challenges will be included.
