OT an Essential Component for Individuals With Autism: AOTA’s Autism Specialty Conference a Success
By Stephanie Yamkovenko
“Occupational therapy is an essential part of the lives of individuals with autism,” said Brenda Smith Myles, PhD, in her keynote address at AOTA’s Specialty Conference—Autism. Those words kicked off a successful conference with more than 350 occupational therapy practitioners gathering in Baltimore, MD, to learn about the newest research and evidence on autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and how to incorporate new interventions into their practices.
“It’s been an outstanding conference,” said AOTA Executive Director Fred Somers. “The participants have been telling me that they are very enthusiastic about the content and the speakers. It’s a great success and the turnout has been outstanding.”
Occupational therapists think in the long term for individuals with autism, according to Smith Myles, who was the second most productive applied researcher in ASD in the world from 1997 to 2004. The goals for individuals with autism should be to live independently, be gainfully employed, and have meaningful relationships. Occupational therapy practitioners help them to achieve these goals, rather than looking only at daily struggles.
Occupational therapy practitioners from around the world had the opportunity to hear from the leading researchers in the field—Smith Myles; Winnie Dunn, PhD, OTR, FAOTA; and Roseann C. Schaaf, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA.
“It is so great to be at a meeting where one area of practice is really put into high definition,” said AOTA President Florence Clark, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA.
The conference focused on individuals across the autism spectrum and across the lifespan. Attendees participated in sessions on social participation, sensory needs, policy issues, evidence-based interventions, community partnerships, professional collaborations, and more.
 |
In a session on sensory needs, Renee Watling, PhD, OTR/L, said research shows that children on the autism spectrum have significant differences in their sensory processing profiles from their peers. Lisa A. Crabtree, PhD, OTR/L, spoke in a session on social participation about supporting structured leisure participation for individuals with ASD so they can gain cognitive skills and initiative. |
“I work with kids with autism,” said participant Heather Coss from Connecticut. “I like getting everyone’s ideas all in one place in one short time span and then going back and sharing them with my colleagues.”
AOTA plans to continue offering specialty conferences for occupational therapy practitioners who want to learn in-depth information about a concentrated area of practice. Next year, AOTA will host a specialty conference on adult cognition—check AOTA’s Conference and Events page for more information in February 2011.
To view photos from the AOTA Specialty Conference—Autism, visit OT Connections.
Stephanie Yamkovenko is AOTA’s staff writer.
