Essentials of Sensory Integration Assessment Part Two: Assessment of Foundational Mechanisms and Praxis

Presented by: Teresa May-Benson, ScD, OTR/L, FAOTA

Description: This course, Part 2 of Essentials of Sensory Integration Assessment, will provide participants with a solid foundation for clinical assessment of foundational mechanisms of postural-ocular skills and respiration as well as praxis functions. Principles and clinical reasoning strategies for assessment of postural-ocular control, respiration and praxis difficulties related to sensory integration problems will be addressed.  Participants will learn how to administer an observation-based clinical assessment of functional visual skills, oculo-motor functioning, postural control and various aspects of praxis and will become familiar with Ayres’ Sensory Integration Clinical Observations. Participants will also learn how to organize and report assessment findings in the context of a sensory integration assessment.  Course format includes a combination of lecture, video analysis, and case studies.

This course, in conjunction with Part 1 of Essentials of Sensory Integration Assessment, will provide participants with a solid foundation for clinical assessment of sensory integration difficulties in children. Parts 1 and 2 of the Essentials of Sensory Integration Assessment on-line courses are the equivalent of the 2-day live course.

Learning Objectives
By the end of the course participants will be able to:

1. Identify a framework to organize observations of postural-respiratory, oculo-motor, and praxis problems.
2. Describe key assessment tools and observations essential for identifying postural-ocular and praxis problems.
3. Administer and interpret an observation-based clinical assessments of postural-ocular functions and praxis skills.
4. Relate assessment findings to function, report writing and intervention planning.

Course Level: Advanced. There are no prerequisites for this course.

Suitable For: Occupational therapists, OT assistants, physical therapists, PT assistants, speech and language therapists

AOTA
Domain: Performance Skills
Process: Assessment

Contact Hours: This course is worth 7.0 contact hours or 0.7 AOTA CEUs.

Completion Requirements: To earn contact hours for this course participants must view the recorded course in its entirety, complete all home activities, and complete the accompanying online exam.

About the Speaker: Teresa A. May-Benson, ScD, OTR/L, FAOTA is the Executive Director of the Spiral Foundation as well as a practicing occupational therapist at OTA The Koomar Center. She is active in conducting research related to sensory integration through the Spiral Foundation’s Sensory Processing Research Center and Laboratory. She is a well-known lecturer and researcher on sensory integration theory and intervention, has authored book chapters and articles on praxis and sensory integration, and completed her doctoral dissertation on ideational praxis. Dr. May-Benson received her bachelor’s degree from Ohio State University and her master’s degree from Boston University with a concentration in sensory integration and school system therapy. She was a Maternal and Child Health Fellow in the Doctoral Program in Therapeutic Studies at Boston University. She has received the Virginia Scardinia Award of Excellence from AOTA for her work in ideational praxis.

ADA/Section 504: If you require special accommodations, please contact the Spiral Foundation at admin@thespiralfoundation.org or (617) 969-4410 ext. 231.

Continuing Education:

Occupational Therapy Practitioners/ Occupational Therapy Assistants:  The Spiral Foundation is an Approved Provider of Continuing Education for occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants by the American Occupational Therapy Association.  The assignment of AOTA CEUs does not imply endorsement of specific course content, products, or clinical procedures by AOTA.