Michelle Denison-Darragh MS, OTR/L
Members receive a 20% discount applied at checkout
Access to this course is restricted to 60 days from date of purchase. All parts of the course, including all assignments, must be completed in that time.
Description: “Handwriting Horizons” is a focused course that will enhance participants understanding of the importance of sensory processing in the development of fine motor skills and provide vital knowledge and skills to enhance their practice in the field. This presentation covers the following essential topics:
- Sensory processing foundations for handwriting
- Anatomy of the hand in relation to function
- Fine motor skill development
- The complex interplay between sensory processing, fine motor coordination, visual perceptual acuity, and cognitive functions that underlie proficient handwriting.
Participants will be asked to implement the skills learned by designing and submitting sample sessions, feedback will be provided by the presenter and/or the SPIRAL Foundation Education Coordinator. This asynchronous course is accessible within your account. The lecture utilizes a PowerPoint presentation, and video. Slides and references are available for download.
Course Schedule:
- Lesson 1: Introduction and sensory processing foundations (40 minutes)
- Lesson 2: Anatomy and intervention strategies (60 minutes)
- Activity: Design your own sample sessions and receive feedback (45 minutes)
- Lesson 3: Discussion of additional sample sessions and questions and answers (35 minutes)
Learning Objectives: By the end of this short-course, the participant will be able to:
- Define the foundational principles of sensory processing that underlie hand skills and handwriting.
- Identify the essential motor foundation skills required for proficient writing.
- Describe the intricate anatomy of the hand and its direct relation to hand function.
- State occupation-based intervention strategies designed to target underlying sensory processing difficulties impacting handwriting performance.
Audience: OTPs, Educators, Parents
Course Level: Introductory
AOTA Areas: Occupational Therapy Service Delivery, Foundational Knowledge.
Contact Hours: This course is worth 3.0 contact hours, 0.3 AOTA CEUs,
Completion Requirements: To earn contact hours or AOTA CEUs for this course participants must view this course in it’s entirety, and successfully submit and complete sample intervention sessions and the course quiz.
About the Speaker: Michelle Denison-Darragh, MS, OTR/L is a registered and licensed Occupational Therapist practicing in a public school in Massachusetts. She studied Occupational Therapy at Ithaca College where she graduated Summa cum Laude and was a member of the all discipline national honor society Phi Kappa Phi, as well as Pi Theta Epsilon (for occupational therapy students), and Alpha Eta (for allied health professions). Michelle is SIPT Certified and has completed additional training related to sensory integration, neurodiversity affirming approaches, cultural aspects in education, racism in healthcare, listening therapies, trauma-informed care, and sensory-enhanced yoga. She has a passion for working with children and their families to develop their sense of curiosity, confidence, and ability to follow their passions.
Disclosure: The speaker will be compensated for this presentation.
ADA/Section 504: If you require special accommodations, please contact courses@thespiralfoundation.org
Cancellation Policies: Available here
Continuing Education:
Occupational Therapy Practitioners/ Occupational Therapy Assistants: 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.