30-Hour Occupation in Action: Optimizing Function Across the Lifespan

Course Overview
Occupation in Action: Optimizing Function Across the Lifespan is a comprehensive continuing education resource designed for occupational therapy practitioners at all stages of their careers. Grounded in the Occupational Therapy Practice Framework (OTPF 4th Edition) and current evidence-based practice, this book explores the full arc of human occupation from early childhood development through aging and end-of-life care.

Organized across three chapters, the book addresses the unique occupational needs of pediatric populations, working-age adults, and older adults. Learners will explore sensory integration and visual perception in children, creative and interdisciplinary approaches to pediatric intervention, spinal cord injury management, pelvic health, ergonomics, supportive living environments, driving rehabilitation, and the distinct role of OT in hospice and palliative care. Through case studies, evidence-based frameworks, and practical clinical tools, this book equips OT practitioners to deliver client-centered, occupation-focused care across every stage of life. 

Learning Outcomes 
Upon the completion of this course, the learner should be able to:

• Apply occupation-based frameworks and theoretical models, including the OTPF 4th Edition, to guide client-centered assessment and intervention across pediatric, adult, and aging populations in diverse clinical and community settings.  
• Differentiate functional deficits and occupational performance challenges across the lifespan by selecting and interpreting appropriate evidence-based screening tools, assessments, and clinical reasoning strategies.  
• Develop individualized, client-centered intervention plans that address occupational performance, participation, and quality of life, incorporating adaptive strategies, environmental modifications, and assistive technology.  
• Analyze the impact of physical, cognitive, sensory, and psychosocial factors on occupational engagement across developmental stages, acquired injury, disability, and end-of-life transitions.  
• Justify the role of occupational therapy within interdisciplinary and collaborative care models by distinguishing OT's unique contributions across healthcare, school-based, community, and home settings.  
• Evaluate the influence of social determinants of health, cultural values, and individual identity on occupational participation and well-being to inform equitable, person-centered practice. 

About the Author/Presenter 
Briana Elson, OTR/L, BCPR, CBIS, is a board-certified occupational therapist specializing in neurological rehabilitation across acute care, ICU, inpatient rehab, and skilled nursing settings. She completed an AOTA-accredited Neurologic OT Fellowship at Brooks Institute of Higher Learning and currently practices at Mayo Clinic Florida, where she works with patients in critical care, oncology, neurology, neurosurgery, and transplant. Briana is a published researcher, certified brain injury specialist (CBIS), and 2024–2025 AOTF STRIDE Mentored Research Scholarship recipient with a focus on evidence-based practice and discharge preparedness.

Meredith Chandler, OTR/L, is an occupational therapist with expertise in sensory integration, autism-informed practice, and creative therapy approaches across pediatric and adult populations. She is an active presenter at state and national OT conferences, including the IOTA Fall Conference 2024, where she presented on sensory integration in adults and acceptance-based OT for autistic individuals. Meredith brings a strengths-based, neurodiversity-affirming lens to her clinical and educational work.

Cynthia Diaz, OTR/L, is an occupational therapist with clinical experience in pediatric OT, visual perception, and school-based practice. She specializes in evaluating and developing individualized interventions for students with diverse learning and functional needs, integrating sensory and perceptual strategies into meaningful, occupation-centered care.

Judy Towne Jennings, PT, M.A. Sp. Ed., is a pediatric physical therapist with over 35 years of experience serving infants and school-age children. She holds a certificate in physical therapy from the University of Iowa and a Master of Arts in Special Education. Ms. Jennings has pursued extensive continuing education in sensory integration, sensory dysfunction, neuro-kinesiology, and reflex integration, and has lectured widely to parents, teachers, and therapists on developmental strategies and motor approaches to enhance academic success. From 2001 to 2003, she led research on the effects of infant positioning on 100 babies at 6 and 18 months, presenting findings at the National Occupational Therapy 83rd Conference in Washington, D.C. (2003) and the National APTA Conference in Boston, MA (2005). Her work is driven by a commitment to preventing developmental delays through education on optimal positioning practices for new parents. 

Dr. Lynda Lemisch, OTD, OTR/L, CLCP, CAPS, is an occupational therapist, Certified Life Care Planner (CLCP), and Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist (CAPS) with extensive experience in geriatric care, home modifications, and palliative and end-of-life occupational therapy. She holds a Doctorate in Occupational Therapy and has served as faculty at Gwynedd Mercy University, where she mentored graduate students in aging, chronic disease, and community-based care. Her work integrates occupation-centered, person-first values across the continuum of aging.

Shaul Lent, OTR/L, CDP, is a licensed occupational therapist and lead ergonomic specialist with expertise in workplace ergonomics, occupational health, and adult rehabilitation. He earned his Master of Arts in Occupational Therapy from the University of Southern California and holds dual Certified Ergonomic Assessment Specialist credentials (CEAS I & II) along with an Occupational Ergonomics Certificate from Colorado State University. In his current role as Lead Ergonomist at Ergonomics Advance, Shaul conducts OSHA and RULA/REBA assessments and delivers ergonomics training to major organizations including Netflix, Coca-Cola, and Metagenics. He also brings home health and outpatient rehabilitation experience, with a client-centered focus on adaptive equipment, environmental modification, and functional independence. 

Lisa Milliken MA, CCC-SLP, FNAP, CDT, RAC-CT, has served as a practitioner, regional manager, vice president, consultant, compliance director and education specialist. She has lectured at the state and national levels with over 400 professional continued education courses on topics of importance to healthcare professionals. She is a certified dementia practitioner and has mentored team members across the country in senior retirement communities on clinical programming for the past 30 years.  She is currently the owner of Milliken Healthcare Consulting, where she teaches conferences across the country, and is also Director of Research and Program Development for Regency Integrated Health Services.  Lisa is a member of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, where she serves as a state advocate for Medicare Policy for Texas, is president-elect for the Texas Speech-Language and Hearing Association (TSHA) and is a distinguished fellow of public policy for the National Academies of Practice. She is also a board member of the Kingwood-Humble Aggie Mom club and lives in Houston, Texas.? 

Dr. Kandy Salter, OTD, OTR/L, is an Assistant Professor and Doctoral Capstone Coordinator in the Occupational Therapy Doctoral Program at the University of Arkansas/UAMS. She earned her OTD from the University of Kansas Medical Center and is a