Developmental and Sensory Motor Strategies in School Based Programs, 2nd Edition

Course Overview
This course will explain the explosion of children referred to special education programs with developmental delay and/or severe sensory and behavior issues. The course will teach developmental and sensory strategies with program ideas for allied health professions (OT, PT, SLP) based on recent research and therapists’ experience in school-based programs. The intent of this course is to help therapists spring-board children to better academic readiness via an understanding that motor milestone acquisition helps cognitive development.

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

• Analyze research supporting early motor development impacting classroom readiness.
• Assess how early infant positioning can create developmental delays.
• Analyze levels of development for ages 0-5 years.
• Differentiate potential 3-year-old gross motor, fine motor, and speech problems that indicate developmental delay.
• Analyze several readiness skills acquired with milestones year one.
• Predict potential school skills delays if STNR is retained.
• Differentiate tests space, equipment, and goals beneficial for working with students with developmental deficiencies.
• Assess benefits of occasional teaming sessions for therapists and students.
• Categorize varied sensory issues that negatively impact classroom performance.
• Apply therapy techniques for students exhibiting severe sensory issues.
• Analyze strategies to prevent severe behaviors in school settings.
• Distinguish the need to teach parents and staff motor milestones and sensory strategies.

About the Author/Presenter 
Judy Towne Jennings PT, M.A. Sp. Ed. is a pediatric physical therapist who has served babies and school-age children for over 35 years. Her extensive continuing education in sensory integration and sensory dysfunction has provided her opportunities to speak and teach parents, teachers, and therapists. She is committed to the goal of preventing developmental delays in children due to less-than-optimal positioning choices by new parents. Ms. Jennings received her certificate in physical therapy from the University of Iowa. She has developed her knowledge of academic help with many continuing education courses utilizing neuro-kinesiology, sensory integration, and reflex integration. Ms. Jennings has lectured to several audiences on successful motor strategies to enhance academic success. From 2001 to 2003, Ms. Jennings researched the effects of infant positioning on 100 6-month- and 18-month-old babies. She and her research team presented the results in June 2003 at the National Occupational Therapy 83rd Conference in Washington, D.C., and in June 2005 to the National American Physical Therapy Association Conference in Boston, MA.

Audience/Accreditations and Approvals 
Colibri Healthcare 
This course is designed for the following healthcare professions (select your profession for details): 
Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy

If you require special accommodations, please contact Colibri Healthcare Support by clicking here: Contact Us