Building Firm Foundations in Early Intervention: Adaptive Standing as AT
0.1 CEU / Intermediate
Presented by: Wendy Harris Altizer, PT, ATP
Rifton

This course highlights the critical importance of early diagnosis and the timely use of assistive technology to support children from birth to age three. Assessments for early diagnosis can identify the risk of cerebral palsy as early as four months of age. Current participation-based practices will incorporate equipment such as standers to implement postural management, promoting engagement in daily routines while leveraging crucial early brain plasticity. Specific strategies will strengthen communication among providers, families, and the EI team. Understanding key laws under IDEA will enable the team to successfully navigate funding for standing devices and similar essential assistive technology. 

All Day Every Day: Enhancing Quality of Life with Equipment and Mobility Solutions
0.1 CEU / Intermediate
Presented by: Erica Walling, MPT, ATP/SMS
Sunrise

This course provides a comprehensive overview of how combining 24-hour posture and activity management for adults with mobility limitations can significantly improve the overall health for individuals who want to remain active throughout their day. Through evidence-based strategies, clinical considerations, and equipment applications, participants will learn how integrating equipment throughout the day—including lying, sitting, standing, hygiene, mobility, and recreation—can influence body alignment, overall daily function, comfort, and long term physical and mental health outcomes. The course emphasizes interdisciplinary clinical reasoning, prevention of secondary complications, and the integration of individualized equipment solutions to support participation, safety, and quality of life across the full 24-hour cycle.

Building for the Future – Comprehensive Evaluation and Interview to Address the Equipment Needs of the Pediatric Client
0.1 CEU / Intermediate
Presented by: Christin Krey, PT, MPT, PCS
Etac/Ki Mobility

Children with special healthcare needs may have many needs that differ from their typically developing peers.  This may include adaptive equipment to maintain or improve health status, help them function, and meet developmental milestones.  Refined assessment tools allow for early diagnoses, which then leads to early therapeutic intervention.  As a result, we can anticipate what the functional impairments are going to be, and what type of equipment may be indicated.

The timing of interventions, including provision of adaptive equipment, can be a critical contributor to success in meeting therapeutic goals.  Professionals involved in equipment prescription should recognize what types of equipment may be helpful, based on timing and diagnosis.  This presentation will review childhood development and disability and encourage the learner to consider the scope of possible equipment needs for the child with special healthcare needs.  

Increased Confidence: Building Success with Power Standing Mobility
0.1 CEU / Intermediate
Presented by: TBD
Permobil

Providing standing power wheelchairs does not need to be a complicated or overwhelming experience.   The weight of ensuring that your clients get the best outcomes and do not lose confidence in the device can keep even the best clinicians and ATPs from going down the path of standing.   What does successful standing look like?   In this course we will review what makes successful standing, how dosages and expectations can make it easier for the client to achieve their goals, as well utilizing programming for standing success.

Power Mobility and Cerebral Palsy: One Size Fits all
0.1 CEU / Beginner
Presented by: TBD
Quantum Rehab

Assessing an end user for power mobility can be an intimidating task. Decisions that are made will have an impact on the individual’s quality life, functional mobility, physical well-being, and social interactions. This task can seem even more daunting when it comes to the pediatric end user. Children have the natural desire to move, explore, and learn. Research has shown that there is a strong correlation between self-initiated mobility and the development of visual, cognitive, social, language, and perceptual skills. This course will discuss the characteristics and decision-making process for children with CP, as well as the special considerations on early power mobility intervention. Current and relevant research will be discussed as it relates to assessment, timing, and outcomes when early power mobility is recommended and prescribed for those that demonstrate the needs.

A Twist on Power Assist for the Manual Wheelchair Rider
0.1 CEU / Intermediate to Advanced
Presented by: Christin Krey, PT, MPT, PCS
Etac/Ki Mobility

It is well documented that there is a high rate of upper extremity repetitive strain injury (RSI) among manual wheelchair riders. In addition to the risk of RSI, physical ability and the environment of use can pose further challenges to mobility. These factors can affect accessibility, speed, distance, and duration of travel, potentially limiting an individual’s social participation. Even the act of propulsion itself can hinder tasks that require the use of one or both hands during movement. Power assist technology has provided a solution to these challenges for many wheelchair riders.

While power assist technology has been available for some time, its popularity is increasing as more professionals and users recognize the advantages it can provide. To assist users in making informed prescriptive decisions, professionals must understand this evolving technology and be aware of the increasing diversity of product choices available. This presentation will discuss the mobility and health-related challenges that come with propelling a manual wheelchair. We will consider alternatives to address these challenges and review the various types of power assist devices currently available. 

Upper Extremity Arm Support
0.1 CEU/ Beginner
Presented by: Kelsy Brown, OTD, OTR/L
Partners in Medicine

This 1-hour interactive course explores the functional application of the use of arm supports for individuals with upper extremity limitations due to illness or injury. This course will give clinicians and providers a framework to aide them in recognizing which individuals would benefit from upper extremity arm supports. The course will help clinicians and providers identify upper extremity arm supports that are available in the United States and recognize the difference between mechanical and powered arm supports. The course will review current research on upper extremity arm supports and potential funding options for the arm supports.

Deciding on Power: Clinical Implications and Client Considerations
0.1 CEU / Beginner
Presented by: TBD
Quantum Rehab

Individuals with chronic medical conditions and long-term disabilities who have a permanent need for a wheelchair require a comprehensive, detailed evaluation of their physical, functional and environmental needs to allow clinicians and ATP suppliers to make appropriate Assistive Technology recommendations for a successful outcome.

This course will examine the algorithmic approach when deciding on power mobility base selection while also discussing key performance parameters and capabilities of power options that lead to equipment recommendations specific to group categories and clinical implications. This framework will provide clinicians with the tools necessary to effectively evaluate and document the medical need for Power mobility intervention and assist the supplier ATP in matching an individual's identified needs to the technology interventions.

Pediatrics: Don’t Overthink It, Re-Think It For Independent Mobility
0.1 CEU / Intermediate
Presented by: Christie Hamstra, PT, DPT, ATP/SMS
Motion Composites

Pediatrics! That one word can bring anxiety and apprehension when preparing for a seating and mobility evaluation.  The world of complex mobility isn’t as easy as selecting a mobility base, a backrest, and a cushion.  Pediatric clients cannot be treated as “little adults.” They come with their own unique mobility, positioning, and social needs.   

Working with pediatrics means working with an entire team: the parents, school team, outpatient or home therapy team, physician, and supplier.  Sometimes it is easy as a single part of the team to become hyper focused on one aspect that is your expertise and potentially misses many of the other complexities of the larger picture.   Along with the team’s goals, the child will have their own ideas about what will be best. The funding source looms over it all with their decades-old policies and guidelines, which could mean denials, delays, and frustrations for the entire team. 

We will look at growth patterns and the best ways to “build in growth” into the mobility device. We will also discuss how the weight of the entire system, including seating and accessories, can quickly add up and how that can affect efficiency and performance for the client. We will discuss optimum configuration, including horizontal and vertical center of gravity adjustment, and how this can affect propulsion. Ensuring optimum configuration, we will discuss propulsion training as an essential part of the whole prescription process in pediatrics. It must be more than just our excitement that they can move themselves, we need to use best practice and train them as well.

Making Power Wheelchairs Smarter: Exploring the Continuum of SMART Technology
0.1 CEU / Intermediate
Presented by: Lindsey Sharpe, PT, DPT, ATP
LUCI

Many power wheelchair drivers face a variety of issues related to their independence, safety, efficiency, and accessibility as a result of impaired motor control, visual deficits, impaired reaction time, inattention, and various other deficits that are common among wheeled mobility users. This course will review the continuum of currently available SMART technologies that can be incorporated into the power wheelchair to address these issues and improve driver safety, confidence, and independence.

Building Blocks for Success with Early Intervention Seating & Mobility
0.1 CEU/ Intermediate
Presented by: Stephanie Tanguay, OT/L, ATP
Invacare

The sooner, the better really applies here; there is science to prove it! The benefits of streamlined, ergonomic seating in supporting the developing spine and pelvic orientation and the potential to enhance function will be reviewed. Recent evidence-based research will also be discussed, and case studies will illustrate the value of self-initiated mobility in achieving successful outcomes with our tiniest clients

Integrating Expertise: Speech-Language Pathologists Collaborating with OT/PT for High-Tech AAC Evaluation and Treatment
01. CEU / Beginner
Presented by: Keri Morgan, MS CCC-SLP
RM Speech

This course is designed to provide professionals with an in-depth understanding of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) types, with a focus on high-tech AAC solutions. Course emphasizes the importance of a multidisciplinary team approach, demonstrating how speech-language pathologists, occupational therapists, & physical therapists can work together for eval/treatment.