Join Dr. Virginia Spielmann, STAR’s Executive Director, and Dr. Mel Houser, Executive Director of All Brains Belong, in conversation about the importance of destigmatizing sensory differences and needs. Virginia and Mel will discuss how we, as a society, perpetuate shame and ablism, why we need to shift our paradigm of how we see and interact with the world, and simple tools and ideas we can use to create a culture of safety and openness.
Recorded 4/11/2023
The views expressed in the following presentation are those of the presenter and do not necessarily reflect those of STAR Institute.
Level: Introductory
Length: 1.5 hours
Timeframe for access: Once you first choose to "Launch" this course, you will have 45 days to access the content as often as you like. Your 45-day window for access will not begin until you first click the "Launch" button..
Presenters:
Mel Houser, M.D. (she/they) is an autistic/PDA/ADHD/dyslexic/dyspraxic/ dyscalculic Board Certified Family Physician. Except for the doctor part, she didn’t know any of these things about herself until age 37. In fact, she was diagnosed autistic on the 2 year anniversary of her child’s diagnosis. “Dr. Mel” loves helping patients of all ages to discover how their brains work and supporting them to show up as their true selves.
Dr. Houser holds a Doctorate of Medicine from the University of Vermont College of Medicine, and completed her residency training in Family Medicine at Middlesex Hospital in Connecticut, where she served as Chief Resident. She also completed a Fellowship in Medical Student Education from the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine, as well as several hundreds of hours of training in neurodevelopment, autism, ADHD, dyspraxia, and learning differences.
Virginia is a well-travelled speaker, coach and educator on topics including sensory integration, DIR/Floortime, child development and infant mental health. She has conducted trainings in Kenya, Australia, the Philippines, Vietnam, Hong Kong, and the USA and leads workshops at international conferences.
Virginia is a founder and former Clinical Director of SPOT (Speech, Physical, and Occupational Therapy) Interdisciplinary Children's Therapy Center in Hong Kong, where she led a large and widely respected inter-disciplinary team.
Virginia obtained her BSc in Occupational Therapy in Oxford England (2002) and her Masters in Occupational Therapy from Mount Mary University, Milwaukee (2018). She is a DIR/Floortime Training Leader and Expert and clinical consultant for the Interdisciplinary Council for Development and Learning (ICDL). Her extensive pediatric experience includes children on the autism spectrum, as well as those with Sensory Processing Disorder, infant mental health issues, children from adopted families and those who have experienced developmental trauma.
Virginia has considerable post-graduate training, she is certified on the SIPT and is currently completing her Ph.D. in Infant and Early Childhood Development with an emphasis on mental health, with Fielding Graduate University, in Santa Barbara.
Who should attend:
Instructional Methods:
Dialogue
Cancellation Policy:
Do you have a disability that would require special accommodations?
Please contact us at education@sensoryhealth.org and describe how we can help accommodate your needs.
The views expressed in the following presentation are those of the presenter and do not necessarily reflect those of STAR Institute.