Intended Audience: Occupational therapists,psychologists, physical therapists, and other childhood intervention specialists.

Prerequisite:None

Presenters:

Robyn C. Chu, MOT, OTR/Lis founder and director of Growing Healthy Children Therapy Services, located in El Dorado County, California. Mrs. Chu brings over 11 years of diverse clinical experience and a passion for helping others. Mrs. Chu began her career at Shriners Hospital for Children in Sacramento, and later became the Lead Occupational Therapist for the El Dorado County Office of Education. She has advanced training in Sensory Integration Therapy, completing mentorships and fellowships with Dr. Lucy Jane Miller at STAR Institute in Colorado. Mrs. Chu has spent the last 8 years of her career dedicated to growing her private practice, which is now includes a state-of-the-art, multi-disciplinary therapy practice nestled on 3.5 acres in the Sierra Nevada Foothills and a satellite location in Davis. Mrs. Chu has also serves as a Private Practice Consultant, supporting other growing therapy practices. As the director of Growing Healthy Children, Mrs. Chu has supported many families from around the world and mentored therapists across California. Over the years, Mrs. Chu has taught workshops to parents, teachers, and therapists and has guest-lectured at universities. She is currently on the faculty for the SPD Foundation. She helped standardize the Miller Functional and Participation Scales, the GOAL assessment, and is now working on the SP3D. Mrs. Chu also serves as a consultant for research teams at UCSF and Stanford. Mrs. Chu recently published a set of 10 Sensory Motor Activity Books to support families and therapists around the world. She also developed “The Gardening Game: A Learn and Grow Kit for OT” in order to encourage motor development and social skills.

Lucy Jane Miller, PhD, OTR/Lfounded STAR Institute for Sensory Processing Disorder in Colorado, and is the premier center for treatment, research, education, and advocacy for SPD. She currently directs the Treatment Center at STAR Institute and is widely known for fostering collaborative research projects.

For 35 years Dr. Miller has devoted herself to the study and treatment of Sensory Processing Disorder and is spearheading the effort to get SPD recognized as a diagnostic entity separate from other disorders. She is a prolific author, with over 50 articles in peer-reviewed journals. Her book, Sensational Kids: Hope and Help for Children with Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD)has become the definitive source of information on SPD; the revised edition just recently published.Dr. Miller’s other recent book, No Longer A SECRET: Unique Common Sense Strategies for Children with Sensory or Motor Challenges, offers on-the-spot problem-solving tips to use for children with sensory issues. She developed the STAR Treatment Model, which has been demonstrated through research to be effective in the treatment of sensory-related challenges.

Dr. Miller also develops norm-referenced standardized assessments that are in use worldwide, including the Miller Assessment for Preschoolers, the Leiter International Performance Scale – Revised and the new Miller Function and Participation Scale (or M-FUN) and her latest and ninth scale, Goal-Oriented Assessment of Lifeskills (GOAL). She talks about learning family-centered care during her three terms, totaling nine years on the Governor’s Interagency Coordinating Council for IDEA in CO. In 2005, she received the Martin Luther King, Jr. award from the State of Colorado.

Shelley Mulligan PhD., OTR/Lreceived her Doctor of Philosophy, Special Education, University of Washington, in 1997; Master of Science, Occupational Therapy, Colorado State University, 1990, and Bachelor of Science, Occupational Therapy, University of Western Ontario, CAN, 1985. She currently is Associate Professor, and Chairperson, Department of Occupational Therapy, University of New Hampshire. Dr. Mulligan is also a course instructor for the Comprehensive Program Leading to Certification in Sensory Integration Evaluation and Treatment, sponsored by University of Southern California/Western Psychological Services. She has published extensively in the area of sensory integration, and her program of research involves the evaluation of sensory motor functions in children.

Michele Parkins, MS, OTR is an occupational therapist, specializing in working with children with sensory processing disorder and autism. She currently works with children and families at her private practice – Great Kids Place - in Rockaway, New Jersey. Prior to this she worked in schools for ten years infusing sensory integration, visual spatial, and DIR goals throughout daily activities and curriculum. Michele has been using, learning, and teaching the DIR model for over ten years. She is faculty of both Profectum Academy and the Sensory Treatment and Research Institute. Michele is DIR and SIPT certified with advanced training in visual spatial capacities. She co-developed a unique handwriting program – Connect Experience Write® – that highlights the importance of affective engagement in learning as well as sensory integration using music and movement to teach letter formation and pre-writing skills. Michele is passionate about working with families and other therapists and she continues to do so as a clinician and educator.

Lisa Porter, MOT, OTR/Lgraduated from Rockhurst University in 1994 with a Master’s degree in Occupational Therapy. She is a fellow of the STAR Institute, traveling to Denver from Portland 2-3 times each year to mentor experienced therapists. Lisa is currently working on her PhD in Pediatric Science at Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions. She is dedicated to sharing what she learns and constantly striving to improve services at her pediatric therapy clinic, Sensory KIDS. Lisa specializes in sensory and relationship-based therapy, and has advanced training in Stanley Greenspan’s DIR/Floortime model. She is trained in the Sensory Integration and Praxis Test (SIPT), the SOS Feeding Approach, and is an advanced Integrated Listening Systems practitioner.

Sarah A. Schoen, PhD, OTR/L, is the Director of Research at STAR Institute for Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) in Greenwood Village, Colorado. Dr. Schoen is an Occupational Therapist with 34 years of clinical experience and a doctorate in Occupational Therapy from New York University (2001). She was awarded the Developmental Psychology Endowment Grant from the William T. Grant Foundation to study the Sensory Processing Three Dimension Scales, which she is developing and researching with Dr. Lucy Jane Miller. Dr. Schoen is certified in Neurodevelopmental Treatment and has taught continuing education workshops nationally. She is currently an Associate Professor at the Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions and has served on multiple doctoral committees. She also co-developed and teaches the monthly Advanced Mentorship trainings at STAR Institute. Dr. Schoen has advanced training in Sensory Integration Therapy and clinical expertise on infants and toddlers with Regulatory Disorder, children with Sensory Processing Disorder, Autism Spectrum Disorder and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. In 1997, Dr. Schoen received the Recognition of Achievement Award from the American Occupational Therapy Association and the Virginia Scardina Award of Excellence from the American Occupational Therapy Foundation in 2011.

Learning objectives:

Upon completion of this course, the participant will be able to:

• Link assessment findings to occupational performance and occupation-based challenges
• Convey the importance of quantitative and qualitative methods in categorizing sensory processing and motor challenges
• Interpret sensory and motor performance within the context of the proposed nosology of SPD
• Translate assessment finding, performance challenges and parent priorities into effective and functional occupational based treatment