CHS Participates in Conference on Therapy Needs of Infants, Toddlers and Children with Disabilities
Earlier this spring, the College of Health Sciences, Departments of Communication Sciences and Disorders and Physical Therapy, along with Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy sponsored the 13th Annual Conference on Meeting the Therapy Needs of Infants, Toddlers and Children with Disabilities in the Community.
More than 100 pediatric therapists from throughout the state and region heard keynote addresses from internationally recognized speakers.
Carlo Vialu, Director of Continuing Education of Apply EBP, LLC, presented on Focusing on Participation and Occupation for children with disabilities. Dr. Scott Tomcheck, a PhD graduate of the CHS Rehabilitation and Health Sciences PhD Program, is the Governor appointee on the Kentucky Advisory Council on Autism Spectrum Disorders and the Interagency Coordinating Council for Kentucky’s Early Intervention System. He presented on Coaching THE Changemakers: Intentional Caregiver Capacity Building.
Diverse afternoon breakout sessions included motor learning strategies to promote neuroplasticity,transitioning children from early intervention into school, working with children with autism and their families, exploring telehealth, and elevating communication.
Speakers included UK faculty, Drs. Joneen Lowman and Catherine Gohrband, along with Department of Physical Therapy graduate, Dr. Melody Prinkleton and Rehabilitation and Health Sciences PhD Program student Felicia Bernhard.
The conference was originally part of two U.S. Department of Education grants (PREPARE) that UK and EKU received to support the advanced pediatric education of therapy students to work in early intervention and schools. Because of the tremendous need for interprofessional pediatric educational opportunities, the college has continued to support this conference through the work of Drs. Susan Effgen, Joneen Lowman, and EKU’s Colleen Schneck.
“This is the only pediatric therapy conference held in Kentucky that is interprofessional and focused on the needs of infants, toddlers, and children with disabilities in the community,” said Susan Effgen, PT, PhD, FAPTA and Professor Emerita, Department of Physical Therapy at UK. Effgen is the founding chair of the American Physical Therapy Association’s Academy of Pediatric Physical Therapy, School-based Special Interest Group. “Therapists benefit from getting to meet their colleagues across the state and sharing ways to best collaborate to meet the community needs of commonly underserved children.”
Photo provided by Susan Effgen.
Caption: (left to right) Dr. Shirley O’Brien is an occupational therapist from Eastern Kentucky University and frequent conference presenter; Jill Edlin is an occupational therapist from Marion County Schools; Karen Puckett is an occupational therapist who is the KoTA school-based practice co-chair; and Dr. Melody Prinkleton is a physical therapist and Therapy Director with the Jefferson County Public Schools and conference co-chair.