12th Annual PREPaRE Conference
Meeting the Therapy Needs of Infants, Toddlers and Children with Disabilities in the Community
Saturday, March 25, 2023
Eleventh Annual PREPaRE Conference: October 30, 2021
Meeting the Therapy Needs of Infants, Toddlers and Children with Disabilities in the Community
Tenth Annual PREPaRE Conference, 2019
Coaching: Early Intervention Evidence-based Practice
Scott Tomchek, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA
Cybil Cheek, M.Ed., DI, TDHH
Serena Wheeler, MAE, IECE
University of Louisville Weisskopf Center
Coaching is a family centered evidence-based intervention shown to increase children’s development and participation in daily routines. This session will highlight key principles of early intervention and an overview of coaching quality indicators. Participants will be presented an overview of Kentucky Early Intervention System’s Coaching in Early Intervention Training and Mentorship Program currently being implemented to build the capacity of providers to enhance family-centered early intervention practice.
Application of Coaching Techniques for Strengths Based Interventions
Elizabeth A. Grant, MS, OTR/L
University of Louisville Weisskopf Center and University of Louisville Autism Center
Shirley Peganoff O'Brien, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA
Eastern Kentucky University
Coaching is an evidence-based, occupation-based and family-centered practice that focuses on supporting the client. Coaching is necessary for providers to understand and explore within practice settings. Through the use of evidence-based techniques, providers focus on strengths and assist clients with problem solving for effective decision making about engagement in life. The use of this strengths-based approach helps to build confidence and competence for both clients and families to aid in designing their own solutions for challenges that may arise at home, school or in the community.
Orthotics for Children
Kathy Martin, PT, DHSc
Krannert School of Physical Therapy, University of Indianapolis
This presentation will review the current evidence for orthotic efficacy for children with cerebral palsy, myelomeningocele, and hypotonia. The strength of the evidence and important gaps in our understanding will be discussed along with strategies for managing those gaps. General concepts for how orthoses fit into an overall intervention plan will be explored.
24 Hour Positioning for the Child with Complex Neurological Needs: Birth through School Age
Melissa Tally, PT, MPT, ATP & Kihmberly Hymore, MOT, OTR/L, ATP
Perlman Center, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center
This course is designed to discuss postural management and adaptive equipment of the child with complex neurological needs commonly referred to as 24-hour positioning. The topic of 24-hour positioning will be defined and supported with a helpful guide and equipment plan of care offering specific consideration at key periods of development and function, as well as for surgical interventions. 24-hour positioning is supported in the literature and is recommended throughout the lifespan. Key components of the equipment evaluation and considerations will be reviewed to encourage optimal equipment for function, access, medical management and participation.
Student Goals vs. Therapy Goals: How to get our work done in the classroom.
Laurie Ray, PT, PhD
Use of Telepractice to Deliver Therapy Services
Joneen Lowman, PhD, CCC-SP
Functional Assessment Focused on Student Participation
Laurie Ray, PT, PhD
Evolution and Progression of Therapy Needs of Older Teens and Young Adults with Physical Disabilities
Catherine Gohrband, PT, DPT, PCS
Enhancing Functional Performance in Children with Cortical Visual Impairment
Karen Harper, PhD, OTR/L and Patricia Gribben, OTR/L CTW 014 3-4:30 PM
SPEAKERS
MyraBeth Bundy, PhD
Catherine Gohrband, PT, DPT, PCS
Patricia Gribben, OTR/L
Karen Harper, PhD, OTR/L
Joneen Lowman, PhD, CCC-SP
Shirley O'Brien, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA
Laurie Ray, PT, PhD
Conference
Seventh Annual Conference on Meeting the Therapy Needs of Infants, Toddlers and Children with Disabilities in Rural Communities
Saturday, March 12, 2016
Keynote Speaker - Dr. Carl Dunst
The videos from this year's conference are available below.
The Department of Occupational Therapy at Eastern Kentucky University in collaboration with the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Divisions of Physical Therapy and Communication Sciences and Disorders, at University of Kentucky, have received another grant from the U.S. Department of Education for personnel development. The project is entitled: PREPaRE: Preparing Related Services Personnel for Rural Employment. The first four year grant was from July 2009 to June 2013 and the new 5 year $1,179,174 grant started in the summer of 2013.
This project trains and supports graduate students to help alleviate the regional shortage of highly qualified personnel in occupational therapy, physical therapy, and speech-language pathology who are able and willing to work collaboratively in early intervention and schools in rural areas across the nation. This grant provides tuition support for up to three semesters for four OT, four PT and six SLP students each year (up to $12,500 total support).
The project selects scholars for funding who are:
- CSD graduate students and OT graduate students beginning year 2 of their master’s program and DPT students beginning year 3 of their professional program;
- Willing to take additional coursework in pediatrics including a course in interdisciplinary early intervention, and a course in school-based practice. All or most of the additional required coursework is offered via distance formats while students are on rotations/fieldwork placements.
- Willing to complete a clinical rotation/field work in pediatrics
- Willing to work with children with disabilities in early intervention and/or a school setting for 2 full years within 7 years after graduation.
Following graduation, scholars will receive mentorship during their two year required work in early intervention and/or a school setting in preferably a rural area. In addition, continuing education conferences are offered each year to the scholars, their mentors, and the professional community.
Project co-directors:
Colleen Schneck, ScD, OTR/L, FAOTA
Department Chair & Professor
Department of Occupational Therapy
Eastern Kentucky University
Office: (859) 622-3300
Email: colleen.schneck@eku.edu
Susan Effgen, Ph.D., PT, FAPTA
Professor
Division of Physical Therapy
University of Kentucky
Office: (859) 218-0579
Email: seffgen@uky.edu
Shirley O'Brien, Ph.D., OTR/L, FAOTA
Professor
Department of Occupational Therapy
Eastern Kentucky University
Office: (859) 622-6329
Email: shirley.obrien@eku.edu
Joneen Lowman, PhD, CCC-SLP
Assistant Professor
Division of Communication Sciences and Disorders
University of Kentucky
Office: (859) 218-80475
Email: joneen.lowman@uky.edu
PREPaRE Class of 2017 and Faculty
2015-2016 PREPaRE Scholars
Newly Selected 2014-2015 PREPaRE Scholars and faculty.
Presentation Videos
We are pleased to post the outstanding conference presentations. Please note that you can fast forward ahead to get to a specific presentation. The beginning of some presentations will be a blank black or white slide that is then followed by slides with the audio.
Conference: 7th Annual Conference on Meeting the Therapy Needs of Infants, Toddlers and Children with Disabilities in Rural Communities
Saturday, March 12, 2016 / University of Kentucky
Keynote Address: Carl Dunst, PhD Parent Involvement in Early Childhood Intervention: Characteristics of Family Capacity-Building Practices
9AM March 12th, 2016
Breakout Session: Pediatric Interdisciplinary Practice: Better Together
Leslie J. Hardman, OTD, OTR/L, Erin Lindon, MS, SLP-CCC, Joanna Tennill, PT, DPT
10:45 AM March 12th, 2016
Breakout Session: Early Childhood Intervention Practices That Matter Most: What Research Tells Us for Getting the Best Results for Children and Their Families
Carl Dunst, PhD
1 PM March 12th, 2016
Conference: Fifth Annual Conference on Meeting the Therapy Needs of Infants, Toddlers and Children with Disabilities in Rural Communities
Saturday, March 22, 2014 / University of Kentucky
Breakout Session: Unlocking the World: Improving Outcomes for a Student who is Visually and Communicatively Impaired Through Collaboration
Laura Stone, CCC-SLP and Joann Brandenburg
3PM March 12th, 2016
Breakout Session: Early Intervention in Kentucky--Today and Tomorrow
Paula Goff, MS
3PM March 12th, 2016
The presentations are available at the links below:
Keynote Address: Using Evidence-Based Clinical Guidelines to Improve your Practice, Jane Case-Smith, EdD, OTR/L, FAOTA
Use of Classification Systems to Facilitate Inter-Professional Communication, Susan Effgen, PT, PhD, FAPTA, Christine Myers, PhD, OTR/L, Jane Kleinert, PhD, CCC-SLP
Medicaid Cost Recovery for School-based Practice, Laurie Ray, PT, PhD
Data and Documentation in Pediatric Practice, Laurie Ray, PT, PhD
PREPARE Graduates, Students & Faculty, March 2014
Conference: Fourth Annual Conference on Meeting the Therapy Needs of Infants, Toddlers and Children with Disabilities in Rural Communities
Saturday, March 9 2013 / University of Kentucky
Conference: Third Annual Conference on Meeting the Therapy Needs of Infants, Toddlers and Children with Disabilities in Rural Communities
Saturday, March 17, 2012 / Eastern Kentucky University
Morning presentations are available at this site and afternoon presentations are available at this site.
PREPaRE 2013 Students, Graduates, and Faculty
PREPaRE 2013 morning speakers left to right: Melody Prinkelton, Mary Salyer, Laura Cullens, and Marti Ginter.
Conference: Meeting the Therapy Needs of Infants, Toddlers and Children with Disabilities in Rural Communities
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Please note that Windows Media Player is required to view the following videos.
“Meeting the Needs of Children with Disabilities in Rural Areas” Belva Collins, EdD
“Therapy Issues in Serving Children in Rural Communities” Leslie M. Sizemore, Ed.S, OTR/L, ATP
“American Speech-Language-Hearing Association’s Workload Model: Making it Work for You (also the model for the American Physical Therapy Association’s School-Based Special Interest Group)” Lisa Rai Mabry-Price, MS, CCC-SLP
“Evidenced-Based Interventions for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders” Scott Tomcheck, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA
“Social Skills Groups for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders” Peggy Whitman, EdD, OTR/L, FAOTA & Myra Beth Bundy, PhD
PREPaRE 2011 Graduates, from left-right: April Holman, Holly Sisk, Lisa McCarthy, Emily Moore, Keishia Embry, Laurie Wolford, Amanda Isaacs, Beth Sutton, Jessica Bolling
Speakers at the 2011 PREPaRE Conference, left-right: Dr. Scott Tomchek, UofL; Dr. Peggy Whitman, EKU; Dr. Myra Beth Bundy, EKU.
Left-right: Dr. Susan Effgen, Amanda Isaacs, Beth Sutton, Jessica Bolling, Keishia Embry, Laurie Worford, Emily Moore, Mindy Mollett, April Holman, Dr. Shirley O’Brien, Lisa McCarthy, Holly Sisk at the 2011 PREPaRE Conference.