Our excitement is growing as STAR returns to holding our 2022 Symposium both in-person in Denver, CO, and virtually! Our annual STAR Symposium focuses on the importance and implications of Sensory Health and Wellness, which impacts physical, emotional, and mental health through the lifespan. This year's speakers will provide insights on the relevance and power of sensory health, from our earliest interactions and development of attachment through to adulthood. Whether you join us live or in cyber-space, we have worked hard to develop meaningful opportunities for engagement and interaction. Poster sessions provide insights into the latest sensory research that is being conducted around the world. Our interactive breakout sessions allow us as a community of providers to process the presentations and apply the information to our practices. Your burning questions are shared and answered as you engage with our speakers in real time during our expert panels.

FOCUSING ON THE HERE AND NOW, OUR GOALS ARE TO:

ELEVATE: Add new dimensions and depth to the work we do by increases understanding, relevancy, and importance

APPLY: Simplify the complex and apply to real-world practice

PROGRESS: Push the field of practice with the only educational programming focused on the entire lifespan

---

Our Program

Thursday, October 13 | 10:00am - 5:30pm MT

STAR Pre-Symposium Professional Workshop | Assessment Training: Goal Oriented Assessment of Lifeskills (GOAL)

Occupational therapists are regularly faced with the challenge of finding functionally relevant, developmentally appropriate standardized testing, especially for adolescents. That's where the Goal Oriented Assessment of Lifeskills (GOAL) comes in. LEARN MORE>>>

Friday, October 14 | 8:30am - 6:00pm MT

Welcome Reception | Posters and Pastries Sponsored by ICDL
Enjoy Poster Sessions and Exhibitor Networking | Poster Submissions Accepted through August 14, 2022

KEYNOTE | A Dimensional Perspective on Trauma in Neurodivergent Populations - A Sensory Informed Approach
Virginia Spielmann, PhD, OTR/L | LEARN MORE>>>

CONVERSATIONS WITH SARAH | Sensory Patterns and Autistic Traits: What are the Implications?
Please join us for this exciting conversation with Dr. Claire Yun-Ju Chen, who will discuss her latest longitudinal research in collaboration with Dr. Grace Baranek at the University of Southern California. Their 2022 study was published in Child Development highlighting sensory patterns from infancy to school age in a community sample. Interesting associations with autistic traits were found. 

Neuroplasticity Sensory Techniques to Change Muscle Tone 
Karen Pryor, PhD, PT, DPT, ND, CH, CPRCS | LEARN MORE>>>

Breakout Sessions developed for in-depth discussion on key topics and real-world application. 

Expert Panel

Fun and Games Evening Reception Sponsored by Landscape Structures Inc

 

Saturday, October 15 | 8:30am - 4:00pm MT

KEYNOTE | The Developing Brain and Body and How Adversity Impacts Well-Being 
Lori Desautels, PhD | LEARN MORE>>>

Sensory Health: A Relational and Emplaced (SHARE) Model of Occupation
Antoine L. Bailliard, PhD, OTR/L | LEARN MORE>>>

Building Early Connections Through Co-Occupational Engagement: The Role of Intersensory Perception and Sensory Integration 
Kris Barnekow, PhD, OTR/L, IMH-E® | LEARN MORE>>>

Breakout Sessions developed for in-depth discussion on key topics and real-world application. 

Expert Panel

---

Our 2022 Speakers

Virginia Spielmann (she/her) PhD, OTR/L Executive Director STAR Institute KEYNOTE	Lori Desautels (she/her) PhD Assistant Professor Butler University KEYNOTE	Karen Pryor (she/her) PhD, PT, DPT, ND, CH, CPRCS Owner/Physical Therapist Change the Brain-Body Follows Presenter/Panelist	Sarah Schoen PhD, OTR/L Director of Research STAR Institute Conversationalist/Panelist
Antoine L. Bailliard (he/him) PhD, OTR/L Associate Professor~ Duke University Adjunct Professor~ University of North Carolina Presenter/Panelist	Kris Pizur-Barnekow (she/her) PhD, OTR/L, IMH-E® Infant Family Specialist; Associate Professor University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Presenter/Panelist	Yun-Ju (Claire) Chen PhD Postdoctoral Fellow  McMaster University Interviewee

Speaker Disclosure Statements

---

 Thank You to Our 2022 Symposium Sponsors

---

Venue Information

JCC Denver | Phillip Social Hall
Jewish Community Center
350 S. Dahlia St.
Denver, Colorado 80246

Accommodations

Please download our list of local hotel options.

---

Continuing Education

 

 

 

---

Who Should Attend

Occupational therapists, occupational therapy assistants, physical therapists, speech language pathologists, educators, child development specialists, mental health professionals, parents, caregivers, and other individuals seeking a better understanding of Sensory Health and Wellness.