Not a Bad Kid: Supporting Participation & Belonging for Dyspraxic Children
Presented by Dr. Virginia Spielmann
This workshop is designed for occupational therapists, speech & language therapists, allied health professionals, educators, and caregivers seeking to enhance their understanding of dyspraxia and its impact on child development, with specific focus on mental health. Through a strengths-based lens, we will explore how Ayres Sensory Integration and holistic client-centered practice can improve child development outcomes like school participation, social flourishing, mental health, and family well-being (and decrease school exclusion rates).
Topics include: exploring the nuances of dyspraxia, examining how internalizing and externalizing behaviors can manifest in various settings, the painful effects of social exclusion, and Brené Brown's concept that "fitting in is the opposite of belonging."
The course will culminate in a final hour of appreciative inquiry, where participants will collaboratively identify and celebrate the strengths of dyspraxic children, sharing strategies to create inclusive environments that affirm their identities. By promoting understanding and acceptance, we aim to empower dyspraxic children to thrive and contribute meaningfully to their families, schools, and communities.
As a result of this course participants will be able to:
- Articulate the nuances of dyspraxia and its impact on child development, including the ways it affects daily functioning, social participation, and emotional well-being.
- Gain practical skills in applying Ayres Sensory Integration principles to develop targeted therapeutic interventions that address sensory and motor difficulties in dyspraxic children.
- Learn to identify distress behaviors, differentiate them from "bad behaviors," and implement supportive strategies that foster a sense of belonging and community.
- Gain practical skills in applying Ayres Sensory Integration principles to develop targeted therapeutic interventions that address sensory and motor difficulties in dyspraxic children.
- Leave with actionable strategies to enhance their therapeutic approaches, improve family well-being, and reduce social exclusion rates in various environments.
What We'll Be Discussing | VIEW PRINT AGENDA
Additional Information:
Who Should Attend
This workshop is designed for occupational therapists, speech & language therapists, allied health professionals, educators, and caregivers seeking to enhance their understanding of dyspraxia and its impact on child development, with specific focus on mental health.
Level: Introductory
Instructional Methods: PowerPoint Lecture, Group Discussion, Case Study
Video recordings are available to all participants for 45 days after the event
For questions, contact our Education Team at education@sensoryhealth.org.
Group Discount
Register 5 or more participants in a group and automatically receive a 10% discount!
Use the promotional code SUMMITGROUP24 upon checkout to automatically receive the discount on 5 or more registrations.
If participants of the group must pay separately, please:
- Register all participants separately
- Send the names of all participants in your group to Ewa Czupryna at ewa.czupryna@sensoryhealth.org by October 31, 2024
- Once at least 5 registrations are received, each person will be partially refunded for the discounted amount
Groups must be determined and paid in full before the start of the conference.
CONTINUED EDUCATION:
Add-on AOTA CEUs Option Available for an Additional $45
Includes Certificate of Attendance and 0.7 AOTA CEUs (Introductory Level)
Virginia Spielmann, PhD, OTR/L (she/her) 
Executive Director
STAR Institute
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, adoption, 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. She is a published author and contributed to the STAR Frame of Reference as part of the 4th Edition of Frames of Reference for Pediatric Occupational Therapy, alongside Dr. Miller and Dr. Schoen.
Presenter Disclosures:
- Financial: Virginia Spielmann serves as Executive Director for STAR Institute.
- There are no other relevant financial or nonfinancial relationships to disclose.
Cancellation Policy
All registrations must be finalized or cancelled for a full refund by October 18, 2024. Registrations cancelled after October 18, 2024, will be deferred to a future course sponsored by STAR Institute.
In the event this program must be cancelled due to illness, fire, strikes, war, acts of God, terrorism or other causes that would prevent the event from taking place, STAR Institute will attempt to reschedule the event. If the event is unable to be rescheduled, STAR Institute will refund all tuition fees paid.
Attendance Policy
Participants may join the conference at any time during the live broadcasts and/or view the recorded presentations for 45 days after the live-streamed event. To receive a CEU Certificate a brief CEU quiz must be completed and passed within 30 days after the event. Passing is getting at least an 80% score for each approved section. Individuals who do not meet both requirements will not receive AOTA or ASHA CEUs. No partial credit will be provided.
All participants may otherwise receive a Certificate of Attendance.
Video recordings are available to all participants for 45 days after the event
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.