MIOTA Spring Virtual Conference 2025: Full Schedule

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8:00am EDT

Giaci and Me: A Mother’s Journey of Loving and Raising an Autistic Child

Saturday April 26, 2025 8:00am - 9:00am EDT

Description: This session provides a heartfelt, practical exploration of the unique journey of raising a child with autism. Drawing from my personal experiences as a mother, I offer insights into the challenges and triumphs of navigating the world of autism, all while balancing cultural, religious, and family dynamics. Participants will leave with a deeper understanding of the importance of empathy, resilience, and actionable strategies for supporting autistic individuals and their families.
Objectives

Understand the personal and systemic challenges faced by families raising autistic children.
Explore the intersection of culture, faith, and disability in caregiving.
Learn practical approaches to fostering actionable strategies for autistic individuals and their families.

Saturday April 26, 2025 8:00am - 9:00am EDT
VIRTUAL

9:30am EDT

Pain Assessment Across the Lifespan

Saturday April 26, 2025 9:30am - 10:30am EDT

VIRTUAL

Description: This course will provide an overview of pain including the statistics, what the US is doing to impact pain, numerous pain assessments as well as how to select the right type of pain assessment. Additional information will address treatment approaches.
Attendees will be able to:

Identify at least three manifestations of pain that impact life satisfaction and occupational engagement.
Identify 3 pain assessments that can be incorporated into practice by a health professional.
Identify a pain assessment that can be used for each type of client: client with cognitive or communication disorders

Speakers

Cathleen Johnson

OTD, OTRL, FMiOTA, FNAP, Southern California University

Dr. Johnson started her career as a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist after receiving her B.S. from Central Michigan University. As a CTRS, she worked in psychiatric and substance abuse disorder inpatient and day-outpatient programming. She received her Master of Science... Read More →

Saturday April 26, 2025 9:30am - 10:30am EDT
VIRTUAL

11:00am EDT

Human Trafficking and the Allied Health Professional

Saturday April 26, 2025 11:00am - 12:00pm EDT

VIRTUAL

Description:
This session will cover what human trafficking looks like, risk factors for being trafficked, and red flags for identifying potential victims. We will also discuss how the trauma of being trafficked affects rehabilitation and the role that Occupational Therapy can play in assisting those who have been trafficked move from victim to survivor to thriver.
Objectives:

Identify red flags of potential trafficked persons in the healthcare settings
Examine potential interactions with trafficked persons and survivors of human trafficking
Understand how trauma of human trafficking affects rehabilitation
Review the key principles of trauma-informed approach

Speakers

Brenda Nordstrom

DNP, BS, RN, PMGT-BC

Bio: Dr. Brenda Nordstrom has been a nurse for over 30 years and has acquired a variety of experiences – from pediatrics to geriatrics and summer camps to a nuclear power plant. In 2017, after discovering a great need for human trafficking education within healthcare, she attended... Read More →

Saturday April 26, 2025 11:00am - 12:00pm EDT
VIRTUAL

1:00pm EDT

Cultural Responsiveness in OT: What it Means and How to Apply it in Practice

Saturday April 26, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm EDT

VIRTUAL

related to Accessibility, Belonging, Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Justice (ABIDE-J), identify examples of implicit and explicit bias as well as other forms of exclusion and inequities that can negatively impact patient care, and discuss the impact of ABIDE-J on Occupational Therapy (OT) practice. Participants will also reflect on their own intersectional identities and how these inform their therapeutic use of self. By the end of the session, participants will have an increased awareness of resources that can help support their equity journey and address the unique care needs of diverse populations.
Objectives:

Review common terminology, historical context, populations impacted, and the core concepts of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Accessibility, Belonging, and Justice (DEIABJ).
Define what culturally responsive care looks like within the OT profession and identify strategies to implement cultural humility in OT practice.
Discuss challenges and opportunities for implementing DEIABJ within OT practice, including resources that can inform OT practice across the lifespan

Speakers

Bethany Burge

OTRL, CNP, CAPS

Bio: Bethany Burge is a community-based Occupational Therapist specializing in interventions that facilitate healthy aging-in-place. Over the last 10 years, Bethany has developed expertise and experience in evidence-based health promotion, environmental modifications, grant-writing... Read More →

Saturday April 26, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm EDT
VIRTUAL

2:30pm EDT

What All OT and OTAs Need to Know Regarding Licensure Within the State of Michigan

Saturday April 26, 2025 2:30pm - 3:30pm EDT

VIRTUAL

Description: This session will cover a variety of topics relative to being a practitioner within the State of Michigan. The advocacy updates will address the status compact licensure and caseload for school therapists. The licensure updates will review supervision of OTA and new policies and procedures for the LARA Board of OT. Finally, updates to MiOTA and the By-Law changes as well as Standard Operating Procedures (SOP).
Objectives:
Attendees will

Understand the advocacy efforts of compact licensure
Understand the requirements for supervision of OTA
Increase awareness of the changes within MiOTA

Speakers

Denise Hoffman

OTD, OTRL, BCP, FMiOTA

Denise is the current MiOTA Advocacy Director and MiOTA Bylaws Ad Hoc Chair and has been an active MiOTA member for over 14 years. She began volunteering for MiOTA out of a need to fill a gap on the advocacy committee and quickly developed a passion for public policy. Denise graduated... Read More →

Cathleen Johnson

OTD, OTRL, FMiOTA, FNAP, Southern California University

Bethany Burge

OTRL, CNP, CAPS

Saturday April 26, 2025 2:30pm - 3:30pm EDT
VIRTUAL

4:00pm EDT

There’s an App and Alexa for That!!! Employing Everyday Technology to Support Independence

Saturday April 26, 2025 4:00pm - 5:00pm EDT

VIRTUAL

Description: This is a fun and informative look at how two low cost apps ($1.99 and $18.99)
and Alexa can support independence in individuals even with significant
cognitive issues. Alice has utilized this mainstream technology for over 15 years
to assist her daughter, Kara, who sustained a severe TBI, and was left with many
challenges, to live a very independent life! This technology has given Kara the
ability to have her own voice remind her what to do throughout her day, and to
guide and support her in accomplishing daily tasks. In addition, Alice will
discuss and demonstrate how useful Amazon Alexa can be in assisting with
home safety as well as increasing knowledge of the world around us for
individuals with cognitive challenges.
Objectives:

Participants will be able to describe the use of and benefits in utilizing
mainstream technology to support independence in individuals with limited
ability to manage a daily routine.
Participants will have increased knowledge of use of Amazon Alexa to
support home safety
Participants will be able to see and how to utilize mainstream technology to
set up day to day task management and as a “job coach.”

Check out Alice & Kara Here: https://youtu.be/EXWVHjWpEJQ?si=kKKAM34tbAe4VKvi

Speakers

Alice Brouhard

Saturday April 26, 2025 4:00pm - 5:00pm EDT
VIRTUAL

From $62.13

MIOTA Spring Virtual Conference 2025

From $62.13