Occupational Therapy Summer Group Program

We want to thank all the children and families who joined us in the Summer of 2009 for summer groups! We had a ton of fun in the park! All the groups were held in Lion’s Park in St. Albert under the shelter and out on the grass. The groups took place on Monday/Wednesday/Friday over 2 weeks and each group was an hour in length.

Mindful Movement Inc. will once again be offering groups in the summer of 2010. Dates and details to come this spring.

Some of our previous groups included:

Sensory Motor Fun in the Park – Provides children with varied sensory and motor activities in a playful and therapeutic atmosphere to enhance motor development and sensory exploration. Activities will target sensory play including tactile, pressure touch, vestibular, visual, oral & auditory input. Children will participate in a variety of fine and gross motor games. Ages 4-6 (Preschool to Kindergarten)

Printing Level One – Students in this group may need support with gaining an efficient pencil grasp and learning letter formations. Focuses on teaching printing concepts through movement & tactile activities using fun and innovative strategies with less emphasis on pencil/paper activities. Ages 5-7 (Kindergarten to Grade One)

Cursive Writing in the Park – Teaches handwriting concepts through movement activities.  Letter formation, sizing and spacing are taught in an outdoor setting using fun and innovative strategies with less emphasis on pencil/paper activities.

In 2010 we hope to add a Self-Regulation Group based on the principles from The Alert Program®: How Does Your Engine Run?®
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Feeding Children With Autism and Other Picky Eaters

Friday March 5th (Clinician or Parent) & Saturday March 6th (Parent + Team)
TELUS Convention Centre, Calgary, Alberta

This workshop will be of benefit to clinicians who are working with families with children who have significant feeding challenges, as well as parents facing these issues at home. The workshop will cover the status of research support in the area of picky eating particularly as it relates to those impacted by autism. This workshop will compare and contrast some different approaches to dealing with feeding challenges with children with autism. Treatment approaches will also be relevant for those populations affected by flexibility issues, sensory issues and other food aversions. Numerous feeding resources will be available for delegates to explore.

Friday March 5th , 2010   8:00 a.m. — 4:30 p.m.

8:00 – 8:30        Registration and Continental Breakfast
8:30 – 10:00       Welcome
                        Description of picky eaters
                        Strategies for picky eaters
                        Problem feeders
10:00 – 10:15      Break
10:15 – 12:00      Feeding challenges in Autism Spectrum Disorder
                        Assessment
                        Intervention approaches
12:00 – 1:00        Lunch on your own
1:00 – 2:30         Intervention continued
2:30 – 2:45         Break
2:45 – 3:15         Oral motor issues
3:15 – 3:45         Considerations relating to special diets
3:45 – 4:15         Research directions
                        Resources
4:15 – 4:30         Wrap-up & Door prizes

Registration Form (right click and chose “save as” to save to your computer)

Saturday March 6th, 2010    9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

This half day participatory workshop provides an opportunity for parent/caregiver and a member of their service team to get together to trouble-shoot on different issues that the parents are facing in feeding their child with autism or related conditions. While there will be an overall format to guide the discussion, the format will largely be determined by the questions of the participants. At the beginning of the session participants will be asked to outline three issues relating to feeding that they would like discussed. Discussion will be mostly on a large group format with some opportunity as needed for small group discussions.

It is recommended that at least one member of the service team be present with the parent.

8:30             Registration and continental breakfast
9:00 – 10:00     Initial question and answer period
10:00 – 10:30    Networking break
10:30 - 12:00    Continued Discussion and Q & A

Registration Form (right click and chose “save as” to save to your computer)

Presenter: Laura G. Rogers MScRS, OT(C)

Laura is an Occupational Therapist who has spent her career in pediatrics supporting children and families impacted by disability.  She has worked in all areas of pediatric OT and has developed expertise in assisting families in feeding their children, particularly those with picky eating, sensory challenges, rigidities, and autism.  She has worked with service providers representing various models including SCERTS, ABA, Floortime, Relationship Development Intervention and Pivotal Response Training.  She has worked at the Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital on the Pediatric Feeding Team and the Autism Follow-up Clinic. She is currently in her last year of the three year CIHR Autism Training Program. Laura has a private practice working with children and families with feeding challenges. Her personal practice is guided by the Family Centred Care model and she enjoys mentoring others.

presented by: Carla Cay Williams OT/L

The book, “How Does Your Engine Run?” A Leader’s Guide to the Alert Program for Self-Regulation is included with registration.

This workshop is intended for a variety of professionals including OT’s, SLP’s, PT’s, teachers, counsellors and parents. All who attend will glean new information whether or not they have tried using the program.
Participants will be able to:

1. Implement the Alert Program in clinic, school or home settings with an individual or with groups of clients.
2. Interpret their own sensorimotor preferences thereby improving their ability to facilitate clients’ self-regulation and attention.
3. Utilize new therapeutic/educational activity ideas for home, school and therapy settings.
4. Apply novel methods to educate others about the basics of sensory integration and underlying theory of the Alert Program.

Dates: April 23rd & 24th, 2010

Early Registration – prior to March 26, 2010 – $375

Alert Program registration form and fax or email to us as per the information in the form. Pay online using the  button below or request an email payment link when you send it your form or mail a cheque to us.

Late Registration from March 26th onwards – $395:

Alert Program registration form and fax or email to us as per the information in the form. Pay online using the  button below or request an email payment link when you send it your form or mail a cheque to us.

For more information about the program visit

www.alertprogram.com

Download our Alert Program brochure

I’ve recently finished reading Winnie Dunn’s “Living Sensationally – Understanding Your Senses” book.  Winnie Dunn has developed a set of measures called the Sensory Profiles for which I use as part of assessment for children referred for sensory type issues/concerns.  I found this book easy to read with many examples of each type of sensory pattern: Bystanders, Seekers, Sensors and Avoiders.  Included are examples involving real life situations involving children and adults.  A great way to learn more about your own sensory system as well as others.  I would recommend this book for parents, educators and therapists.  Share your thoughts about this book or others.

MMI is reintroducing our summer groups in the park. We plan to run a Sensory Motor group for prek/KG students and two levels of printing groups.

Summer 2009 Registration Form

Summer 2009 Groups Descriptions

If you are interested in a Keyboarding Group please contact us.

Purpose:

“Printing Basics” teaches printing concepts using a multi-sensory approach. Letter formation, sizing and spacing are taught using fun and innovative strategies.

Description:

This program is designed for students Grade 2-4. Students will learn strategies for forming, sizing and spacing individual letters using auditory, visual and kinesthetic (hands-on) learning styles. Through 6 sessions, students will learn how to print letters more efficiently with strategies based on individual learning styles.

Dates and Times TBA.

Purpose:

“Handwriting Help” teaches handwriting concepts through a multi-sensory approach. Letter formation and sizing skills are taught using fun and innovative strategies.

Description:

This program is designed for students in Grade 3-5. Through 6 sessions, students will learn strategies for forming and sizing letters using auditory, visual and kinesthetic (based on the “Loops and Other Groups” program) learning styles.

Dates and Times TBA.

Purpose:

Intended to familiarize students with basic keyboard layout through a variety of activity stations.

Description:

This program is designed for students in Grade 2-6. Activity stations will include “Body Keyboarding” floor mat, “Roller Typing” software and finger “teaching rings”. In addition, students will learn preventative joint protection techniques. Through 6 sessions, students will learn proper finger placement, improve accuracy and speed.

No current dates but please contact us if interested.