ADVANCE Outlook: OT : Conference

Congratulations Are in Order!

Jill Glomstad — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 03:04:00 GMT

No AOTA Conference is complete without its annual night to celebrate the best, brightest and most dedicated. Last night's awards ceremony honored dozens of OTs who have helped advance the profession through research, practice, education, scholarship,...(read more)

Are You a Spider?

Jill Glomstad — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 20:12:00 GMT

That was AOTA President Penelope Moyers-Cleveland's question for her audience at the Presidential Address this year. Attendees received spider rings as they entered the hall to hear her speech, and Cleveland took the stage with a red cape that resembled...(read more)

Houston Heats Up

Jill Glomstad — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 21:53:00 GMT

It's sunny and in the 80s this week in Houston, but its occupational therapists who are really heating up the city as thousands have come from far and wide for AOTA's 89 th annual conference. If you've ever attended an AOTA conference, you know the opening...(read more)

Conference Update: A Speed Bump in the Future of OT Education?

EJ Brown — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 17:24:00 GMT

It's widely known within the profession that occupational therapy has an education "problem." The issue isn't in the quality of its academics, nor in a lack of program levels or foci. The difficulty that is arising lies in how far and wide the scope of...(read more)

RA Update: International Fieldwork, Licensure Standards for Re-entry Get Favorable Comments

EJ Brown — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 02:15:00 GMT

On day 4 of the 2009 Representative Assembly, the body is still awaiting passage of Consent Agenda Y, which recommends defeat of three orginal motions with which task groups (TGs) have replaced some substitute motions. They are: Motion 1 , which would...(read more)

Join the 2009 Representative Assembly

EJ Brown — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 14:30:00 GMT

The spring RA officially opened yesterday, and role call is continuing. For those of you AOTA members who have never attended the RA at conference, this is a real opportunity to "see" and "hear" your elected reps in action. The meeting is being held on...(read more)

Little by Little

Susan Coyle — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 13:34:00 GMT

TOTA's 2008 Conference has officially ended. The OTs, OTAs and OT students who attended have returned to their homes throughout Texas, and Austin has settled back to it's normal routine.

The weekend finished just as enthusiastically as it began, with educational sessions all day Sunday. Before they began, however, many attendees settled down for breakfast and a talk with Terry Crowe, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA, who travels internationally practicing OT, teaches and regularly writes a column for ADVANCE. Her message was clear: get involved . . . on an international level.

Occupational therapy, she said, is a profession with the unique ability to facilitate change in local communities, nationally and internationally. To do this, however, OTs should branch out. If they have an interest in international work, then they should, by all means, expand their work into different countries.

To help OTs do this, Crowe provided a list of strategies to help find the best international fit for you:

1. Zero in on a country

2. Reflect on the amount of time you can commit

3. Decide whether you are looking for something voluntary or paid

4. Assess your language skills

5. Understand your comfort zone

6. Assess your strengths

Once you've narrowed down what you would like to do, Crowe recommended contacting the US WFOT delegate, the executive director of WFOT or the particular country itself (all information can be found at wfot.org). You can also use Google to find a program or contact various networks, as well.

Then, before you go, do your homework; know what you're getting in to. If you aren't prepared for a huge change of setting, take a small step first. You don't have to make a life altering change. Something small will help just as much.

Take it poco a poco, little by little or drip by drip.

The Need for OT Will Be There; Will OTs?

Susan Coyle — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 00:33:00 GMT

TOTA's 2008 Art Dilly lecture was given by Paul Fontana, OTR, FAOTA, owner and president of the Center for Work Rehabilitation Inc., who came with a powerful and important message: OTs must get involved.

The need, he said, for occupational therapy in the coming years will only increase as people live longer, the nation ages and the role of occupational therapists expands beyond the traditional. Occupational therapy will be, and is, present in places OTs never envisioned, such as salt mines, paper mills, drill ships, back education, office ergonomics . . . the list goes on. Already today occupational therapy is one of the top careers in the nation and is expected to remain that way for some while. So, there is no question that OT will be present in the future. There is, however, a question of where OTs and OTAs will be.

According to Fontana, other professions are "nibbling along the edges" of occupational therapy's scope of practice. Athletic trainers, physical therapists and therapeutic recreation therapists are all expanding their scopes of practice to involve duties and services now undertaken by occupational therapists. Should this happen further, OTs could be replaced.

How is this stopped? Action.

Fontana emphasized the need for OTs to be involved in state and national associations as well as on political levels. Currently, less than 1/3 of the OTs and OTAs in the country are members of AOTA. And that, Fontana said, needs to change. "We are in a profession," he declared, adding if OTs had simply wanted a job they could have gone to Walmart. Professionals contribute to their profession. He then listed a number ofways OTs and OTAs could make a difference in occupational therapy:

1. Join your state association and AOTA

2. Become involved

3. Attend meetings

4. Learn the issues and VOTE

5. Volunteer

6. Join the AOT political action committee

7. Find a mentor

8. Practice evidence based therapy

9. Encourage research and education

10. Go to continuing education courses that meet your needs not just fulfill a requirement

And most importantly, "Don't EVER lose that passion." Find that niche, get involved and help occupational therapy fulfill its promise to help others live life to the fullest.

TOTA's Start, with More to Come

Susan Coyle — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 16:22:00 GMT

The Texas Occupational Therapy Association (TOTA) Mountain Central Conference in Austin is well into its first day, with the second round of educational sessions already underway. Right now, exhibitors are setting up in the exhibit hall, awaiting the 12 o'clock opening, and Texas OTs, OTAs, and OT students are gearing up for a day full of networking, learning and fun.

This morning I attended a session on students with emotional disturbances and their behaviors as perceived by themselves, their teachers and their parents/guardians. The discussion not only revealed some interesting findings about how a student's perspective often differs from those of his/her parents and teacher's, but also delved into how best to help students with emotional disturbances cope and/or problem solve while in the school setting and at home. Several OTs had great suggestions for helping students:

One described how students she worked with were given broken hearts where they wrote what, throughout the course of the day, had hurt them as well as band aids where they wrote how to mend the hurt and then taped the band aids atop of the heart.

In terms of goal setting, one of the speakers, Sandra Whisner, MA, OTR, mentioned a colleague working in a psychiatric setting who had created a goal setting coffee shop. Every morning, over baked goods, patients are given a menu of possible goals from which they chose. It allows them to choose not only goals but realistic ones that they can feasibly achieve in the future.

OTs at the session also discussed difficulties sometimes faced with other staff members, particularly at the start of a new school year, when a child transitions to a new room and new teacher - a time when it can be difficult to carry on with what was established the previous spring if the new setting and group of professionals aren't as open to the methods used to help the child.

Overall, the session was a great way to start what should be a great weekend - with problems openly discussed and solutions just as openly shared.

This afternoon holds the Art Dilly Lecture, the TOTA business meeting and a reception following, so stay tuned for more from Austin.

AOTA Board & Specialty Certification: Why & How

Jessica LaGrossa — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 23:14:00 GMT

This afternoon I attended AOTA's presentation on board and specialty certification by Pamela Roberts, PhD, OTR/L, SCFES, CPHQ, FAOTA; Winifred Schultz-Krohn, PhD, OTR/L, SWC, BCP, FAOTA; and Deborah Pitts, MBA, OTR/L, CPRP.

It is an area that can be confusing and intimidating to occupational therapists. Most of those in attendance have been in practice for 10 years or less and are in the beginning stages of investigating the possibilities specialty certification.

Many OTs wonder, "Why should I seek out AOTA certification?" Good question! The presenters explained that the current practice environment requires more and more that OTs be able to communicate the immediate effectiveness of interventions and demonstrate continuous professional growth. AOTA board and specialty certification provides formal recognition for practitioners who have engaged in a voluntary process of ongoing professional development and gain improved client outcomes.

Clinicians may seek out specialty certification for personal accomplishment, professional recognition, and/or advancement.

And, as an added bonus, one of the presenters pointed out that some organizations will give a bump in salary as long as you maintain your specialty certification!

So, now that you know why it can be as asset to seek AOTA certifications, you must figure out what you should specialize in.

Areas of board certification:

Gerontology (BCG)
Mental Health (BCMH)
Pediatrics (BCP)
Physical Rehabilitation (BCPR)

Areas of specialty certification:

Driving and Community Mobility (OT: SCDCM; OTR: SCADCM)
Environmental Modification (OT: SCEM; OTR: SCAEM)
Feeding, Eating, and Swallowing (OT: SCFES; OTR: SCAFES)
Low Vision (OT: SCLV; OTR: SCALV)

"You will earn letters to go after your name, and no one will know what they mean," pointed out a Schultz-Krohn, "so you will have to tell them. So it's a great opportunity to educate others!"

Now, here are the basic requirements...

Minimal Initial Requirements for Board Certification:

5 years as an OT
5,000 hour experience in OT in certification area in the last 7 calendar years
500 hours experience direct delivery of OT services in the certification area in the last 5 calendar years

Minimum Initial Requirements for Specialty Certification:

2,000 hours as an OT or OTA
600 hours experience in the last 5 calendar years of direct delivery of OT services in the specific specialty area

Criteria (used to be called indicators) required to meet each competency are based on the Standards for Continuing Competence and identify the:

knowledge
critical reasoning
interpersonal skills
performance skills
ethical reasoning

The application process is based on peer-review and includes demonstration of relevant experience, a reflective portfolio and ongoing professional development.

Demonstration of relevant experience can be proven via employee verification forms. You may have as many forms as many different employers as needed to document the required hours. Volunteer service delivery may also be included. (this is a form that you fill out)

Your reflective portfolio must include physical evidence verifying and supporting the professional development activities that you submit to demonstrate achievement of he competencies and their criteria. It should also include one reflection for each competency that describes how the activities demonstrate how you meet the competency and criteria; influenced the way you practice; and affected the outcomes your clients had.

"A portfolio was chosen rather than a test because individuals can test at a high level, but may not be practicing at a broad level," explained Schultz-Krohn.

Hints to creating a portfolio:

collect evidence of participation in professional development that best demonstrates how you meet the competencies and criterion
make sure all required evidence is included
write a reflection for each competency

Ongoing professional development includes a self-assessment in which you must describe your current practice in relation to the certification and how you envision your practice area changing in the future as well as what you have discovered that you want to learn more about in relation to the competencies. In addition, this section includes a professional development plan in which you establish 1 measurable goal for each of the Standards for Continuing Competencies.

"This is your chance to express what will best help you and your clients," Schultz-Krohn said of the reflective portfolio. "It is a treatment plan for yourself."

And as far as being overwhelmed by the process, Pitts told attendees, "It is important to remember that the work that you do to meet NBCOT, board certification, state licensing, etc requirements is the same work...the same activity that allows you to meet all of these criteria can be presented to all these different venues. You are already doing all of this."

The presenters provided some pointers for attendees for pulling together evidence.

Evidence Do's:

have at least 1 activity for every criterion and competency
ensure that all evidence is relevant to the assigned criterion and competency
include a minimum of 5 activity categories across the competencies
label, label, label your evidence

Evidence Don'ts:

don't use a single activity for more than 4 different criterion
don't give a single piece of evidence more than 1 label when entering it in the application (for example, a "presentation" can not also be a "program development)
don't include an excessive amount of evidence

The persenters also suggested to "focus" when getting started!

F.O.C.U.S.:

F: frame the context of the competency and each criterion by reading the client outcome

O: objectify thoughts by identifying key words

C: clarify key words by using the application glossary and the OT Practice Framework

U: unmask personal biases and put them aside so they don't inappropriately influence your interpretation

S: summarize and synthesize your interpretation of the competency and the criteria by validating them against each other.

Now, are you interested in becoming board or specialty certified by AOTA? If so, applications may be submitted in either June or December of each year and are peer reviewed by 2 or more trained reviewers who are also AOTA Board or Specialty certified. Certifications are renewed every 5 years. The first renewal cycle requires a full peer review of a reduced application (2 indicators per competency); all other renewals are by random audit.

Please note that there are upcoming changes for 2009: (effective June 2009 submissions)

Competencies and criteria will be reduced and streamlined so that there is a are 4-6 competencies for each certification and between 28-32 indicators.
A reduced number of narrative reflections, from 13 to no more than 6.
Special certification will do a self-assessment and professional development plan.

If you have additional questions (and I totally understand if you do!) you can use the following contact infomation:

www.aota.org/certification

prodev@aota.org

1-800-SAY-AOTA ext. 2838

Clark's Keynote Address was "Powerful"!

Jessica LaGrossa — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 15:54:00 GMT

OTAC president Shawn Phipps welcomed attendees saying, "I hope this weekend gives you [empowering] skills." Phipps recognized conference committee members, esteemed colleagues, and the many students in the room telling them, "You are the future of OT!"

Phipps then introduced the first honoree of OTAC's annual conference charity program, Rebuilding Together, a nonprofit organization providing free rehabilitation and critical repairs to the homes of low-income families. The past and current president of the organization was presented with a check of donation by OTAC members.

Phipps then introduced keynote speaker Florence Clark, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA, associate dean of the USC Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, who received a very warm welcome from her fellow OTAC members. Clark told the room that she arrived in CA 32 years ago just as OTAC was coning together and has been a member every since.

Clark's address centered on the need for power in the field of occupational therapy to ultimately see AOTA's Centennial Vision-the roadmap for where the profession wants and needs to be in 2017-to fruition.

Clark pointed out the 7 keywords/phrases within the Centennial Vision Statement:

Powerful

Widely recognized

Science driven

Evidence-based

Globally connected and diverse workforce

Occupational needs

These keywords/phrases represent a formula to better meet society's occupational needs, said Clark. "Power," she said, "is an attribute we must all cultivate."

Powerful, the first keyword in the Vision, is, according to Clark, means occupational therapists want a leadership role, to be proactive in policy and regulation, to grow community based practices, and to be on the cutting edge in technology.

Being powerful, she added, means you:

are able to exert great influence
have political strnength
command respect
can protect yourself from hostile takeovers by other professions

Clark told the audience, "the professional practice arena is a battlefield, and most professions engage in turf war." She pointed out the loss of OT presence in mental health as one area in which the profession lost its turf. In 1970 18% of OTs worked in mental health. Today there are only 3.4% due mostly to deinstitutionalization during the 80s which resulted in an 85% decrease in mental health beds. OTs did not follow into other areas of mental health and counselors took their spots. "We did not protect our claim in this area," Clark declared.

On the flip side, Clark pointed out Jean Ayres work in sensory integration and her identification of SI therapy, which was ultimately claimed as a new OT professional jurisdiction. "OTs were slow to catch on," said Clark. "Competitive groups disingenuously attacked...and it took a decade for OT to establish grass roots soldiers and another 5 years to collect parent advocates who trumped all moves by competing professionals." This victory opened up many doors for OTs in school-based therapy. In 1970 only 11% of OTs were employed by school systems. Today that number has grown to 31%!

"Now," said Clark at this point in her address, "how do we become powerful?"

First, she said OTs must become comfortable with power. Then, she pointed out, the profession can use the power effectively and ethically.

Clark closed with some important directives for OTs:

"Don't only knock on big doors, think big! Seek out, find and embrace your power. The stature of OT is growing everyday, and...I predict that the golden age of OT will first be realized here in the golden state!"

To officially end the keynote address, Phipps surprised Clark and attendees by presenting Clark with an early award...the 2008 president's award. I think Phipps was so energized by Clark's address that he simply couldn't wait until Saturday night to hand it over to Clark!

Occupational Therapy Training Program: School-based Mental Health Services for Youth

Jessica LaGrossa — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 17:27:00 GMT

Early this morning I attended the "School-based Mental Health Services for the Adolescents within the Public Mental Health System" presented by Sarah Bream, MA, OTR/L, OTD, the division director of special services for groups with Los Angeles County's Occupational Therapy Training Program (OTTP).

Founded in 1975, OTTP is a nonprofit agency that provides mental-health services to at-risk youth and their families, predominantly in the South Los Angeles and South Bay areas.

Several students and a handful of mental health providers attended the session to learn more about how OTTP works with youth in need of school-based mental health services.

Bream shared that south LA-which has the highest unemployment rate in the state and accounts for 26% of the state's felonies-needs the most services. She went on to explain that the key role for OTs in this area is to help students get to school, to stay safe in school and to be motivated to learn and stay in school.

OTTP is supported and funded through the following:

Mental Health Services Act/Prop 63 (2004)-

MHSA is an asset to OTTP and provides the opportunity for the California Department of Mental Health (DMH) to "provide increased funding, personnel and other resources to support county mental health programs and monitor progress toward statewide goals for children, transition age youth, adults, older adults and families. The Act addresses a broad continuum of prevention, early intervention and service needs and the necessary infrastructure, technology and training elements that will effectively support this system." For more information, click here.

Early and Periodic Screening, Treatment, and Diagnosis:

EPSDT funds the OTTP program and "is for children and young people, under 21 years of age, who have full-scope Medi-Cal." For more information, click here.

Traditional key providers in the LA County Department of Mental Health (DMH) structure include licensed clinical social workers (LCSWs), psychiatrists, psychologists, and marriage & family therapists...not OTs.

Qualified Mental Health Providers (QMHP) act as diagnosticians in the state of CA and authorize the client care plan. These are LCSWs, psychologists, psychiatrists, and registered nurses...currently, OTs are not classified as QMHPs. (Lobbying for qualification continues.) Therefore, OT's care plans must be cosigned by a LCSW.

OTs are typically defined as mental health rehab specialists (MHRS), which requires:

BA/BS degree + 4 yrs experience in a mental health setting as a specialist in the fields of physical restoration, social adjustment, or vocational adjustment
MA/MS degree in social services field

OTs can:

Initiate intakes
Establish goals on care plan
Provide OT intervention
Provide case management
Function as head of service over an EPSDT provider's contract
Function as program head within DMH

OTTP school-based mental health services had 458 new admissions in 2007-2008 with a total of 1100 youth and families served yearly.

Bream shared the challenges that OTTP face:

Barriers to access

Eligibility criteria (must be under Medi-Cal)

Funding for services

Indigent

Undocumented

Travel
Documentation
Communication

Bream said that OTs can overcome these challenges by working as a collaborator with the following:

youth and family
teachers/administrators
interdisciplinary team
probation officer
outside agency
funding source
county liaisons

OTTP addresses several needs among youth, including:

safety from community violence
freedom from abuse and domestic violence
skills to succeed in school
meaningful occupations to replace gang/criminal activity
preparation for future employment
coping skills
self esteem
respectful communication with authority figure
anger management
stress management
opportunities to identify new interests
opportunities to engage in occupation
exposure to possibilities
exposure to the bigger world
ability to establish goals for the future
transition to adulthood

Bream finished up her presentation by sharing case studies complete with videos of OTTP success stories. It was inspirational to watch the youth go from quiet, withdrawn students to confident, ambitious young adults through the incredible efforts of occupational therapists!

For more information on OTTP, call 310-323-6887.

ADVANCE is in sunny southern California!

Jessica LaGrossa — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 13:34:00 GMT

ADVANCE arrived in Ontario yesterday afternoon in anticipation of the Occupational Therapy Association of California's 32nd annual conference. While this is my first experience at OTAC, I immediately began to recognize familiar faces when I checked into my room at the hotel's front desk. I exchanged hellos with OTs that I have chatted with between sessions at AOTA national conferences, shared shuttles with to and from airports, and bumped into in exhibit halls.

Today I plan to attend a couple of interesting sessions and am looking forward to Florence Clark's keynote address. Clark (associate dean and chairperson of the USC division of occupational science and occupational therapy) will be discussing the possibilites of OTAC as a power engine for making AOTA's centennial vision happen. The keynote will be followed by the exhibit hall grand opening where the ADVANCE booth will feature several items from our healthcare shop. If you are attending the conference, be sure to stop by and say hello!

Check back for updates and coverage of the conference!

Jessica

Welcome to the Pennsylvania OT Association Conference!

Jill Glomstad — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 16:18:00 GMT

500 Pennsylvania OTs and OTAs are meeting today and tomorrow (Oct. 3 & 4) at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in King of Prussia, PA.

The conference kicked off with the opening greetings and keynote speech. Outgoing POTA president Sharon Kurfuerst welcomed a packed room to the 31^st annual POTA conference. Not only was this one of the best turnouts the association has seen in a few years in terms of attendees, but also in terms of exhibitors, with 47 companies in the exhibit hall. Kurfuerst also thanked the conference's several gold-level sponsors, including Austill's Rehabilitation Services, Chatham University, the Centers for Rehab Services, Genesis Rehab Services, Jefferson College of Health Professions, Moss Rehab, Pediatric Therapeutic Services and Somerset Medical Center. Thanks to these sponsors, Kurfuerst told the crowd, POTA has not had to raise its conference prices in six years. She also reminded attendees to consider contributing to the association's political action committee (PAC). Thanks to the PAC's work, the association is fairly confident that a bill currently in the legislature, which would make OT a reimbursable provider under Blue Shield, will likely get passed this coming Monday.

Becky Austill, founder of Austill's Rehabilitation Services in southeastern Pennsylvania, introduced the keynote speakers. This was one of the most unique keynote presentations I've seen at any OT conference I've attended. Catherine Riley is a 32-year-old woman with Down syndrome. She, along with her sister Molly Riley-Cygan and their mother, Nola Riley, told the audience about their family's experience of "Growing UP with Down Syndrome." The talk was a realistic yet inspirational look at the challenges as well as the successes the Rileys have faced over the years.

"Probably my biggest challenge was realizing and accepting that I have Down syndrome," Catherine told the OTs assembled. That challenge takes on a poignant meaning when you also learn that Catherine graduated from high school at 18 - the only person with Down syndrome at her school -- and entered the workforce immediately after.

Today, Catherine is a teacher's aide at Hazleton Area School District. She works with first and second grade students, both regular education and special education, many of whom speak English as a second language. She began preparing for the working world while still in high school. Her IEP team, through her mother's insistence, put together a special program called Kopy Klatch - Catherine learned to make and collate copies, deliver them to teachers in the school, and perform many other office-related tasks.

Molly told the group that she firmly believes her sister Catherine's success is due at least in part to the family not treating Catherine like she was any different. "Treating anyone with a disability with kid gloves is doing him or her a great disservice in my opinion." She also stressed that professionals working with people with disabilities should remember that the disability affects the entire family unit.

Nola Riley, Catherine's mother, recounted the challenges she and her husband faced over the years, many of which revolved around fighting for Catherine to have the best opportunities in school. For example, when Catherine was ready to start high school, the principal of the school did not want Catherine to attend because, in his experience with students with disabilities, he didn't think she would succeed there. Within a few months, the principal called Nola back to apologize, telling her that Catherine had taught him not to prejudge any students with disabilities before giving them a chance.

Nola also shared several strategies and lessons she feels have helped Catherine become successful over the years:

Treat every person with disabilities normally, if you do he or she will surprise you.
Have high expectations for the people with disabilities you treat.
Don't make excuses for them.
Do everything possible to make sure they do not stick out for dress or behavior.
Know and teach age-appropriate behavior.
Blend: people who stick out for the wrong reason will be targeted.
Make sure everyone you work with has self confidence and is not afraid to take on challenges.
All people are individuals.
Unacceptable behavior must be corrected if possible.

Catherine also shared some of her philosophies, which reflect the success her mother and sister feel she has achieved:

Can't is a non-existent word.
Believe in yourself.
Find the goodness in people.
What is, is! Face it and get on with life.

"Being an adult with Down syndrome is no different from being an adult without Down syndrome," she told the OTs present. "No one has a perfect life." Catherine feels her life is pretty great - she made honors almost every semester in high school, she loves her job, she travels with her family, she has friends and a social life, she is active in her church, she writes poetry and has had it published, she is an inspirational speaker, she is an aunt and godmother, she was in both her brother's and her sister's weddings, she went to her senior prom.

Catherine has achieved many of her goals, and has accomplished more than her family ever expected. She's a great inspiration for OTs to always look for the potential that all of your clients are capable of.

With such a great start, the POTA conference is sure to bring many more great experiences. Stay tuned for more live updates from the conference!

Great Achievements

Jill Glomstad — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 03:25:00 GMT

I attended several sessions today at the Autism Society of America's conference. First was a presentation by Zosia Zaks, MA, MEd. She has Aspergers, and now works with adolescents who are on the autism spectrum. She reviewed a number of social strategies she uses for adolescents and young adults to help them cope with social challenges they face. Many social skills interventions available aren't that great -- they may have questionable research methodologies (eg, measuring social improvement based solely on parent report), or kids have a hard time generalizing the skills outside the skills-training setting, or kids may have immediate gains but then lose them over time, or the strategies are geared toward young children, not adolescents. She provided a number of strategies she uses and how they can work for adolescents to keep them safe in social situations, even when they have difficulties understanding non-verbal social cues. Check out her website at www.autismability.com.

Next was a presentation by two successful adults who have Asperger's on how they have learned to cope with and succeed despite their disorders. Lars Perner, PhD, discussed how he's overcome difficulties with driving, and dealing with still being single. Julie Herndon, OTR/L, BCP -- an OT with Asperger's! -- only found she had the condition four years ago, though she told the audience that she has known "something was up" since childhood. She gave an A-Z list of her coping strategies, including doing jigsaw puzzles, driving a manual transmission car, and practicing ki Aikido.

Finally, I listened to representatives from Indiana, Ohio, Connecticut and California talk about policy issues at the state level. In Indiana they recently passed a bill requiring autism training for EMS personnel. The Ohio legislature recently passed a Medicaid buy-in law, which allows people on Medicaid to work and still retain their Medicaid coverage by buying into the program on a sliding scale. They also passed an Autism Screening Pilot bill that will allocate $800,000 over two years to train physicians and other providers on screening for autism and other developmental disorders. In Connecticut they are excited about the newly passed insurance mandate that will require insurance policies to provide OT, PT and speech therapy for children with autism at the same level as they cover the services for other medical conditions. In California, the state's Blue Ribbon Commission on Autism proposed 15 bills to further services for children with autism, including an insurance mandate bill, a law enforcement training bill and a special education bill. All 15 are under consideration in the legislature and so far all are unopposed.

The autism community -- both those "on the spectrum" as well as the "neurotypicals" who advocate for them (I'm also learning the autism community's lingo) -- is really accomplishing a lot!