Session: Remixing OT: Moving Toward Prevention and Primary Care in the Community Jennifer graduated from Creighton University's Doctor of Occupational Therapy program at their Denver/Regis Pathway in Spring 2020. In her past professional life, Jennifer was a Youth Treatment Counselor and Special Education Teacher at a residential treatment facility here in Denver. Jennifer turned to OT to gain a deeper and more clinical understanding of function and how to best support an optimal quality of life in her clients. Two years ago, Jennifer completed her Doctoral Capstone Experience at the DAWN clinic in Aurora. Today she is their OT Director.
Session: Collaborating for Success: Establishing Relationships as Part of the Occupational Therapy Entrepreneurial Process Jenny received her OTD from Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska in 2012. She is the co-owner of Thrive! Therapy, which is a mobile outpatient therapy provider in the Denver metro area specializing in treating older adults with an emphasis on wellness and holistic care. She also currently works as adjunct faculty in Creighton University’s distance OTD program at Regis University. She has extensive training in working with individuals affected by Parkinson’s disease including LSVT BIG and PWR! techniques.
Session: Collaborating for Success: Establishing Relationships as Part of the Occupational Therapy Entrepreneurial Process
Session: Rejuvenation Activity - Dance: Rock Your Body...Therapeutically!
Session: The Role of Occupational Therapy in Refugee Resettlement Hayley graduated from Colorado State University with her Masters in Occupational Therapy and has been a practicing OT for six years. In December of 2021, she began working at the African Community Center as an Intensive Case Manager. Hayley reports learning about emerging practice fields in the profession during graduate school and took interest in the refugee resettlement setting. Since starting this job under the title of “case manager”, she has found a plethora of ways she is using her OT skills to help individuals gain independence in their new community. It is her dream to foster and help grow the role of OT in refugee resettlement and is excited to start taking Level I students in this setting in the fall.
Session: Reconnecting with Occupation: How to Facilitate the Whole-Child IEPs within the Schools Beth is the host of The Parent IEP Lab podcast and founder of The IEP Lab, an organization that provides online education for parents of children with disabilities to get an effective IEP (individualized education program) for their child without fighting with the school. Beth has worked as an equine based therapist in studies through CSU, has worked in early intervention, outpatient clinic and home based outpatient services, and schools serving on the Child Find team all the way up to the 18-21 programs. Through her school experience, she saw inequity in parents ability to advocate for a quality IEP for their child and now teaches parents a 4-step process to effectively advocate for their children within the schools through online workshops and interactive, supportive online courses.
Session: Driving and Anxiety: How Anxiety Affects Driving and Techniques for Management Kathryn is an occupational therapist with 30+ years of experience. Throughout her career she has had the pleasure and the honor of helping countless patients increase their independence in a wide variety of areas. For the past 3 years she has worked in the field of Driver Rehabilitation, and she is in the process of becoming a Certified Driver Rehabilitation Specialist. She is also an AARP Car-Fit technician as well as a Home-Fit presenter. Kathryn has extensive experience in low tech adaptive equipment for driving and is passionate about improving quality of life for her patients. She has given numerous presentations about driving fitness to doctors, assisted living facilities, the Parkinson’s Association of the Rockies, amputee support groups and rehabilitation professionals.
Session: Farm Fresh: A Virtual Farm Visit and Assessment Carla is an occupational therapist with 26 years of experience in delivering services to rural and agricultural communities. She is currently Program Director and Assistant Professor at Colorado Mesa University in the Master of Science in Occupational Therapy program. She has certifications in home modifications and agricultural health and safety. Carla previously served as Project Manager for state AgrAbility Projects in Colorado and Oklahoma and continues serving the National AgrAbility Project as an advisor and consultant. Her post-professional doctorate of occupational therapy is from Creighton University-Omaha, Master of Nonprofit Management from Regis University, Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy from the University of New Mexico.
Session: Art as a Therapeutic Tool in Occupational Therapy Session: Use of Pre-Visit Materials to Improve the Museum Experience for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder Session: A Survey of Assistive Technology Preferences for Museum Visitors with Sensory Impairment Jennifer is an Assistant Professor in the Occupational Therapy program at Colorado Mesa University. Dr. Fortuna has a PhD in Interdisciplinary Health Sciences from Western Michigan University. She is the Art Editor at the Open Journal of Occupational Therapy (OJOT). Dr. Fortuna’s research interests include health literacy, visual impairment, accessibility, and universal design. She has published in national and international journals and facilitated presentations around the world.
Session: Fostering Intraprofessional Collaboration: OT/OTA Abi is the Academic Fieldwork Coordinator in the Occupational Therapy Assistant Program at Pima Medical Institute Las Vegas, and her clinical expertise is in pediatrics, specifically hippotherapy. Her love of the profession, and especially advocating for occupational therapy assistants, has led to many volunteer positions and pursuing the growth of her leadership skills. As a participant in the AOTA Emerging Leaders Program in 2016, her excitement for leadership within the profession expanded. Abi currently serves on the Illinois Leadership Development Committee, as the ILOTA Awards Chair, and AOTA’s Representative Assembly OTA-Representative, hoping to increase the national voice and engagement for all OTA members across the country. She is a participant in the AOTA Scholarship of Teaching and Learning for 2022-2023.
Session: Addressing Equipment Abandonment Using the Trans-Theoretical Mode Scott is an occupational therapy student and President of OTech at CSU. Scott's level II fieldwork was in complex rehab technology and has interests in assistive technology and working in ASD communities. The work Scott is presenting is a research project he did to aid his fieldwork instructor in presenting relevant evidence-based processes for equipment recommendations to avoid discontinuation of use and ineffective technology.
Session: Use of Pre-Visit Materials to Improve the Museum Experience for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Session: The Impact of Outdoor Camp on Behavioral Regulation and Praxis in Children Emily is a recent Colorado State University MSOT graduate interested in nature-based therapy, emerging settings, community accessibility, and pediatrics. Emily completed a thesis at CSU with her advisors, Shelly J. Lane, Ph.D., OTR, FAOTA, Anita C. Bundy, ScD, OTR, FAOTA, and Hannah Burke, OTR/L, MSOT, on the impact of an intensive outdoor camp on behavioral regulation and praxis in children. Emily completed her final fieldwork in August 2022, at a nature-based pediatric outpatient clinic in Washington state.
Session: Occupational Therapy and the Assessment of Sleep Disorders – Let’s Learn Together! Natalie began working at The Center for Community Partnerships in 2014 after achieving her master’s degree in Occupational Therapy (OT), with an undergrad in biology, from Colorado State University (CSU). She specializes in behavioral sleep treatments with advanced training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBTI), which is the gold standard treatment today (not medications). Natalie developed and leads the Sleep Services Program out of CSU which treats the Northern Colorado community with chronic insomnia and other sleep disturbances. She has trained/consulted for many other providers and co-developed a 2.5-day CBTI course offered year-round through CSU. Lastly, Natalie was sought out and asked to be part of a national CBTI providers group called “CBTI Jedi Masters”, which has expert level CBTI providers doing grant work.
Session: More Than Playdough: Multi-Sensory Play to Support Executive Functioning, Praxis, and Sensory Exploration for Pediatric Clients Julie is a pediatric occupational therapist at Children's Hospital Colorado. Julie was born and raised in New Jersey and moved to Colorado in 2019. She received her Bachelor of Therapeutic Studies, Master of Occupational Therapy, and Post-Professional Doctorate in Occupational Therapy from Boston University. Julie’s occupational therapy experience ranges from pediatric outpatient clinics, schools, and home health. She has advanced training in DIRFloorime and enjoys using play and relationships to guide therapy sessions. Julie also has extensive training in sensory processing from STAR Institute.
Session: More Than Playdough: Multi-Sensory Play to Support Executive Functioning, Praxis, and Sensory Exploration for Pediatric Clients Brittany is pediatric occupational therapist at Children’s Hospital Colorado. She completed her Bachelor of Arts degree in Athletic Training and Dance at Denison University and earned a Master of Occupational Therapy from Chatham University. Brittany’s OT career spans early intervention, outpatient pediatric clinics, private and public schools, and multidisciplinary evaluation teams. She is a basic DIRFloortime provider and is trained in feeding therapy through the Sequential Oral Sensory Approach, Feeding Littles, and Melanie Potock’s Picky Eater course.
Session: Crafting and Occupational Therapy Practice Framework: Domain and Process 4 (OTPF-4) Amy is a retired occupational therapist. Her main area of practice was OTA education and most recently, she was the OTA program director at Pima Medical Institute, Denver Campus. Her clinical background is in behavioral health. To continue her activity with the profession, Amy serves as an accreditation reviewer for AOTA, is a new educator mentor with the Academic Education Special Interest Section, and consults with education regarding accreditation, curriculum development, and other education topics.
Session: Equity, Diversity, Justice, and Inclusiveness in OT in Colorado: An Interactive Dialog with OTAC Session: Rejuvenation Activity - YOGA Amanda is an inpatient rehabilitation supervisor with fifteen years of clinical experience and a demonstrated history of empathetic and strategic leadership. She currently leads a team of diverse and highly skilled therapists at UCHealth’s University of Colorado Hospital, a large academic medical center in Aurora, CO. Amanda is dedicated to measuring outcomes in acute care and grateful for academic partners helping to achieve this through research. When not working, Amanda loves to cook while her husband plays piano and their daughter dances with their Australian Shepherd who enjoys standing guard over it all.
Session: Rejuvenation Activity - Self Compassion Exercises Linda is the current president of OTAC and has been an occupational therapist for over 30 years. Linda spent the first 10 years of her career specializing in brain injury and stroke rehabilitation and has also been a complex seating and positioning specialist. She most recently owned a community based private practice, Brave Therapy, specializing in working with people with complex pain conditions. Linda is one of a handful of OTs certified as a facilitator of Brené Brown’s Daring Greatly™ and Rising Strong™ resilience curricula. She regularly presents locally, nationally, and internationally on person-centered pain care and has been a keynote presenter for OT conferences on becoming courageous leaders in our profession.
Session: Panel: OTAC Legislative and Advocacy Activities Victoria Warnaar, OTD, OTR/L Session: A Survey of Assistive Technology Preferences for Museum Visitors with Sensory Impairment
Session: Innovations in Occupational Therapy Practice During COVID-19 Lyndsay is a Senior Occupational Therapist currently in her 9th year at University of Colorado Hospital. Her clinical experience at UCH spans multiple units, with the majority of her clinical experience being in critical care. Her clinical and research interests include ICU rehabilitation, delirium management, post-intensive care syndrome, and utilization of the ICU Diary. Katie Freeman, MS, OTR/L Session: Innovations in Occupational Therapy Practice During COVID-19
Session: Accessible Systems - Accessibility Solutions Help Discharged Patients Remain Safe at Home Amy is the marketing director of Accessible Systems and has dedicated her passion for barrier free living and universal design to helping people of all ages in all stages of life. Accessible Systems is certified as a CAPS, CLIPP, CEAC professional and licensed as a General Contractor, Elevator Contractor, Accessibility Lift Contractor, Medicaid Contractor and VA Contractor and adaptive technology certifications, which is a unique background for today’s needs. For the past 12 years, Amy has helped thousands of Colorado families with creative home modifications designs to overcome virtually every disability and remain in the comfort of their home. Amy has sat on a separate non-profit board, the Chanda Plan Foundation since 2014. Amy joined the Chanda Center for Health Board of Directors in 2019 after sitting on the foundation board for 7 years and is now the Secretary. Shaun Conway, OTR – Exhibitor Presenter Session: NBCOT - Your National OTR or COTA Credential: What It Means for You Shaun is a certified occupational therapist who currently serves as Vice President, External and Regulatory Affairs for the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy, Inc. (NBCOT®) where he has worked for over 28 years. In this capacity, he is currently responsible for the oversight of organizational functions related to state regulation, international regulatory services and community outreach. Jerry De La Fuente – Exhibitor Presenter Session: The OT Practitioner’s Integral Role in Finger and Partial-Hand Prosthetic Intervention Ashley Arnold, MA – Exhibitor Presenter Session: Assessing Sensory Processing and Integration Across the Life Span Ashley is an Assessment Consultant with Western Psychological Services (WPS). She has 17 years of public-school experience supervising practicum students, interns, trainees, and school psychologists in several public schools in Texas. Ashley is a Past President of the Texas Association of School Psychologists and has served on the Executive Board in a variety of roles for close to 20 years. Ashley is currently the Co-Chair for the National Association of School Psychologists’ Assistance to States committee, as well as a member of the National/State Credentialing Committee. In addition, she is the current Texas Delegate for NASP. Ashley is a certified PREPaRE School Crisis Prevention and Intervention trainer. Her passions are assessment, supervision and advocating for school psychological services.
Session: Panel: Non-Clinical OT Jobs: What You Want to Know from People Who are Doing It! Chris has always appreciated exploring the diverse opportunities his OT education has provided. His Non-clinical roles include starting an online ergonomics business, serving as an ergonomic evaluator for a large tech company, working as a splinting & casting consultant for canine rehabilitation, teaching continuing education courses, and starting a free continuing education group. This augments the work he has done in hand therapy, acute rehab, acute medical/ICU, and community based care. Authored works include a chapter in the American Society of Hand Therapists’ Test Prep for the CHT Exam and multiple professional magazine articles. He has taught OT for 12 years, served as an Academic Fieldwork Coordinator, and currently serves as the Program Director of the OTA Program at Pima Medical Institute.
Session: OT’s Role in Pediatric Pelvic Health: Defecation Disorders Quiara has been practicing as an Occupational Therapist for over 12 years working in various settings including hospitals, schools, an equine center providing hippotherapy as a treatment tool, and outpatient clinics. Her pediatric experience encompasses serving infants, toddlers, children, and adolescents with various medical conditions and diagnoses. Realizing the social, emotional, and psychological challenges that pelvic floor dysfunction places on children and families, Quiara decided to niche down her private practice to exclusively treat children and adolescents with pelvic floor dysfunction and toileting challenges. Quiara opened the first boutique private pediatric pelvic health OT clinic in the US, located in the SF Bay Area. Quiara utilizes a holistic and integrative approach to pediatric pelvic floor dysfunction.
Session: Myofascial Self-Care for Occupational Therapy Practitioners Amy is the owner of Mayer Wellness & Myofascial Release and an advanced myofascial release practitioner using the Barnes technique. She combines thirty years of treating clients with her doctorate level training as an occupational therapist, and certifications in yoga, holistic stress management, and natural movement. During her twenty-year career in higher education Amy has been recognized by her peers for excellence in teaching, and leadership in wellness programming. Her passion is educating health practitioners and the public about the role of fascia in health and how keeping your fascia healthy creates a resilient and functional body.
Session: Avoidant-Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID): OT’s Emerging Role in This Feeding and Eating Disorder Diagnosis Tanya graduated with a B.S. in Occupational Therapy from CSU and then continued her education receiving a post-professional Doctorate of Occupational Therapy from Creighton University. Over the past 25 years, Tanya's practice has evolved. Since receiving her OTD, she focused my practice on adolescent and young adult care with a specific interest in working with individuals' mental, emotional, and cognitive skills with a special interest in how executive functioning skills impact the daily functioning abilities of adolescents and young adults. In addition, Tanya developed advanced interest and knowledge in the assessment and treatment of Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFIDS). Tanya also earned the AOTA Board Certification in Pediatrics and Mental Health. In addition to her clinical work, Tanya teaches in the mental health and pediatrics labs in the Entry Level OTD program for Creighton University’s Regis University Pathway. |
Thank you to this year's OTAC conference sponsors and exhibitors! |
ABOUT OTACOTAC is the Occupational Therapy Association of Colorado. It is a non-profit organization that strives to increase the quality of care and level of professionalism to the practice of OT in Colorado. Have a feedback or need more help? Email: info@otacco.org |