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RESOURCES & DISCIPLINES Bring This Course to You!
This special event weekend was developed to go beyond the basics of vision. Featuring recently published authors and longtime vision practitioners, this event shares the knowledge needed to help you more efficiently utilize evidenced-based techniques to treat visual dysfunction no matter what your practice area.
Using an Integrative OT/VT Model to Treat Concussion - Alicia Reiser PPOTD, MS OTR/L, CBIS, ADHD-CRP
Trying to meet all of the rehab needs of those suffering from a concussion or developmental disability can be daunting, and commonly patients are treated piecemeal by many different providers. This Intermediate level course introduces you to a model of occupational therapy and optometry working together to meet the entire needs of the person, with occupational therapy at the helm of function and optometry at the helm of vision. Participants will learn how to use this model to combine vision remediation tools, directed by optometry, with integrative concepts of using the vagus nerve, interoception awareness and function to significantly improve your rehab outcomes and your patient’s performance. By occupational therapy and optometry working together, the roles of play, school, work, sport and leisure can improve faster to get your clients back to life. Physical, Occupational and Speech therapists, in addition to optometrists, pediatricians and any concussion providers, will all benefit from a deeper understanding of the functional role of the visual system in their patient's performance, regardless of age or diagnosis.
Interoception: Using An Interoceptive-Based Approach To Improve Vision-based Functional Deficits - Meghan Chemidlin OTD, MS OTR/L
Have you ever noticed your eyes moving, your heart racing, your skin sweating or your head pounding? Do you know how you are able to feel these things? It’s thanks to our eighth sensory system known as interoception. Interoception is the ability to recognize and perceive physiological body signals. This sense is gathering information from your entire body to determine how your body feels. When one has difficulties recognizing or understanding these body signals, it can lead to several difficulties and deficits. Research shows however, it can be improved. This introductory course will introduce the learners to interoception and describe how it can impact one’s performance, including those with vision deficits. The course will also review how poor interoceptive awareness can lead to difficulties recognizing emotions and cause difficulties with regulation, further impacting one's ability. The participants will learn how they can implement an interoceptive-based intervention into practice to help improve a patient's performance, specifically with vision related functional deficits, as well as identify other benefits to improving interoceptive awareness.
Understanding Visual Spatial Deficits for Improved Therapeutic Outcomes - Amber Fessler OTD, MS, OTR/L
Visual-spatial processing is vital for many daily life activities from mobility to cognition. Individuals with visual-spatial impairments exhibit challenges with safely navigating obstacles within their environment, understanding directional concepts, letter or word reversals, and more. Understanding and identifying visual-spatial deficits can optimize your client’s therapeutic outcomes. This 2-hour course will outline the hierarchical performance factors needed to develop visual-spatial processing skills. Through the presentation of evidence-based information, case study review, and play, participants will learn the development, evaluation, and remediation of visual-spatial skills that can be implemented immediately into practice.
“Can You See Me Now?”: Measuring Remedial Vision Success - Suzanne Briggs OTD, OTR/L
Remedial vision rehabilitation is an emerging area of specialty in occupational therapy. Remedial vision can be measured with various instruments and assessments, but which ones are the best and give the most information to benefit the patient, therapist, and the neuro-optometrist directing treatment? Understanding how to administer the assessments and why to use each assessment tool is essential to demonstrate remedial vision improvements and a successful program. This intermediate course will provide the therapist (OT, OTA, PT, PTA) with information on what remedial vision rehabilitation addresses and assessments or screens that can be used for outcomes and to measure the program's success. At the end of the course, the therapist should feel more comfortable completing an evaluation using the described measurement tools in their remedial vision rehabilitation program.
The OT/OD Collaboration
Join us for a 2 hour discussion with therapists, optometrists and even a billing specialist as we share the challenges of OT/OD collaboration in different contexts.
The Future
The instructors, hosts and attendees will discuss the successes of the conference and identify needs for future educational needs. .
TWO WAYS TO ATTEND:
NOTE:
Suzanne Briggs, OTD, OTR/L, has been practicing occupational therapy in acute, inpatient rehabilitation, and outpatient throughout her 20-year career. Her area of focus is rehabilitation after neurological events, including vision rehabilitation. She currently works at Centura Hospital Outpatient Rehabilitation Clinic in Colorado Springs, CO. She provides services to children and adults who have experienced acquired brain injuries or other physical/neurological concerns.
Suzanne received her Doctor of Occupational Therapy degree from Salus University in 2023 with a certification in remedial vision rehabilitation. Suzanne graduated Summa Cum Laude and received the Alumni Association Award for Top Graduate. She is a member of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) and is interested in research involving remedial vision and acquired brain injury. She is also a member of the Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation Association (NORA), which facilitates the collaboration of multiple disciplines for successful outcomes for patients with neurological diagnoses. Suzanne was trained in NDT and is SAEBO certified.
Suzanne developed a passion for remedial vision rehabilitation when working with acquired brain injury patients who had vision limitations. This passion led her to further her education in remedial vision. Suzanne has developed the remedial vision program at her clinic and provides treatment in collaboration with neuro-optometrists. Her patients also benefit from her extensive mCIT, stroke recovery, and concussion knowledge. Suzanne has presented as a guest lecturer at local brain injury support groups, universities, and hospital professionals.
Suzanne provides her patients with evidence-based treatments to improve vision limitations and improve vision-related function. She plans to use her degree to advance the support of occupational therapy’s role in remedial vision rehabilitation through research, education, and successful patient care.
Amber Fessler, OTD, MS, OTR/L is a pediatric occupational therapist of eighteen years residing in Rapid City, SD. She
graduated from the University of Mary with a Master of Science in Occupational Therapy in 2004 and completed her
Doctorate of Occupational Therapy with a specialty certification in Remedial Vision Rehabilitation from Salus University in
2020. Amber has a diverse clinical background in pediatrics having worked in early intervention, public school, outpatient,
and vision therapy clinic settings. Currently, she is the owner and occupational therapy practitioner of a private practice
focusing on pediatrics with learning-related vision deficits in close collaboration with optometry doctors. She is a
contributing author for book chapters in the upcoming 4th Edition of Understanding and Managing Vision Deficits: A Guide
for Occupational Therapists and published research on occupational therapy and optometry collaboration in the care of
pediatric patients in the Vision Development and Rehabilitation journal.
Robert Constantine, OTR\L is a 1997 graduate of University of Alabama at Birmingham Occupational Therapy program where he was awarded the Charles Brooks Award for Creativity. He has practiced in home health, and skilled nursing contexts and spent 9 years as the clinical specialist in brain injury at the West Florida Rehabilitation Institute where he developed a passion for evidenced-based treatment, sharing information and the functional effects of the visual system. Beginning in 2013, he enjoyed a 3 year tenure at an optometry practice where he learned techniques working closely with low vision, pediatric and adult optometrists. He has received Clinical Level 1 and 2 training offered by the Neuro-Optometric Rehab Association. He was also instructed in sports vision training working with the High Performance Vision Associates, a national group of optometrists that offer sports vision screenings to elite athletes. He developed specialized Drag Racing Glasses and has worked with NHRA Sportsman and Professional Drag Racers. He continues to provide vision rehabilitation services to pediatric and adult patients at the Pearl Nelson Center and Kindred at Home in Pensacola, Florida. Robert has been a national and international presenter for since 2016. His courses are engaging and full of personal experience and the latest evidence-based research.
Financial Disclosure: Rob receives honoraria from CIAO Seminars for the presentation of this course. Non-Financial Disclosure: None
Meghan Chemidlin, OTD, MS, OTR/L, received her bachelors, masters and post professional
Doctorate degrees from Elizabethtown College. She received her clinical doctorate in both
Trauma Informed Practice and Interdisciplinary Autism Support. She primarily treats individuals
who have sustained mTBIs but also works with adults, teens and pediatrics diagnosed with ASD,
ADHD and other neurological conditions. Meghan has been integrating her passion for
interoception interventions into all populations, diagnosis and ages for several years. She is in the
process of publishing her OTD research titled: Impact of an Interoception-Based Intervention on
Self-Regulation in Adults with Mild Traumatic Brain Injuries: A Pilot Study. She is a Certified
Brain Injury Specialist, Certified Autism Spectrum Disorder Clinical Specialist and a Functional
Vision Rehabilitation Specialist. Meghan enjoys traveling to speak about and educate on
interoception and her adapted version of the interoception curriculum for several organizations,
colleges and professionals.
Alicia Reiser, PPOTD, MS OTR/L, ADHD-CRP graduated from Misericordia University in 2001 with her Master’s degree and found her passion shortly thereafter within the neurological population. After several years in inpatient rehab centers, she transitioned settings to outpatient where she established her love for vision and wanted to learn more. She obtained her clinical doctorate in vision remediation from Salus at Drexel University (Philadelphia College of Optometry) in 2018 and grew her private practice to treat those with concussion and other brain-based diagnoses. She works closely with optometry and uses a collaborative approach when treating visual inefficiencies, using an integrative model to improve her patient’s brain, body, function and life.
Locally, she is on the Cedar Crest College Occupational Therapy Doctorate Program Advisory Board. Her published research includes Concussion-Related Vision Disorder Practice Patterns in Occupational Therapy and Occupational Therapy Curricula Patterns for Acquired Brain Injury-Related Vision Disorders for Entry-Level Programs. Most recently, she has co-authored 2 chapters in Dr. Mitchell Scheiman’s Understanding and Managing Visual Deficits: A Guide for Occupational Therapists. Alicia is an ADHD certified rehab provider and has a special interest in those with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Financial Disclosure: Alicia Reiser has an employment relationship with NeuroOT Consulting. She receives honoraria from CIAO Seminars for the presentation of this course and paid royalties on sale of authored books from Amazon. She is an affiliate for TruVaga Vagus Nerve Stimulator.
The assignment of AOTA CEUs does not imply endorsement of specific course content, products, or clinical procedures by AOTA.
CIAO is recognized on the NBCOT Provider Registry (meets PDU requirements for NBCOT)
CIAO Automatically reports to CE Broker for Florida Occupational and Physical Therapists and Assistants. Florida SLPs can either use the ASHA CE Participant Form (Bubble Sheet) or self-submit through CE Broker.
This was the most incredible and educational conference I have been to in a long time. I feel like i finally found "my people". I cannot wait to reach out and collaborate further. I admire each and every one of the presenters and their knowledge on the subject is unmatched. I am so grateful I was able to be part of this weekend. Thank you!!!
- Live Streaming or Studio Audience, FL / Mar 2024
These classes always validate what I am doing! I have been in a rut and needed this right now.
- Live Streaming or Studio Audience, FL / Mar 2024
Great course, can't wait for next year's Viscon!
- Live Streaming or Studio Audience, FL / Mar 2024
