CIAO Seminars - Understanding Pediatric Neurodiversity: Embracing Differences in the Human Brain

COURSE MENU

Course Description

Imagine being able to truly connect with your neurodivergent clients, creating therapy sessions that are not only effective but meaningful. Our livestream course on neurodiversity gives you the tools to understand and celebrate the uniqueness of each child's brain. Led by pediatric OT Alison Mazurak, this course covers everything from mindset-shifting strategies to neurodiversity-affirming therapies that can transform your approach.

With interactive, live teaching and the chance to review recordings for 14 days, you’ll walk away with actionable techniques and renewed confidence in your therapy sessions. Plus, you can easily earn CE credits without ever leaving home. Don't miss this opportunity to make a real impact on your clients and your practice!

Have you ever felt 'stuck' delivering therapy to kids with differently wired brains?

Oftentimes, children with neurodivergent challenges (such as autism, ADHD, etc.) require us to adapt and rethink traditional therapy methods. What if we had a framework for understanding how their brains think and sense the world?

This introductory course for all therapy professionals is designed to inform, explore, and celebrate the diverse range of neurological differences in the pediatric population. It aims to foster a deeper understanding of neurodiversity, promote inclusivity, and provide valuable insights into the experiences of individuals with neurodivergent traits.

Together, we will learn how to support therapists' interactions with clients and create space for a mindset shift within our therapy practices. That feeling of frustration when progress seems out of reach is very real, and it can be disappointing for even the most experienced clinician.

Let’s ditch that feeling together! This course will provide a new lens through which to view these children, empowering you with fresh thinking to build connection and improve therapy sessions.

ATTENDANCE:

Attend as part of the LIVE STUDIO AUDIENCE in Gulf Breeze, Florida - Studio audience seats are limited - so register today!
Attend via LIVE STREAM from anywhere around the world. Live stream participants will login to access the event from their computer.

NOTE:

This live event is streamed in real time.
Course agenda is in Central time, please adjust for your time zone
Registrants who attend the live broadcast will be able to interact with instructor.
All registrants will have access to the broadcast recording for 14 days.
A group may view the course together, however each attendee must be individually registered in order to receive CE credit.

COMPLETION REQUIREMENTS:

Attend/view entire course
Pass multiple choice quiz (80% min score)
Complete online course evaluation

CEUs:

SLPs - this course is registered with ASHA as Blended Learning. ASHA CEUs may be earned by attending live, viewing the recording, or a combination of both.
OTs - Participants who need live hours for state license renewal must attend in real time yet, will still have access to the recording for 14 days.

Course Objectives

Upon successful completion of this course, participants will be able to:

Identify what neurodiversity is and related key terms.
Demonstrate understanding of the Neurodiversity Paradigm.
Identify the harming strategies which exist in therapy practice.
Differentiate between compliance-based and connection-based strategies.
List mindset-changing tools to restructure therapy sessions.
Identify areas of your therapy practices, if changed, could benefit clients by supporting all neurotypes.
Synthesize new knowledge of neurodiversity to make your therapy practice more informed and inclusive of all clients.

Alison Mazurak

OTR/L

Alison is a pediatric occupational therapist who provides OT services in public schools for preschool through high school students. Alison is licensed to practice OT in Kentucky, is board certified and has been an OT for 11 years. She is also a parent coach, providing services to families with disabled children birth to three years of age for early intervention. Alison is owner of OT Time, PLLC, a business she founded which allows her to speak to communities and businesses looking to make change and provide staff training on neurodiversity and supporting disabled children. Alison graduated from the University of Mississippi Medical Center with a Master’s in Occupational Therapy. She received her bachelor’s degree in Communications from St. Bonaventure University. She and her family of four have made Kentucky home.
Financial Disclosure: Alison Mazurak receives an honorarium for her live course presentations through CIAO Seminars.
Non-Financial Disclosure: None

Day 1

08:00 - 08:30

Registration & Getting Settled, Course Agenda

08:30 - 09:30

Introduction to Neurodiversity & key terms

09:30 - 10:30

Common Neurodevelopmental Conditions

10:15 - 10:30

Break

10:30 - 11:30

Minds that ‘think’ and ‘feel’ differently

11:30 - 12:00

Understanding how neurodivergents communicate

12:00 - 12:30

Lunch

12:30 - 01:00

Mental Health & Neurodiversity

01:00 - 02:00

Neurodiversity-Affirming Therapies

02:00 - 02:15

Questions, Comments, Discussion

Delivery VIA:

Live Stream - This course is offered from our Live Stream studio. Watch and interact with the instructor from wherever you are or join us as part of the studio audience in sunny Gulf Breeze, FL. Included with each Live Stream registration is access to the course recording for the 14 days immediately following the broadcast.

Contact hours pre-approved for:

5.5 Hours
CIAO is an ASHA Approved Provider #AAWA (0.55 ASHA CEUs) bubble sheet submission required
ASHA CE Provider Approval and use of the Brand Block does not imply endorsement of course content, specific products, or clinical procedures.
As an IACET Accredited Provider, CIAO offers CEUs for its programs that qualify under the ANSI/IACET Standard
This course meets PDU requirements for NBCOT (5.5 PDUs)
CIAO is an Illinois Approved Provider for PT/PTA Continuing Education
CIAO is recognized as an Approved Provider for PT/PTAs by the NYSE Dept State Board for PT
This activity is provided by the Texas Board of PT Examiners Accredited Prov #2502009#TX
This activity meets continuing competence requirements for PT/PTA license renewal in TX
The assignment of Texas PT CCUs does not imply endorsement of specific course content, products or clinical procedures by TPTA or TBPTE
The Physical Therapy Board of California recognizes CIAO Seminars as an Approval Agency to Approve Providers Offering Continuing Competency Courses
The Physical Therapy Board of California has determined that CIAO meets the standards set forth in section 1399.95 of the CA Code of Regulations
CIAO is a Rule Approved Provider for the Florida Board of Physical Therapy
CIAO is an Approved Provider for the Florida Board of Occupational Therapy
Approved for:
5.5 Hrs. PT/PTAs in IL, TX (APTA TX #2502009 for 5.5 CCUs), CA (CIAO24-126)
6.5 Hrs. OT/COTAs, PT/PTAs in FL (CE Broker #20-1246434)
6.6 Hrs. PT/PTAs in NY
5.5 Hrs. Registered with CEBroker for OT/COTAs in AL, AZ, GA, LA, MS, SC, TN
5.5 Hrs. Registered with CEBroker for PT/PTAs in AZ, GA, OK, SC, TN

Course meets requirements for:

PT/PTAs in AL, AK, AZ, AR, CO, CT, DC, DE, GA, HI, ID, IN, IA, KS, KY, ME, MD, MA, MI, MO, MT,

PT/PTAs in NE, NH, NC, ND, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, UT, VT, VA, WA, WI, WY

OT/COTAs in AL, AK, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, DE, DC, GA, HI, ID, IL, IN, IA, LA, KS, KY, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT,

OT/COTAs in NE, NV, NH, NJ, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY

Introductory Level
0.55 ASHA CEUs

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.

CIAO is recognized on the NBCOT Provider Registry (meets PDU requirements for NBCOT)

Reviews

The information presentation was great and relatable. The slides on the digital version has very small writing and the pics do not show on when following along digitally.

- Live Streaming or Studio Audience, FL / Oct 2024

Great course!