(SAT ONLY) Innovations in School-Based Physical Therapy Practice (July 29)
- Registration Closed
The 18th annual Innovations in School-based Physical Therapy Practice course offered by the APTA Academy of Pediatric Physical Therapy (APTA Pediatrics) School Special Interest Group (School SIG) highlights both advanced practice issues and foundational information for school-based practice. Sessions provide information on decision-making and educationally relevant physical therapy services to support educational programs for students with disabilities. Nationally recognized speakers address federal laws, assessment, service provision, clinical education, mentoring, and innovations in practice.
Audience
This course is intended for physical therapists who provide, or intend to provide, related services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
Course Objectives
By the end of the course, participants will:
- Understand foundational federal laws and regulations for ensuring a free and appropriate public education (FAPE), including provision of required related services for students with disabilities under IDEA and Section 504.
- Apply evidence and data to individualize and make appropriate decisions regarding evaluation, outcome measures, models of service delivery, individualization, advocacy, and evidence-informed interventions.
- Apply knowledge gained to influence and advocate for appropriate services, staffing, adequate supports, physical activity and fitness, collaboration across practice settings and in communities, and self-determination for students with disabilities.
- Incorporate evidenced-informed evaluation and intervention for students with complex disability.
- Describe the role of school-based physical therapy in provision of assistive technology and individualized transportation services, and to prepare students and their families for adulthood through post-school transition.
Innovations Saturday Course Schedule
Preregistration for sessions is not required. One day provides 7.25 contact hours of programming for the course. The planning committee reserves the right to change presenters, content, and order of presentations. The Foundational track (Friday) will also be available virtually for a separate registration fee later in the year. The full course is offered in-person to promote networking, mentoring, and exchange of ideas. Participants report having current practices validated as an important program outcome and are encouraged and inspired by being with other physical therapy practitioners who work in schools.
Transportation as a Related Service & the Physical Therapist's Role
Proper seating and positioning on the school bus is vital to a safe ride but takes interdisciplinary teamwork to ensure it is provided within, and is compatible with, effective vehicle occupant restraint systems. This session will explore the therapist’s role in the selection and training in the use of child safety restraints and seating, while considering common problems and students’ use of adaptive equipment on the entire transportation experience. We will review the process of designing individualized transportation plans, and the importance of physical therapist’s leadership in decision-making on modifications and accommodations in this specialized educational environment.
Participation in School Curriculum, One Size Does Not Fit All!
Recreation, fitness, and activity programming, co-curricular and extra-curricular, should be accessible to all students. Students with intellectual impairment, motor disabilities and multiple disabilities do not need the same supports to participate. A panel discussion will present experiences, strategies, and cases to highlight individualized ways school-based therapists promote participation for students across the continuum of ability.
Equipped for Practice in Public Schools
Practicing in public schools requires competence in all aspects of physical therapy and then some! To be effective in school practice requires communication and collaboration at a different level, ethical discrimination, excellent self-assessment, life-long learning, and excellent advocacy skills. This session hopes to share some practical tips and fresh approaches to address a ‘grab bag’ of issues (like IEP development, promoting physical activity for staff and students, advocating with administration for efficiency, utilizing data to inform and building relationships). Let’s hear what has been effective to enact change from around the U.S. (be prepared to share), figure out how to bring it home and put it to good use.
APTA Advocacy Update
Representatives from APTA will discuss the advocacy work currently being done on behalf of school based physical therapists and physical therapist assistants. Legislative and regulatory advocacy will be discussed, including our work with congress and the department of education on special education issues. Information will also be provided on how APTA members and nonmembers can stay involved in advocacy and help the association drive policy change as well as influence policy in their own state and local communities.
Platform Presentations
Various topics (e.g., special interest, research) related to school-based practice will be presented in 15-minute sessions by multiple speakers. Topics will be posted in July.
Susan Englert Shutrump, OTR/L
Susan is supervisor of Occupational and Physical Therapy at the Trumbull County Educational Service Center in Niles, Ohio. She received the Peter J Grandolfo Memorial Award of Excellence in 2018 and the National Association of Pupil Transportation Sure-Lok Safe and Secure Special Needs Transportation Award in 2007. She served on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s curriculum-writing committee for Child Passenger Safety Training for School Buses, as well as revision committees for this 8-hour course. She served as Special Advisor to the STARTS (Students Transportation Aligned for Return to School) National Task Force during the Covid-19 pandemic. She is a tenured faculty and advisory board member of the National Conference and Exhibition on Transporting Students with Disabilities and Preschoolers, serving as co-chairman of the OT/PT/Transporter Forum since 1995. She has authored articles in therapy and transportation publications, and chapters, “Best Practices in Safe Transportation,” in the first two editions of (AOTA textbook) Best Practices for Occupational Therapy in Schools.
Heather Brossman PT, DPT, DHSc, MS
Heather is the Assistant Director of Clinical Education and an Assistant Clinical Professor at Drexel University. She teaches cardiopulmonary and pediatric content and health promotion in the Drexel University pediatric residency. She is a Board-Certified Pediatric and Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Clinical Specialist. She worked as a school-based physical therapist full-time prior to working in academia and continues to complete evaluations for the Bucks County Intermediate Unit. Dr. Brossman completed a thesis titled “Collaborative Participation-Based Approach for Preschool Students with Multiple Disabilities: A Case Series to Support Physical Recreation” and is the current Region IV school-based SIG. Dr. Brossman authored two chapters for children with respiratory and cardiovascular impairments in Pediatric Physical Therapy. She volunteers time with advocacy groups across the lifespan to encourage, support and include individuals who are differently abled in physical activity, recreation, and exercise.
Sara Armstrong PT, DPT
Sara is a 2001 graduate of Hahnemann (now Drexel) University’s first DPT program. She has worked for 20 years with the Bucks County, Intermediate Unit in the Council Rock School District in PA. Her life’s work has been true access, integration, and participation for children with disabilities in school. She worked with the school district, special and physical education teachers to develop an adapted Physical Education program that promotes meaningful integration and participation for her students in their physical education curriculum.
Rita Geddes, PT, MEd, DPT
Rita has served as a school-based physical therapist for over 30 years at the Bucks County Intermediate Unit in the Bensalem Township School District in Pennsylvania. She was the chairperson for the APTA Pennsylvania Pediatric Special Interest Group from 2007 – 2012, has been a contributing author for multiple editions of Pediatric Physical Therapy, and participated in the development of the APTA Pediatrics Guidelines for the Practice of Physical Therapy in Educational Settings. She has also served as a clinical instructor since 1989, and advocates for improved access to physical therapy services for students with low-incidence disabilities.
Angela Griffis, PT, DPT
Angela has been a physical therapist 39 years working in pediatric inpatient rehabilitation, outpatient, preschool services, early intervention, pediatric private practice, private home care practice, and residential pediatric and adult with disability services. She has been innovative in starting several pediatric programs, including Holy Redeemer Hospital and Medical Center at Princeton school-based services, and expanding many services at Woods Services. She has been a school-based physical therapist part-time and full-time all of her career. She has been adjunct faculty at Acadia University and Drexel University. She served as clinical coordinator for clinical education and continues to provide clinical affiliations in the school setting.
Laurie Ray, PT, PhD
Dr. Ray has over 20 years of experience in school-based practice in North Carolina (NC). Dr. Ray is an Associate Professor at UNC-Chapel Hill, Division of Physical Therapy and provides the NC Department of Public Instruction with consultative services in the areas of physical therapy and Medicaid cost recovery. She previously served as chair of the School Special Interest Group (SIG) for APTA Pediatrics, on the NC Office of Disability and Health Advisory Committee and on the Boards of the National Alliance of Medicaid in Education and the NC Vocational Rehabilitation Council. Laurie is co-author/co-publisher of www.SeekFreaks.com, an evidence-informed, online resource for pediatric PTs, OTs, and SLPs. She has contributed to several Fact Sheets for APTA Pediatrics and presents on school-based physical therapy and related topics across the US. Dr. Ray currently serves the APTA Pediatrics as Practice SIGs Coordinator and is a reviewer for Pediatric Physical Therapy and Pediatric Occupational and Physical Therapy.
Brian Allen, JD
Brian is a congressional affairs specialist at APTA. He handles a diverse issue portfolio including school-based PTs/PTAs, concussion care, physical fitness, PTA differential, DoD/VA, and CHCs, among others. His duties include monitoring and responding to federal legislative developments, advocating on the association’s behalf with Members of Congress and Senators, and working with Members, Senators, and their staff to craft legislation that meets the association’s goals. Prior to joining APTA, Brian spent over five years on Capitol Hill, culminating in his role as Legislative Director and Senior Counsel to a Member of the House. He received his bachelor’s in History and Spanish from Roanoke College and his law degree from Washington and Lee University School of Law. He is a member of the District of Columbia Bar.
Rachel Miller, MPH
Rachel is a health policy and payment specialist focusing on regulatory affairs. She advocates to federal regulators on policy issues that affect the physical therapy profession while also communicating important payment and policy updates to members. Before joining APTA in 2022, Rachel worked in a county health department as a coronavirus contact tracer. She has also completed internships in government affairs with both a North Carolina state representative, and the National Association of County and City Health Officials. She obtained a bachelor's degree in public health from the University of South Florida and a Master of Public Health from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
The course will be held at Drexel University, Health Science Building, 60 North 36th Street, Philadelphia, PA.
Some daily parking will be available at Drexel University’s main parking garage, 3330 Market Street, entrance on Ludlow Street. Parking is also available at LAZ Parking at 3711 Market Street.
Transportation: Philadelphia is served by most major airlines. There is an Amtrak Station just a few blocks from the hotel and Drexel University.
From/To Airport: Taxi ($32+), train ($7), Uber, Lyft, and Super Shuttle ($27-$46) are all available. For $7 the Regional Rail’s Airport Line service train goes to and from the airport and 30th Street Train Station /SEPTA (Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority) and the Amtrak Station, just a few blocks from the hotel.
Hotel: We have a room block at the Sheraton Philadelphia University City Hotel, 3549 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104 (sheratonuniversitycity.com).
Click here to Book your room using the group rate for Innovations In School-Based Practice Conference
· $179/night Guest Room Rate single/double, plus taxes (currently 16.37%), July 26-30, 2023.
- Onsite Parking $20/day plus tax.
- Complimentary Wireless High-Speed Internet in all guestrooms, meeting rooms and public areas
- Room registrations close July 7- book your room early since space is limited.
If the hotel room block is full, other hotels within walking distance include The Study at University City and Inn at Penn (Hilton).
Food: Coffee/tea will be available each morning and breaks are provided both days. Meals are on your own.
Local Information: For great information on visiting Philadelphia and surrounding area visit www.visitphilly.com.
Points of interest:
https://philamuseum.org/ https://www.barnesfoundation.o...
https://www.philadelphiazoo.or... https://www.penn.museum/
https://muttermuseum.org/ https://ansp.org/ (Academy of Natural Sciences at Drexel)
2023 CEU Information for APTA Pediatrics Courses
A group of 5+ registering from the same facility will receive a 5% discount off each registration. Group registrations must occur at the same time and be paid with a single credit card or check.
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