Advanced Training!: Neuroscience and Self-Regulation Techniques for Kids with Autism, ADHD & Sensory Disorders

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Varleisha D. Gibbs, PhD, OTD, OTR/L, ASDCS Related seminars and products

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Varleisha D. Gibbs, PhD, OTD, OTR/L, ASDCS, is an occupational therapist and author with over 18 years of experience working with children and adolescents diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Sensory Processing disorders, and Neurological disorders. She is the vice president of practice engagement and capacity building at the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA). Dr. Gibbs is the former scientific programs officer at the American Occupational Therapy Foundation. She also served as the inaugural chair and director of the master's programs in occupational therapy at Wesley College in Dover, DE where she was a tenured associate professor. Prior to joining Wesley, Dr. Gibbs worked at the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia, PA where she served as the director of the doctoral programs in occupational therapy.

Dr. Gibbs is steadfast and an expert in the field of neurology, cognition, and pediatric therapeutic intervention. She lectures and provides training on sensory processing strategies and self-regulation to practitioners, parents, and teachers throughout the country and internationally. As co-author of Raising Kids with Sensory Processing Disorders, she has provided families with strategies to understand and care for their children. Dr. Gibbs is the developer of the self-regulation and mindfulness program and author of the best-selling, Self-Regulation and Mindfulness: Exercise and Worksheets for Sensory Processing Disorder, 85 Activities to Move Clients Toward Healing, Growth and Improved Functioning (PESI Publishing & Media, May 2021). Dr. Gibbs is certified as an Autism Spectrum Disorder Clinical Specialist (ASDCS).

 

Speaker Disclosures:

Financial: Dr. Varleisha Gibbs has employment relationships with the American Occupational Therapy Association and Wesley College. She receives a speaking honorarium and recording and book royalties from PESI, Inc. She has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.

Non-financial: Dr. Varleisha Gibbs serves on the Commission on Practice committee for the American Occupational Therapy Association. and is a member of the Freelee Foundation Executive Board of Directors. She is a member of the American Occupational Therapy Association and the National Black Occupational Therapy Caucus.

Outline

The Neuroscience Behind Self-Regulation

• A look at sensory-motor pathways
• Brain dissection video: The emotional brain and its connection to executive functioning
• Neurological dysfunction: Hyper-activity, hypo-activity, aggressiveness, self-stimulatory, and inattentiveness

Neuro and Sensory Integration: Linking to Behaviors

• Breaking down self-regulation: Sensory, cognition and emotions
• Self-regulation effects on behaviour: Flapping, inflexibility, rigidity, lack of inhibition, poor social skills, risk taking
• The power of the autonomic nervous system and its connection to behaviour (ie. stress, fear and primitive reflexes)
• The power of primitive reflexes and how they impede on function
• Tools and strategies for assessing primitive reflexes

Video Case Study Analyzation: Aligning Symptoms and Characteristics with Appropriate Interventions

• ADHD: Diagnosis and current treatment strategies
• Autism: Diagnosis and DSM-5® updates
• Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD):
  • Sensory modulation disorder
  • Sensory-based motor disorder
  • Sensory discrimination disorder

Self-Regulation Techniques and the Vagus Nerve Connection

• Communication strategies that provide control: Symbolic and non-verbal
• Self-management and behavioural strategies: Behavioral contracts, checklist for tracking behaviours, video modelling
• Addressing picky eating and poor sleep habits: Desensitizing and non-threatening activities
• Music as a technique to initiate sensorial stimuli, calming and attentiveness
• New interventions for vestibular, proprioceptive, auditory, smell and vision work

Apply Neuroscience to Interventions: Hands-on Activities

• Neurological connection of current programs such as Brain Gym®, sensory diets, and MeMoves™, just to name a few!
• Integrate a mindfulness program for self-regulation
• Address primitive reflexes and improve social participation and age appropriate behaviours
• Tool to assess child’s arousal levels to be used for daily schedules and to organize daily interventions

Treatment Planning: Video Case Examples of Children Displaying Challenging Social, Eating and Sleep Behaviors

• Perform a virtual evaluation
• Develop a treatment plan
• Goal development
• Re-assessment: When is it needed and when to discharge

Psychoeducation for Clients and Parents

• Evidence-based intervention and techniques to address challenges with self-regulation
• Address psychosocial concerns and experiences of caregivers of children with self-regulation challenges
• Communicate methods to address reciprocal regulation between the child and caregiver to address the influences and interaction each have

Objectives

1. Analyze the neuroscientific research related to self-regulation and sensory processing in kids diagnosed with Autism, Sensory Processing Disorder, and ADHD.
2. Differentiate between the characteristics of sensory processing disorder, ADHD and autism and articulate how the neurological processes of each disorder coincide with one another.
3. Apply neurological approaches that tap into the central, autonomic, and enteric nervous systems to improve clinical intervention techniques.
4. Determine the role of primitive reflexes and how they support or impede client functioning.
5. Evaluate the relationship between the autonomic nervous system and behavior in clients.
6. Determine the neurological responses aligned with intervention techniques to further enhance treatment planning.
7. Develop appropriate clinical interventions for challenging behaviors in clients, such as hyper-activity, hypoactivity, aggressiveness, self-stimulation and inattentiveness.
8. Implement music as a technique to initiate sensorial stimuli, calming and attentiveness in clients.
9. Integrate a comprehensive mindfulness program to improve self-regulation in clients.
10. Utilize role play activities to assess levels of arousal among clients.
11. Develop a comprehensive treatment plan that addresses a variety of clinical concerns, including social skills deficits, picky eating and sleeping issues.
12. Implement strategies to address reciprocal regulation between the child and caregiver in order to improve clinical outcomes.

Target Audience

• Occupational Therapists
• Occupational Therapy Assistants
• Speech-Language Pathologists
• Counselors
• Social Workers
• Educators
• Marriage & Family Therapists
• Physical Therapists
• Physical Therapist Assistants
• Psychologists

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