Date: Wednesday, February 21, 2024 - Wednesday, February 21, 2024
Location: Zoom via RESNA Learn
Time: 12:00pm Eastern
Title: Assistive Technology and Sensory Integration / Processing
Speaker: Marta Figueiredo, OTR/L, PGDip. EI/SI, NBCT, Prof.Doc.
Abstract: When combined, Sensory integration and assistive technology are two distinct but interconnected concepts that play a significant role in supporting individuals' sensory processing needs/challenges.
Sensory processing needs/challenges are unique for each person and can change over time, hence the effectiveness of assistive technology accommodations may vary. Adjusting and refining assistive technology accommodations based on the person's needs, challenges, progress, and changing sensory profile is essential for ongoing support, grounded on regular assessment and feedback from the individual, caregivers, network and involved professionals (if any).
Professionals, caregivers, and educators often work together to create access to equitable environments through recommendations of appropriate assistive technologies to improve the individual's overall sensory experience and performance. This combined and multidisciplinary approach aims to enhance the wellbeing related to sensory experiences, promote self-regulation, and facilitate meaningful participation in daily activities, learning and working opportunities by the individual.
This webinar aims to focus on the interelation between Sensory Integration and Assistive Technology.
We will focus on the sensory characteristics of the assistive technology provision, training, the devices on their own and their daily environmental usage in relation to the individual's sensory needs/challenges, meaning sensory profile. Moreover, the importance of the regular assessment of the sensoryneeds/challenges towards the assistive technologies accommodations and how this impacts the occupational participation of the individual towards equitable access opportunities. The active participation and collaboration between the individual, caregivers, network and involved professionals (if any) is also crucial for the overall wellbeing achievement.
Learning Outcomes:
At the end of session, attendees will be able to:
- Participants will be able to identify aspects of the direct relation between sensory integration and assistive technology
- Participants will be able to identify sensory aspects present in the assistive technology provision, training, devices and usage that influence sensory processing
- Participants will be able to identify assessment instruments, topics and items that relate to the wellbeing maintenance between assistive technology and identified or unidentified sensory needs/challenges
Presenter Bio: Passionate for what she does, especially for Pediatrics (SensoryIntegration/Child Development), Assistive Technology and above all for Occupational Therapy (OT).Marta has started her professional career in the Cerebral Palsy and Pediatrics arena, evolving then to being Technical Director at Mobility and Positioning Company (Portugal). Couldn't live without the Pediatrics area, hence started her own private practice (in-person and telehealth worldwide). The passion for developing and contributing to the development of other professional significants, led to international training activities, serving as a Practitioner Panel Member at Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University, contributing as reviewer for the Ayres Sensory Integration 2020 Vision, Evaluator and Mentor at the OpenIDEO Innovation Prize, as abstract reviewer for several conferences and as Editorial Review Board member at OJOT. Nonetheless the passion for Assistive Technology was always there, and hence accepted the invitation to be International Sales Manager and Country Agent at Mobility and Positioning Company (Italy).
And while not serving Occupational Therapy in a much broader perspective ENOTHE (European Network of Occupational Therapy in Higher Education) (Austria), had crossed her educational path in 1999 and again, professionally, in 2017 and the opportunity to contribute arose - currently Marta is the ENOTHE Coordinator and Financial Administrator. Pediatrics (Sensory Integration/Child Development) and Assistive Technology were never out of sight and mind, so Marta as collaborated with and is certified by the International Society of Wheelchair Professionals -ISWP (USA) and currently serves at RESNA (Rehabilitation Engineering Society of North America) as Chair for the Education Committee, Chair of Scientific Papers for the Annual Conference, Governance and Volunteer Leadership Committees member; is a Collaborator at the Global Research on Developmental Disabilities; is Academy/Advisory Board member and Country Lead for Portugal at HundrED.org (a global mission-driven organisation specialised in education innovation).Her path as university teacher came along a few years ago and currently Marta is an Associate Professor (with tenure), OT Department Continuing Education Programmes and as a MSc Tutor at an OT programme in Portugal, as well as a MSc Tutor at an OT programme in Spain.
Completion of the post-event survey and quiz earns 0.1 IACET CEUs.
RESNA has been approved as an Authorized Provider by the International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET), 21670 Ridgetop Circle, Suite 170, Sterling, VA 20166: (703) 506-3275