Private OT needed in NW Calgary

Private OT needed for four year-old boy living in Country Hills neighbourhood, in NW Calgary. He has recently been diagnosed with Autism, and his family has a Specialized Services contract through FSCD for OT services.  Family is looking for in-home services. There is a private team of therapists already in place. Please contact the leader of that team, Natasha Kanji, for more information.

Contact info for Natasha Kanji:

E-mail: natashabh@hotmail.com

Phone: 403-923-7715

The family is looking to start services as soon as possible.

Alert Program for Self Regulation September 2012

The Alert Program for Self Regulation:
“How Does Your Engine Run?”

The Alert Program uses the analogy of a car engine to introduce the  concepts of self-regulation, a key component in focus, attention,  concentration and therefore learning.

“If your body is like a car engine, sometimes it runs on high, sometimes  it runs on low and sometimes it runs just right.”

Parents and students will increase their awareness of levels of “alertness”  in themselves & others. They will also learn sensori-motor strategies or  “engine tools” to adjust their engine speed.

Dates:
Parent session September 24, 2012.
Student sessions September 25, October 02, 09, 16, 23, 2012.

Time & Location:
4:30 – 6:00 pm at the IDEAS office (Calgary)
OR
6:00 – 7:30 pm at the IDEAS office (Calgary)

Ages:
7 – 9 year olds (maximum 6 students)
9 – 11 year olds (maximum 6 students)

Cost:   $450.00

Group Leaders:
Karen McIntosh B.Sc.O.T.(C)  403-680-8108
kmcintosh.ot@shaw.ca
Theresa Shields B.Sc.O.T.(C) 403-993-0340
theresa.shieldsot@gmail.com

Please reply by phone or e-mail if you wish to register your child.

Fine Motor Camp in Oct/Nov 2012

Growing Changes: Occupational Services for Children presents:  Fine Motor Camp in Oct/Nov 2012

A 5 week fun and interactive camp for children in Kindergarden and grades 1 - 4 who find printing, using scissors or other fine motor activities challenging. The camp will be run by two experienced pediatric  with co-operative games and crafts to practice the skills needed for hand functioning. This camp is designed for children who may be experiencing mild to moderate delays in fine motor development or who would benefit from extra practice.

Printing Basics: Emphasizes grasp development, formation of letters, legibility, review of lower case, copying, using school tools (scissors, glue) in hand manipulation skills, eye hand coordination and strength. This includes a post-group parent consultation and a summary report.

This camp will use a multi-sensory approach combining fine and gross motor movement to enhance learning. Parents are strongly recommended to attend one out of the 5 sessions in order to transfer skills learned in group.

Time: Printing Basics: 10:00 am - 11:15 am weekly (Saturdays: October 27, November 3, 10, 17, 24)

Cost: $250.00

Where: Highlands Community Centre: 6112 - 113 Avenue Edmonton, AB

Contact: Rebecca Summach at 780.965.4310 or email growingchanges@gmail.com to register.

Note: OT services may be covered depending on health plan and are tax deductible.

PDMS-2 Looking to purchase/borrow

I  am looking into purchasing a PDMS-2 and thought I would ask just in case someone has one they may want to sell or rent to me over the next month(s)?
Thanks so much,
Melissa Plante, B.Sc.O.T.(c)
Occupational Therapist
(403)630-2423

Job Posting for Physio Therapist

Attention all Private Physios!...

Rocky View Schools is looking for Physical Therapists interested in contract work.  The service required includes consultation and assessment for Preschool and/or Kindergarten aged children.  This work is mainly based in the Chestermere area, however, there may be work in all areas of Rocky View Schools.
Please contact Lynda Hemsworth for more information at 403-945-4026 orlhemsworth@rockyview.ab.ca

Job posting at MacEwan University

MacEwan University is looking for an OT or PT to instruct a course that is primarily a pediatrics course.  Information about the position is available at:

http://www.macewan.ca/wcm/Administrative/HumanResources/Careers/HR_JOB_LISTING?jobId=0&list=Academic

Here is further information about the course:

Course Description: This course focuses on human growth and development throughout the life span with emphasis on rehabilitation perspectives and treatment in pediatrics. 

Course Overview:

1.      Fetal development

2.      Motor development/change in infancy, toddlerhood, early childhood, middle childhood, late childhood, adolescence, and young, middle and older adulthood

3.      Cognitive, social and emotional development from birth to adulthood

4.      Fine motor skill development and rehabilitation interventions

5.      Gross motor skill development and rehabilitation interventions

6.      Oral motor skill development and rehabilitation interventions

7.      Sensory processing and rehabilitation interventions

8.      Muscle tone and positioning

9.      Psychosocial skill development and rehabilitation interventions

10.  Loss of abilities with aging and rehabilitation interventions

Changes to Videofluoroscopic Feeding Study (VFFS) Processes at ACH

Greetings, Calgary and Southern Alberta Therapists -- 

As you are aware, there have been changes to feeding services at ACH.  One of the recent ones is a change to the Referral Fax Number for Videofluoroscopic Feeding Study (VFFS) when there is a risk of aspiration during feeding.

Please distribute this attached memo widely to your OT, SLP and RD colleagues, as well as to your Therapy Coordinators and Management Team.

With thanks,
Brenda Wilson

Memo can be found here:
Videofluoroscopy Memo

Developmental Optometrist Info from Calgary Peds Meeting

Calgary Ot peds meeting
April 30 2012

Dr. Charles boulet developmental optometrist shared info.
Has background in education and behaviour
Working on study with vision in relation to learning

Dr. Charles is done the online introduction to vision therapy class. Will send information shortly. You can sign up for free at learningmanagement.ca

Key points : check all kids for visual screening before grade one. More to Vision then just eye sight. School vision screening poor.
If near sighted sig advantage - better in school.  higher Ed. You live in bubble as distance all blury. As move up close to see learn to focus and develop good vision. Vision ideally suited for near work.
Farsighted will pass through screening as can see distance

1.5 diopters need to work ++ hard to read - often don't see as child looking down. see behaviours. See headaches. Etc.

Need to ax:
1. Refraction - light bending capacity of eye - do dry and wet
2. Muscle function /motor control assessment
     - gross motor - keeping eyes pointed together and work apart ( will complain of letters moving) - convergence insufficiency where eyes try to pull together on same target (ie words)  but can't
    - fine - tracking. Pursuit movement. Stacatic pursuits - drop lines. Repeating lines. Sequence read is message get so if jumping around then message mixed up
3. Posture
4. Strabismus
5. Pursuit movements

Drops make eyes relax and can see true vision as can change eye

Acuity is a milestone marker only


Pediatric eye disease investigators group: study to look at when strain to focus causes child to have eyes turn in.

Goal to remove obstacles to learning

Cml pursuit need start smooth around K but if not smooth by end of gr 1 a problem
Look one spot then other - 6-8 cycles before child fatigues - either swift or prob ( undershoot or overshoot and correct) indicates sig difficulties w motor coor

If address gm will automatically start to address gross motor ocular motility needs

If see pursuit difficulties i
Work on whole body gross motor
If poor Stacatic then need visual training
Staccads are higher level function where as pursuits are base

Library of activities online
Www.learningmanagement.ca
Www.tx.dvvc.ca

Activity examples
Bpqd page - find the letter to help with letter recog and reversal
Saccadic training -

Strabismus - need to try to Rx muscles first before surgery

Archieslaw.com -  movies

Refer all kids for vision assessments.  Not all kids need vt but good to rule out other vision needs too

Focus his program more on cognitive   Starts w meditation. Yoga.

Meditation technique
Sit at table. Dim light. Light candle. Focus on candle and visualize candle.     Now look at candle count to five and build up time.
Can add in breathing. Feel breath go in and release while looking at candle. Pay attention to point breath in and where breath out.
Build the tolerance
Over time can teach to visualize to slow down

Alt meditation
Get to look at your one eye and focus for 10 seconds - can then use
When out in community

We need to slow kids down

September Calgary Ped Int Group Meeting

I  have Charles Boulet the developmental optometrist coming to do a followup on his previous talk on vision.  We are still going to meet on the last Monday of the month.  Are there enough people to come next Monday Spet 24 or would be prefer to have him come in Oct for the Oct 29 meeting?  Please let me know your thoughts ASAP at kids4ot@gmail.com so I can let Charles know.

Looking to Purchase MAP and M-Fun

I am looking to purchase a used MAP (Miller Assessment for Preschoolers) and M-Fun (Miller Function & Participation Scales). Please contact me with an offer:

 

Catherine Kammann

catherine.kammann@gmail.com 

403-688-4310 

Looking for OT Resource

Hi there:

I was wondering if anyone can tell me how I can access the following resource:

"Solving the Case of the Misbehaving Letters: Addressing Legibility Issues in Written Communication."

I believe it was developed by the Student Health Program OTs in the Calgary Health Region.  One of my teachers is asking me about it.  I am practicing in Edmonton

Thanks.

Cindy Camp
cindycamp@shaw.ca

Alert Program Calgary

I am pleased to announce that “The Alert Program for Self-Regulation: How Does Your Engine Run?” will be offered at IDEAS Inc. beginning September 24, 2012. I have attached the poster sheet for the program that can be distributed to therapists and/or clients who may be interested.

If there are any questions about the program we are offering please contact me directly.

Thanks for your support!

Karen McIntosh B.Sc.O.T.(C)

403-680-8108

Rosemary White Presenting DIR/Floortime in Vancouver

Rosemary White, OTR will be coming to Vancouver on November 18^th  and 19^th , 2012, to present a two day workshop on DIR/Floortime.  This approach is the late Greenspan and Wieder's Comprehensive Model of Treatment for Children with challenges in relating and communicating, including Autism Spectrum Disorder. It’s a play based, developmental approach to facilitate children engaging, communicating and thinking. Rosemary is an expert in this area and presents fantastic lectures worldwide.

There are early bird rates and discounts available. See the attachment for more details. Register online at www.otforkids.ca.

OT in Psychiatry Conference

Hello,

The deadline to register for this year's OT in Psychiatry Conference is fast approaching!

The conference will take place on September 27 & 28, 2012 at Alberta Hospital Edmonton and we are pleased to have Terry Krupa joining us as our presenter.  Please see the attached brochure for more information. 

Please note that for day one (Sept. 27) of the conference "Serious mental illness and occupational disengagement: promoting health and well-being through occupation," Terry Krupa strongly recommends participants have and bring the evidence-based intervention "Action over Inertia" workbook. If you do not already have this workbook, it can be purchased online through CAOT at: http://www.caot.ca/default.asp?pageid=1042

Purchase price is $49.99 or $39.99 for CAOT members. We will also have the workbook available for purchase at the conference by cash or cheque only.

If you haven't already registered, and are planning to attend, please send in your registration form and payment by Friday September 7.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact me. 

Looking forward to seeing you there! Please forward to anyone else who may be interested!

The OT Conference Committee

Christine Hanna

Occupational Therapist

Cross Level Services & Supports

c/o 9942-108 Street 5th floor

Edmonton, AB, T5K 2J5

tel: (780) 342-7760  cell: (780) 983-1659   fax: (780) 429-7149

Alberta Health Services

www.albertahealthservices.ca

ThAAA Call for Speakers

Hello everyone, 

Please find attached the Call for Speakers for the ThAAA's 6th Annual Education Day happening on November 10th, 2012 in Red Deer.  Please feel free to forward this to as many co-workers/friends/peers as you'd like!

Thank you!

Dominique Bailey

Chairperson - Promotions Committee

0.8 FTE Position with Wetaskiwin Regional Public Schools

Wetaskiwin Regional Public Schools is looking for a 0.8FTE OT to work with PUF children at the early education centre and in the school district kindergartens. Position is one year temporary with possibilty of extension (I am taking one year LOA to get my masters and am not sure what my next step after that will be yet...!) It is an amazing job working with an amazing team. Posting wiill remain open until filled.

 

See http://www.wrps.ab.ca/apply-online for the job posting

 

If you have any questions at all please do not hesitate to contact me.

 

Joanna Hulzenga

hulzengajc@wrps.ab.ca

780.242.4751

 

Fine Motor Camp Oct-Nov 2012 Edmonton

Growing Changes: Occupational Services for Children presents:
Fine Motor Camp in Oct/Nov 2012

Please click here for brochure and details.