VT for OTs - Information

Hi Everyone!

We can still  accommodate a few participants in next week's class. For the program, my personal goals are that a) more developmental professionals become aware of some basic principles of visual function as it relates to child development and academic outcomes, and b) more children have access to meaningful visual functional training. Too many children go without even the basics in Alberta, and your interest in child vision development will help change that. We'll then use our tools to learn a number of helpful techniques. 

Re: Schedule - We'll run from 9:00 AM to Noon. Then 12:30 to 3:30, both Thursday and Friday. I encourage people to make themselves comfortable with food and drink through the day. If there is a need, we can move to a longer lunch. 

Be sure to mention this program to other colleagues who might be interested. I'll be running another Part 1 course in the Fall, but it will likely be in the South. 

I hope this note finds you all doing well. 

All the best, 

Dr. Boulet

*******************************************

VT for OT's Part 1: 

Dates: Thursday and Friday May 30 & 31, 2013

Where: 
Black Gold Regional Division Central Office
County Centre
5th Floor, 1101 5th St
Nisku, AB  T9E 7N3

Driving directions: take the airport exit off Hwy 2 and go East.  You will see County Center on the North side of the road - 5 floor building, big yellow sign!  Park in the overflow lot on the East side of the building. 

Looking for a PT in Edmonton

Hello,

I am looking for a PT for a friend in Edmonton who works with babies (10 month old).  Can you please pass contacts onto me.

 

Thanks,

Carol

kids4ot@gmail.com

Primary Care Network Resources

The Primary Care Network, Edmonton Southside, has many resources available that may be beneficial to Occupational Therapists and our clients including brochures on mental health and nutrition, and a You Tube channel with video shopping tours developed by dieticians. 

The PCN is also encouraging people to complete a short survey in order to ultimately improve health services.  Take a few minutes to fill it out.  This is also a great opportunity for OTs to advocate for our potential role in PCN!

For anyone on Twitter, you can find the PCN, Edmonton Southside Twitter handle here.

Last Registration Reminder for VT for OTs

Hi everyone!

Just letting you know that the 2-day workshop Vision Therapy for Occupational Therapists WILL be proceeding on Thursday and Friday May 30 & 31.  This is the "North" version of this workshop and is your chance to attend without having to travel and pay for accommodations!  Though we have lower numbers than I boldly predicted (!), Dr. Boulet has generously offered to keep the tuition door-prize an option, so you will have the best odds of your life at "winning" $400! 

Please register by Tuesday May 21st so we can order enough Lobster Bisque for everyone.  ;)

Here is the info below:

Please see the brochure for content details.

Dates:
Thursday and Friday May 30 & 31, 2013

Where: 
Black Gold Regional Division Central Office
County Centre
5th Floor, 1101 5th St
Nisku, AB  T9E 7N3


Driving directions: take the airport exit off Hwy 2 and go East.  You will see County Center on the North side of the road - 5 floor building, big yellow sign!  Park in the overflow lot on the East side of the building. 





Cost: 
$400 including coffee, snacks, lunch

Registration: 
Please note that there are a maximum of 40 registrants, and registration is first come first serve by telephone only.  Please call Dr. Boulet's office at 403-933-5552 to pay by credit card and complete your registration.

Please feel free to email ab.ot.pedintgroup@gmail.com with any questions.  Once your registration is confirmed, please contact this email with any special diet requirements or other requirements or questions. 

VT for OTs Registration Deadline May 20

Please note that the deadline to register for the upcoming 2-day workshop Vision Therapy for Occupational Therapists is Monday May 20th.

We need a minimum of 16 registrants to proceed, or the workshop will be cancelled/postponed.  So register today!  Thanks! 

Here is the info below:

Please see the brochure for content details.

Dates:
Thursday and Friday May 30 & 31, 2013

Where: 
Black Gold Regional Division Central Office
County Centre
5th Floor, 1101 5th St
Nisku, AB  T9E 7N3

Cost: 
$400 including coffee, snacks, lunch

Registration: 
Please note that there are a maximum of 40 registrants, and registration is first come first serve by telephone only.  Please call Dr. Boulet's office at 403-933-5552 to pay by credit card and complete your registration.

Please feel free to email ab.ot.pedintgroup@gmail.com with any questions.  Once your registration is confirmed, please contact this email with any special diet requirements or other requirements or questions.

DCD info From Meeting April 25

Thank you Kara Straub for coming to talk to the Edmonton OT Pediatric Interest Group last Thursday!  The information was great and discussion fruitful!

Here are a few links that were mentioned:

www.canchild.ca

www.eacd.org/publications.php

http://www.drkamps.ca/

http://www.dcd-uk.org/

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22705270 (link to abstract, there may be other free access options to this article)

http://www.dcdq.ca/

Vision Resources for OTs

April 24, 2013

Re: Vision’s Role in Learning, Behaviour, and Therapy

Hello OT’s!

I hope you’re all enjoying a sunny day, wherever you are in this great Province!

It was a real treat to share thoughts on the role of vision in child behaviour with the Edmonton regional pediatric OT interest group this past Saturday (April 20). OT’s, it seems, are much more attuned to the simple logic that vision plays a key role in child development than many other child development workers. I mean it when I say that the most valuable piece of diagnostic information I need, as a doctor focusing on child visual development, is the thorough and thoughtful assessment of an occupational therapist.

Here are a few things for your professional interest:

1    See attached document : Association betweenreading speed, cycloplegic refractive error, and oculomotor function in readingdisabled children versus controls (Patrick Quaid & Trefford Simpson, Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol (2013) 251:169–187)

a.       This is an excellent review of visual dysfunction in a comparison of children with IEPs (Individualized Education Plan) vs. those who did not require them.

b.      Note this paper was published via ophthalmology, not optometry where most of this research has been done traditionally. This is a reflection of a growing recognition that a) vision is important, and b) you can manipulate it to benefit child development.

c.       Among other observations, the fact is most children with visual impediments go on to be diagnosed with other endogenous, so-called ‘neurobiological’ concerns, undergo oftentimes arduous testing and treatment, and cost taxpayers countless millions in wasted funds.

d.      This document is homologous and complementary to my soon to be published paper ‘Visual Impediments to Learning’, co-authored with University of Lethbridge psychologist Dr. Noëlla Piquette. If you do not have a copy of this paper, please write to me at info@dvvc.ca (my clinic address in Black Diamond.)

3    See attached pdf ‘Saccadic Testing For VisualImpediments to Learning’. Another clinical treat for you, sort of a teaser. This document is one of the elements we will review during Day 2 of the VT for OD’s training sessions.

a.       Observations of saccadic behaviour is quick and provides excellent clinical insight into a child’s current neurodevelopmental status, health, reading prospects, and clues into other behaviours such as ADHD concerns.

b.      Saccadic measurements are also a great way to track progress of therapy, such as with vestibular treatments.

4      
      See attached ‘VIL Symptom Checklist and Notes.pdf’. It’s pretty well self-explanatory. Feel free to pass this around to colleagues, teachers and parents, and to use in your own clinics.

5.      Finally, always remember to recommend vision exams to your clients’ parents. ALL children need to have vision assessed, whether they appear to have difficulty with vision or not. Remember: A full vision exam requires more than simply checking health and visual acuity. (There was a referral template circulated on this list recently, let me know if you need a copy: info@dvvc.ca). 

I hope you find this information helpful. Feel free to write or call the clinic if you need help or have questions.

Sincerely,

Dr. Charles Boulet

info@dvvc.ca

403-933-5552

dvvc.ca | learningmanagement.ca

Torticollis Course at the Stollery June 1

Please see attached flyers for an upcoming Torticollis course being put on at the Stollery Children's Hospital in Edmonton.

Flyer one

Flyer two - education sessions

Jolly Jumper Attachment for Older Child?

Hello, Just wondering if anyone knows of where one could find a larger “jolly jumper”  style attachment for the swing/ceiling hook?  Child is approx. 45 lbs.  Or if anyone has used any bungee style ropes on their swing attachments.  It is one of the only movements that elicits joy and smiles for this child and she is too heavy for her current apparatus/EA to handle manually.    Thanks.

Candace

Candace Achtymichuk, B.Sc.O.T. (c)

Occupational Therapist

780-908-6322

cabscot@shaw.ca