Analyzing the underlying function of complex behaviors and designing comprehensive intervention programs, to help individuals function effectively requires advanced knowledge of communication, sensory processing, behavioral and mental health, and developmental disabilities. Participants will utilize new evidence-based protocols including the intervention of Challenging Behavior form, Analyzing Behavior Worksheet, and the OT Practice Guidelines.

Presenters:
Betty Paris, PT, M.Ed., C/NDT

Carolyn Murray-Slutsky, MS., OTR, C/NDT, FAOTA

Language:
English. There will be synchronous translation into Greek with a corresponding charge (see section “Tuition”)

Duration:
Three (3) days. June 15-16-17, 2024
8:30-4:30 daily, with a break of 60 minutes and two breaks of 30 minutes each.

Total Didactic Hours:
30 hours or 3.00 CEUs (continuing education credits) approved worldwide by the American Association of Occupational Therapy (AOTA). In order to obtain a certificate of attendance and credits, full attendance of the hours of each day is required.

Organizer:
Pediatric Institute, Ltd – Eliza Maglari, 35 Chelmou Street, Agios Stefanos, Attica, 14565, Greece

Venue:
Athens City Center – Specific venue to be announced in the near future

Seminar: 
Through a variety of learning activities, participants will analyze why children and adults behave the way they do, sort out sensory based problems from other causes, and design intervention strategies to address the underlying problems. Participants will learn to use positive behavioral strategies to reduce undesirable behaviors and facilitate in the child effective coping strategies. Focus will be on remediating the individuals core problem while identifying the most effective reinforcer and strategy to meet the child’s emotional, sensory and behavioral needs. A flow chart and the behavioral analysis worksheet will be used to guide the analysis process and objectify clinical observations.

By the end of the 3 days participants will:

1.   feel comfortable identifying assessments that incorporate sensory integrative and behavioral models and participants will develop:

• a solid understanding of Sensory Integration and resulting sensory integrative disorders,
• the neurological underpinnings,
• the behaviors associated with each, and
• specific interventions needed to address the core sensory issues.
• Communication and behavioral (non-sensory) issues will be identified and differentiated from sensory-based concerns.
• recognize the importance of using the ABC (Antecedent, Behavior, Consequence) and Functional Assessment models in assessing difficult and challenging behaviors.

2. design multidimensional treatment programs that:

• address the core underlying sensory or behavioral issues,
• select the most effective intervention strategies.
• develop replacement behaviors.
• identify preventatives, skill development and reinforcers/consequences in order to improve the functional performance and participation of individuals.

3. be able to prioritize and combine treatment techniques in a progressive hierarchy to obtain immediate functional outcomes.

Who Can Participate:
This workshop is designed for occupational, physical, and speech pathologists, behavior specialists, psychologists, physicians, educators, and parents. The speakers skillfully use a layering system to guide participants to a deep understanding of the complexities of sensory integrative and behavioral difficulties seen in individuals across the lifespan.

 Requirements for Attendance:

1. Signing of tuition agreement (done automatically with the application as a condition of participation)
2. Full payment of tuition fees upon registration

Educational Objectives:
Participants will:

• Describe how sensory integration impacts learning, communication, sensory processing, self-regulation, oral motor, fine motor and gross motor control.
• Describe a sensory modulation disorder (SMD), its behaviors and characteristics. Describe how it impacts function and appropriate intervention strategies that can be used within the home, classroom, community, and other environments.
• Identify the behaviors associated with and difference between a modulation disorder, discrimination disorder, and motor planning difficulties. Select and differentiate between treatment activities needed to remediate a child with a sensory modulation disorder, discrimination disorder or a motor planning disorder.
• Discuss how discrimination disorders (e.g. tactile-proprioceptive) impacts oral motor, fine motor, and gross motor control. Identify intervention strategies to improve functional performance in each area.
• Identify the sensory base to motor planning difficulties, identify the stage of functional breakdown and intervention strategies.
• Understand principles of neuroplasticity and how these principles apply to making changes in function in both the very young child and in individuals as they age.
• Understand how to effectively use exercise to impact neuroplasticity, self-regulation, function and the aging process.
• Define and analyze a child’s behavior.
• Discuss assessment and intervention techniques.
• Select and apply treatment techniques from sensory integration, communication, behavioral, neuro-developmental, and developmental theories.
• Use the Intervention for Challenging Behaviors flow chart in order to identify obtaining and avoiding behaviors in order to guide the assessment process.
• Determine the reinforcement(s) to the child’s behavior.
• Identify behaviors that are obtaining in nature, determine the core problems and appropriate intervention strategies.
• Identify behaviors that are avoidance in nature, determine the core problems, and appropriate intervention strategies.
• Differentiate sensory-based problems from other related problems.
• Use the Intervention for Challenging Behavior Flow Chart and the Behavioral Analysis Worksheet in analyzing the child’s behavior and planning an intervention program.
• Develop replacement behaviors that address the behavior of concern, meeting the underlying need.
• Identify preventatives, skill development and reinforcers/consequences in order to improve the functional performance and participation of individuals.
• Learn strategies to develop new behaviors, diminish unwanted behaviors, identify appropriate reinforcers, while using positive behavioral strategies.
• Design treatment strategies that incorporate the child’s sensory, motor, behavioral and communication needs.

Difficulty Level:
Moderate

Payment Methods:

1. Deposit/Wire Transfer to a Bank Account (with your own transfer costs) to

• VIVA: GR8170100000000772492568061
• Eurobank: GR4602600930000660200465588

2. Credit/Debit Card:  https://pay.vivawallet.com/pedingr(charge 5€ for administrative fees)

Number of Participants:
Maximum 150 people, minimum 50. In case the minimum number is not reached, a refund is made.  Reservations are completed upon online application AND full payment of tuition fees.  In the event seminar is full, you will be placed on a waiting list. For details, please see “Registration” below.

Registration:
For registrations, deposit and payment of tuition fees click Register.  For Registration Cancellations/Refunds see the relevant section in Registration. 

Tuition Fees:
Pediatric Institute always lists publicly on its website tuition fees, and for all educational seminars since 2005, following ethical rules of professional transparency. Pediatric Institute seminars are exempt from VAT. 

• Early Bird:  580 € (up to and including 30 April 2024) - Group Registration of 5+ people: 550 €/person
• Late Bird:   650 € (May 1, to May 31, 2024) - Group Registration of 5+ people:  600 €/person
• Full Price:  700 € (June 1 to June 14 2024) – Group registration is not feasible

Full payment date effects tution fees based on the dates mentioned above.

For Synchronous Translation to Greek: + 200 €/person please indicate option in the comments section

Schedule:
It will be sent to the participants after full payment of the tuition fees and 3 days before the start of the seminar

Information:
For any questions we are at your disposal:
a) by phone at (210) 8142 218, Mon-Fri: 12:30-20:30 and Sa: 9:00-15:00
b) by telephone message to our answering machine, or
c) by text message on our website

Instructors:
Carolyn Murray-Slutsky, MS OTR, C/NDT, FAOTA, is director of Rehabilitation for Children, Inc, a pediatric private practice. She co-founded M P Rehabilitative Services, a pediatric private practice that specializes in outpatient, home, and school-based therapy in Florida, which was acquired by a national corporation in 2001.  She received her undergraduate degree in special education from Ohio University and her master's degree in occupational therapy from Boston University.

Carolyn is certified in sensory integration (SI) and neurodevelopmental treatment (NDT) for pediatrics, infants, and adults. Her work experience includes working in direct patient care, consultative, educational, and administrative positions. She has served as an adjunct professor teaching on line courses for occupational and physical therapy students within the US, as a tutor for the Sensory Integration Network of the UK and on the Board of Directors for Abilitations- School Specialties, Southpaw Enterprises and Sleep’n Sync.

She received the Manager of the Year award while serving as Director of Rehabilitation for an acute care facility and she was honored by the Florida Occupational Therapy Association with the Award of Excellence in 1999 for her long-standing and significant contributions to the occupational therapy profession and in 2013 was awarded honorary membership. In 2017 she was awarded Fellowship in the American Occupational Therapy Association for “Leading Excellence in Pediatrics Around the Globe”.

Betty Paris, PT M.Ed., C/ NDT, attained her Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Therapy from Florida International University and her master’s in education from the University of Phoenix. Betty holds post graduate certificates in sensory integration (SI) and neurodevelopmental treatment (NDT) in pediatrics and in babies. She has used her dual certificates to develop a unique blend of NDT and SI treatments offered to children and young adults in a variety of settings and shared with therapists, parents, and other professionals through educational seminars.

Her professional experience includes hospital, private practice, and community-based services, as well as being co-founder of MP Rehabilitative Services, a multi-clinic private practice. Betty has used her expertise, dual certifications in NDT and SI, and her M.Ed. as adjunct professor, offering face-to-face and online programs to occupational and physical therapy students, and has been a Tutor for the Sensory Integration Network of the UK. She has co-authored various educational journal publications and has served on the Board of Directors of Abilitations-School Specialties.

Ms. Paris and Ms. Murray-Slutsky together with Herman Slutsky, formed STAR Services, a company dedicated to providing high quality educational and consultative services. Paris and Murray-Slutsky lecture throughout the United States and Europe. Their publications and presentations offer state of the art treatment methods on a wide variety of topics including Sensory Integration, Neuro Developmental Treatment, Behavior and Functional Therapy, Splinting Techniques designed to give the participants the skill and techniques needed to improve the functional performance of individuals with sensory and neurological problems. They have authored books on Autism, Sensory and Behavioral Issues, treatment techniques and are distributors of the revolutionary treatment strategy Sleep ‘n Sync, a series of sleep audios to address a variety of issues children face.

A few of the publications include:

• Is it Sensory or is it Behavior? 2^nd Edition- Behavior Problem Identification, Analysis, and Intervention (2022)
• Autism Interventions: Exploring the Spectrum of Autism, 2^nd Edition (2014), a text book for clinicians, parents, teachers, and other professionals. This book provides practical holistic intervention strategies.
• Developing Visual Motor Integration. A workbook of easy-to-use, reusable worksheets to systematically build skills. Activities build visual spatial perception, perceptual organization, eye-hand coordination, problem solving, motor planning and fine motor control.
• Sensory Modulation Laminated Card Series: Sensory Seeking, Sensory Avoiding, Passive Under Responsive & Positive Behavioral Strategies Cards- A laminated card series addressing practical solutions to regulatory issues.