The views expressed in the following presentation are those of the presenter and do not necessarily reflect those of STAR Institute.

Summary:

Rethinking Movement: Exploring Sensory and Motor Integration

Sensory integration and motor development go hand in hand. Understanding autistic sensorimotor developmental differences and disability and autistic people’s lived experiences of movement differences can help inform our understanding of how to best support autistic people to participate in the activities in which they wish to engage. This presentation will summarize recent research on autistic sensorimotor developmental differences and the perspectives of autistic youth and adults on their experiences of motor difference and disability. The information covered will be of interest to anyone supporting autistic children and/or adults, including occupational and physical therapists, speech therapists, psychotherapists, family members, and other support persons.

After participating in this session, attendees should be able to:

• Describe common autistic sensorimotor developmental differences
• Discuss reasons autistic people may benefit from increased identification and support of motor disability
• Summarize themes of autistic experiences of participating in physical activity and developing motor skills
• Discuss considerations professionals should take when supporting autistic people with movement differences and disability

Presented and recorded at the Virtual Summit: Sensory Health in Autism June 12-14, 2024

Level: Introductory

Length: 1.5 hours

Timeframe for access: Once you first choose to "Launch" this course, you will have 45 days to access the content as often as you like. Your 45-day window for access will not begin until you first click the "Launch" button.

Presenter:

Iris Warchall , PT, DPT (she/they)
Autistic Physical Therapist/ Advocate

Iris Warchall, PT, DPT is an Autistic self-advocate, parent to an Autistic child, and physical therapist specializing in supporting adults with a variety of the health conditions more prevalent among autistic people, including hypermobility spectrum conditions, pelvic health concerns, chronic pain, dizziness and vestibular dysfunction, and movement disorders. In addition to her clinical practice, Iris provides training for physical therapists and other professionals on implementing neurodiversity-affirming practices. They are passionate about doing their part to bring insights from the Autistic community and Autistic-led research to the physical therapy and broader healthcare community in order to improve the standard of care for autistic individuals across the lifespan.

Presenter Disclosure:

• Financial: Iris was paid an honorarium for this presentation. She owns a small business providing continuing education for professionals on topics related to her presentation.
• Non-financial: Iris is on the board of a non-profit organization, which advocates for an inclusive environment for students with disabilities in local school district. She is also a member of the American Physical Therapy Association, and an autistic self-advocate, parent to an autistic child.
• There are no other relevant financial or nonfinancial relationships to disclose.

Instructional Methods:

PowerPoint Lecture, Q&A Session

Level:

Introductory

Who should attend:

Occupational therapists, occupational therapy assistants, physical therapists, speech language pathologists, educators, child development specialists, mental health professionals, parents, caregivers, and other individuals seeking a better understanding of Sensory Processing in Autism.

Cancellation Policy:

Because this program is recorded and accessible at your convenience, cancellations are not typically accepted. Please contact education@sensoryheatlh.org if you have any questions or concerns.

Do you have a disability that would require special accommodation?

Please contact us at education@sensoryhealth.org and describe how we can help accommodate your needs.

The views expressed in the following presentation are those of the presenter and do not necessarily reflect those of STAR Institute.