Ela Dupont, OTR/L, CAPS, ECHM and Tamasin Kekic, OTR/L, CAPS, ECHM who represented VOTA at the UVM Gerontology Symposium held today May 15th, at the Doubletree by Hilton Hotel and Conference Center in Burlington . If any Vermont Occupational Therapy Practitioners would like to participate in the planning of the September 18-22, 2023 Falls Prevention Awareness week with the VOTA Aging in Place Committee, please contact Karen Downey, at votatreasurer@gmail.com |
VOTA is a proud supporter of the Vermont Family Network. Vermont Family Network will be hosting their Annual Conference April 11, 2023. https://www.vermontfamilynetwork.org/what-we-do/resources/annual-conference/ |
The University of Vermont is hosting an Integrative Pain Management Conference on May 5th. We are offering 6 PDUs for attendance. There is also a post-conference workshop on cervical radicular pain on May 6th, worth 4 PDUs. If you are interested in attending these events please sign up at the links provided. Pat Crocker, OTR, Heather Sheehan,COTA, Hannah Kinney,OTR, Molly TobinOTS and Karen Downey, OTR, participated in the WVMT The Morning Drive radio program on 4/24/23 from 8:30-9am. They described what OT is and where OTs and OTAs work in Vermont. They also discussed the new UVM OTD program that started in Sept 2022. A special Thank You goes out to Danform Shoes (with stores in Burlington, Shelburne and St. Albans) that donated a $25 gift card that was given away to a lucky caller who telephoned the show to ask a question. We also thank WVMT radio hosts Kurt Wright and Anthony Neri for the opportunity to celebrate OT Month! |
Vermont Leadership Education for Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (LEND) Fellowship
This is a unique training opportunity in our state. Each academic year 12 individuals- graduate students, family members of people with disabilities, individuals with developmental disabilities (self-advocates), and community professionals from many disciplines and racial/ethnic groups- learn together about leadership skills, policy, advocacy, culturally responsive person and family centered care and neurodevelopmental disabilities.
The goal is to train participants to make health, education and other systems work better for individuals with neurodevelopmental disabilities and their families in culturally meaningful ways.
I highly encourage professionals to consider. In addition, please share information with families and self advocates that may be interested.
More information is available at:
http://www.med.uvm.edu/vtlend/applying
Feel free to reach out to Heather.blackburn@uvm.edu or the LEND program specialist ivania-belen.ruiz-mangas@med.uvm.edu for more information.
Vermont Assistive Technology Program
We cover a wide variety of topics and perhaps pediatric therapists, special educators and others might find the newsletters and our free program helpful for consultation, AT demonstration and loans. We are also very open to suggestions! Some highlights include AT for notetaking, continence care, inclusive mask options, typing with your voice (speech to text), a crafting series, Chromebook accessibility, iOS accessibility, switch adapted toys, recreation, and more!
All Brains Belong: UVM Alum Hosts Sensory-Friendly COVID-19 Vaccine Clinics
Read more about All Brains Belong here!
Virtual Mentoring for New OTPs and OT/OTA students
http://www.maot.org/event-4549561
Dates: Virtual every other month, 3rd Tuesday at 7 pm. (March, May, July, September, Nov, Jan) Next Meeting: January 18th @ 7 pm (EST) Contact: info@maot.org Cost: Free to MAOT members. Non-members $10.00 each, $5.00 for students. MAOT membership forms will be available at the meeting, or can be downloaded from this website. |
$5.00 for practitioners from other state associations
SIG Membership: This is a new SIG open to all members either those looking to mentor and/or new OTPs and students. The goal of this SIG will be to support new graduates as they transition to practice from a student role and to offer topics such as documentation management strategies, how to find evidence and evaluations to support practice, CEUS exploration/skill development academics/fieldwork, ethics in the workplace, how to manage your time, guest presenters of varied specialty/areas of interest in practice, and other topics as requested by membership.
Topic: Decreasing Compassion Fatigue and Increasing Resilience Among Occupational Therapists
Speaker: Jessica Loeser OT
SIG Chair: Colleen Muse OT, OTR, OTD
Speaker Bio: Jessica Loeser is the Graduate Assistant for the Post-Professional OTD Program. She is an OT at an inpatient rehabilitation hospital working with the neurological population in Washington D.C. She started an interdisciplinary support group for individuals with spinal cord injuries and is PAMPCA and LSVT-BIG certified. She has had 3 successful Level II Fieldwork students and is now working towards her OTD degree with a concentration in administration to further serve her community. She enjoys reading, painting, and spending time with her dog.
Objectives:
Define compassion fatigue and resilience
Identify signs and symptoms of compassion fatigue
Describe 1-2 ways to increase resilience
Join MAOT Today!
Membership in MAOT is an investment in yourself and our profession. We offer discounted continuing education, networking opportunities, advocacy and a community of practitioners to help support and further your career!
The WHO designated 2021 the International Year of Health and Care Workers in gratitude for the dedication and perseverance of health professionals under extremely difficult conditions. The advocacy initiative has highlighted people as foundational to systems of health for all. At the conclusion of another dynamic and challenging year, I take pride, comfort, and inspiration from feeling part of a professional community of therapists, educators, and advocates that is so welcoming and inquisitive. Thank you for your generosity with your time, passions, conversations, and advice. In a time when it feels easy to fall into distance, it has been a joy to connect.
Ongoing/upcoming opportunities:
I would like to express immense appreciation for the past and ongoing energy and enthusiasm that have fueled TRIPSCY in the current iteration. I am excited to move into the new year under our new name, the Pediatric Professional Collaborative of Vermont! Wishing everyone a safe and happy start to the new year. - Adrienne Miao. OTR/L
Older Adults in Vermont- Resources and Support
From Sherry Pidgeon, OTR/L, CAPS, ECHM, CDP
On November 18, 2021 I launched a Facebook group called Older Adultsin Vermont – Resources and Support. I was inspired to start this group by anOT friend who started a similar group down in Maryland and I have beenvery impressed with the following they have. The intention of the group is to do what the title says, offer resources and support to our older Vermonters. As many of you know there are so many great resources out there for people however knowing what is available and what can be helpful when you need it can feel overwhelming. As a professional with a private practice, I still become confused as to what is out there!
Initially I frontloaded the group with professionals who work with seniors and then gradually started inviting older Vermonters. I was able to pull another professional in to assist with admin, Madigan Rollins of Synergy Homecare. Madigan has many contacts throughout northwest Vermont and this has been a huge help. In the group we have a wide range of professionals such as Occupational Therapists, Physical Therapists, Social Workers, Skilled Nurses, members of different organizations such as Age Well and SASH and more. What we are able to do is steer older Vermonters and caregivers to programs and services that could help them in their quest for health and safety as they age. (continued on page 4)
We are gaining traction and now have 85 members in just a month however we would obviously like to have many more! I feel as if we are currently primarily reaching both professionals and older Vermonters in the Chittenden County area. Please join and invite both older Vermonters and their caregivers to join! Take a look at the page to see what type of information we are providing. The link to do so is: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1299520753887651/members
Funding home modifications for seniors is an ongoing struggle. This past spring, through the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), a Notice of Funding Availability was opened and targeted towards non-profit agencies to assist older low-income homeowners to age in place. Grant applicants were strongly encouraged to incorporate the services of Occupational Therapists into the application. We are excited to report that Cathedral Square in Burlington was one of 32 nonprofit organizations from across the country awarded the grant and will be soon offering these services to age and income eligible residents in the more rural towns in Chittenden County. This is very exciting news and the OT community in Vermont looks forward to supporting our colleagues at Cathedral Square and they start these services.
To learn more, please contact Molly Dugan at Cathedral Square at dugan@cathedralsquare.org
Leaves Should Fall, Not People!
Sherry Pidgeon, OTR and Ela Dupont, OTR, who are certified Aging in Place Specialists, were featured on the WCAX television program Across the Fence on September 8th at 12:10. They offered useful information about Home Modifications to prevent falls. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uuKW2y_Bbxo
To learn more about Vermont Falls Prevention Awareness Week, please use the following links:
Falls Free Vermont Coalition on Facebook https://m.facebook.com/FallsFreeVT/
National Coalition on Aging: https://www.ncoa.org/
Sherry Pidgeon, OTR/L, CAPS, ECHM
Home Mobility VT
Ela Dupont, OTR/L, CAPS, ECHM
Website: Gmhomesafety.com
Email: informationvota@gmail.com or call 802-373-3144
Would you like to become more involved? Email us at: informationvota@gmail.com