The Vermont Statewide Independent Living Councils Health care committee is conducting a survey and would like your help. Please share with people with disabilities and caregivers.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfPNIoFPqYfkgHtn8Cjexhgg_2sWjeqpSNaRJ3zNNZ4_rBD8A/viewform?usp=sf_link
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MEOTA Fall Conference Registration is now open!
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There are three ways to attend this conference: in-person, watching the livestream via zoom and by watching the recordings after the conference. YES you can earn credit all three ways, and you can potentially earn additional credit by watching multiple concurrent sessions! Wow! Have more questions? Email us at maineotassociation@gmail.com! (Oh and don't forget about the NHOTA and MAOT/ RIOT conferences which you can get at the membership rate for each state!) REGISTER BEFORE OCTOBER 15th for EARLYBIRD RATES! |
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Our AOTA RA rep Ela Dupont was spotlighted in the CAPABLE Newsletter July/Aug 2024, "In The Community Section" Titled: "Ela's Journey in Empowering Independence" The following is an excerpt from the newsletter:
"Her resume reflects her unwavering commitment to improving the lives of others. Ela's professional journey includes significant roles such as Manager of Rehabilitative Services and Medical Social Work and Director of Clinical Services at Franklin County Home Health Agency. Additionally, Ela teaches as an adjunct professor at the University of Vermont and runs a small business with her husband, focusing on healthy aging in place. Missing patient interactions, she recently shifted her focus back to clinical work.
A key element of Ela’s transition into clinical work is her involvement with the CAPABLE program. Her interest in this program was sparked during her time as a Vermont delegate to the Representative Assembly of the American Occupational Therapy Association. Ela's experience in both OT and home modification consulting made her a strong advocate, allowing her to use her skills to help people stay in their homes."
Congratulations Ela!
The UVM OTD program recognized the inaugural cohort of students moving to the clinical part of their education.
Karen Downey received the UVM Department of Occupational Therapy Community Collaborator of the Year.
Senator Leahy worked to secure a 5.75 million dollar grant for the UVM OTD program for renovation and new construction including pediatric, outdoor, and anatomy laboratories and a “smart apartment” featuring accessible technologies and modifications that can maximize independence and improve quality of life for people with disabilities or and older adults as they age in place. The project represents a significant investment to develop Vermont’s first occupational therapy degree program and address a critical need for occupational therapy services in the state.
Leahy stated, “The demand for occupational therapists is growing exponentially as Vermont and the country’s demographics age. UVM will now have state-of-the-art OT classrooms and laboratories that will put the school at the national forefront training Vermonters for this growing field.”
Greta Irwin was honored with our ”Fieldwork Educator of the Year Award.” She has spent many hours collaborating with us to place students across multiple sites at the hospital. Her flexibility, open communication, and experience are invaluable, and has helped us create amazing learning opportunities for our students. Thank you Greta!
Ben Chater received the Clinical Learning Support Champion award. Ben Chater has served as an Assistant Attorney General for the State of Vermont since 2017. Since 2018, he has served as sole AAG for the Department of Disabilities, Aging & Independent Living—which includes the Vermont Office of Public Guardian. Ben has been and exceptional community support for our students. As someone who has lived with disabilities and worked to overcome potential limitations, he has gained invaluable experience and has been open to sharing this with our students. He has come in to present to our students, has allowed us into his home to share his adaptations, and worked with students to address different challenges and find ideas to overcome these issues. His openness and willingness to work with our students, while sharing his personal journey has helped our students better understand disabilities and work to create devices to overcome them. We thank Ben for this support!
Click here: Buffum fund at BIAVT (Brain Injury Alliance of Vermont)
Eligibility:
- Neurodegenerative Disorder; i.e. Huntington’s, Multiple Sclerosis, Stroke, Tumor
- Brain Injury with cognitive decline as a result of the injury and impairment to one’s ability to function in everyday life
- Financial hardship and does not have other assets that could be accessed
Funded Services and Limits:
- $2,000.00/year
- Short term financial crisis
- Transition back into and/or support to maintain community relationships
- Safe and dignified living
Oakledge Accessible Playground
Burlington Parks, Recreation & Waterfront
| 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/ |
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!
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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!
- Sign Up for the Newsletters.
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- Tech Tuesday Tips: A weekly newsletter that highlights Assistive Technology (A.T.) ideas. The most recent newsletter is: Mask-ability, Part 4: Facial coverings for sensory needs and tricks for glasses wearers.
- Events or Trainings: An infrequent newsletter sent when there is an Event or Training that the A.T Program is hosting or participating in.
- General AT Program Updates: An infrequent newsletter sent when there are changes or updates from our program.
- Available Equipment on the AT Exchange: A monthly newsletter that highlights a few of the great items.
All Brains Belong: UVM Alum Hosts Sensory-Friendly COVID-19 Vaccine Clinics
Read more about All Brains Belong here!
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:
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Research Article:
- Each quarter, the VT Continence Project completes a review of a peer reviewed article relevant to continence and toilet-teaching/learning. This year, we are reading articles that relate to parental self-efficacy and/or supporting parental participation and success in intervention. This winter’s article is from Autism (2021): Autism-specific parenting self-efficacy: An examination of the role of parent-reported intervention involvement, satisfaction with intervention-related training, and caregiver burden. Please see the attachment for a friendly one-pager outlining the major findings of the paper.
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Adaptive winter sports opportunities at Craftsbury:
- Applications are currently open to Vermont youth and adults with disabilities for adaptive Nordic ski scholarships (passes and/or lessons at Craftsbury Outdoor Center) from Green Mountain Adaptive Sports: Application page
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Special Education Rule Changes:
- If you happen to find yourself with extra viewing time and would like to deepen your understanding of the upcoming (July 2022) changes to the Vermont Special Education Rules, this recent webinar from Vermont Family Network may be of interest.
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Medical Reserve Corps:
- Vermont’s Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) units are community-based groups of volunteers who supplement local emergency and public health resources. MRC members have been volunteering support at many of the vaccination clinics and test kit distributions throughout the state. They are always looking for volunteers (both with medical and non-medical skills). More information availablehere.
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