Blogs

School is out. The summer heat is in. How do you keep kids cool and having fun, especially when children have sensory issues? I’ve gathered up some great summer fun articles and resources to answer that question. Get ready for Friday’s official...

It has been quite a while since I have posted in my blog about the strategic planning process at the Department of Rehabilitation at MD Anderson Cancer Center. One complaint about strategic planning as a process is often that it becomes about producing...

One of my personal weaknesses is dealing with disappointments. In OT, it has given me a lot- from being one of the better known newer OT practitioners, to developing ability to manage my Asperger's, to gaining many lifelong friends I wouldn't...

Whether you’re a parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, or cousin, chances are you’re looking forward to spending some summer vacation time with the children in your life. For many, vacation time means piling into the family car or boarding a plane...

New AOTA Board of Directors members will assume their posts July 1. Sadly, that means it is time to say goodbye to some current leaders. We will have a full story on the Web soon, but in the meantime, here is part of my interview with outgoing Board director...

Hello friends! July 1st marks my official start date as the new Chair for the Gerontology Special Interest Section. I have already starting working with the outgoing Standing Committee to make the 2014 AOTA Conference in Baltimore as fabulous as can...

If you are an experienced researcher with expertise in effectiveness and outcomes research, healthcare information technology, and health services research, please consider contacting me to nominate you to serve on an Agency for Healthcare Research and...

It’s summertime (well, close enough) and even if you don’t get a 3-month break like those who are in school or working in the schools, there’s something about summer that makes life a little easier and slower. To celebrate that, today...

hello All I am currently trying to keep up with things on this aspect of the group and intend on updating some articles in the near future...hope you have found this intyerenting...if there are questions lets get a discussion going... Ben

LATEST REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS - http://www.nimh.nih.gov/research-funding/grants/foas.jsp?type=RFA The goal of this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) and the companion FOAs, RFA-MH-14-100 (R01), Research on Early Identification and Linkage...

Summer is an excellent time to sneak in some extra physical activities with children. Even kids who aren’t keen on organized sports and exercise can get in on the fun. Hikes, bike rides, soccer games, swimming, and even selecting a parking space...

With passion, determination, and now funding from the hospital’s foundation, one occupational therapist is working to incorporate sensory-based treatment hospital wide. Elaine Masarik-Williams, OTR/L , who works in the mental health unit at Swedish...

Interested in learning more about "Community Mobility" and the role of Travel Training? Easter Seals is offering this FREE course on the fundamentals of Travel Training. Please pass this announcement on to others in your community who may be...

National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research The NIDRR-funded Project Empowerment: Building Research Infrastructure Capacity will host a webcast, Funding Opportunities at the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research...

Any OTRS who belong to the Gerontology SIS interested in joining me to make a difference for older adults towards the Centennial Vision?? Let's chat! We are in need of a Quarterly Editor as well as someone to lead Continuing Education. Hope...

As its Web site states, "Rebuilding Together provides critical repairs and renovations for low-income homeowners across the United States, and has done so for almost 25 years." Each year, occupational therapy practitioners and students are active...

I don’t know about you, but I have a special place in my heart for Legos. One childhood summer – later referred to as “The Lego Summer” – was full of heat advisories that made even swimming miserable. When we couldn’t...

If you’ve noticed a lack of posts recently on the Checking the Pulse blog, I want to reassure you that your AOTA Web editor has not been sleeping on the job. Nope, instead of a nap I have been part of a team at AOTA that is in the final stretch...

The fuzzy cat toy vibrates when Kathy pulls the string. Evan grasps it and smiles, his red cheeks like big cherry lollipops on his face. Kathy Stewart, OTR/L, MS, FAOTA, lets Evan hold the toy, but he suddenly drops it on the floor underneath his small...

PCORI Awards $88.6 Million in Funding for Comparative Effectiveness Research Projects As stated in their mission statement, the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) aims to help people make “informed health care decisions, and...

Sign up NOW! TODAY May 21 st at 5pm Eastern Time attend a free webinar sponsored by AARP Driver Safety: We Need To Talk Facilitator Training for OT’s. A free Facilitator manual with DVD will be mailed to each registrant upon completion of this training...

Announcement: Registrations are now being accepted for the Fitness-to-Drive Screening (FTDS) Measure for At-Risk Older Drivers Workshop and Webinar to be held June 24, 2013. This 2.5 hour Webinar/Workshop will be presented by Dr. Sherrilene Classen...

Imagine this. You are sitting at your desk at work, worrying about a difficult client issue. Suddenly, the door opens and a familiar looking person walks in. You stare at this newcomer as you recognize the hair, the face and even the shoes. In a heart...

http://www.npr.org/2012/01/18/145405658/learning-to-love-and-be-loved-with-autism Almost a year and a half ago, there was a Checking the Pulse article about this NPR episode. During this episode, there was a former OT student called in about how he...

In 2008, Jason Koger was in a terrible ATV accident that resulted in the amputation of both his hands. He is a remarkable man with an even more remarkable story, and I encourage you to check out his Web site . I recently interviewed him for an article...