Vermont Occupational Therapy Association

Assistive Technology Workshop

2008-08-16T19:02:00.002-04:00

http://www.dail.state.vt.us/atp/conferences/TangoTrng-SaveTheDateWbury.pdf

http://www.blink-twice.com/

Save The Date!

The Tango is creating amazing success for kids, families, and their support
teams across the country. And now here’s the chance for you to get hands-
on experience and discover all that the new Tango 2.0 has to offer! You’ll
see how new Tango 2.0 supports both social communication and linguistic
competence with its powerful new tools for language and literacy.
You’ll learn about:

Multiple modes of communication - from Phrase First language for
speaking phrases, to Core First, for word-by-word sentence generation.

Customization and content creation - the easiest and most intuitive
ever, especially with Tango Lab.

Adapting the Tango for different communicators - beginning,
transitional, and advanced.

New Tango features, like Tangoramas - scenes that let kids really have
fun and explore language!

DATE: Wednesday September 17, 2008
TIME: 1:00pm-4:00pm
PLACE: Vermont Assistive Technology Program
Weeks Basement Conference Room
103 S. Main St. Weeks Bldg
Waterbury, VT

FOR MORE INFO: Contact Emma Cobb at 800-750-6355 or
emma.cobb@ahs.state.vt.us.

Free Tango
Training!
900 Broadway, 8th Floor • New york, Ny 10003 • 877-BLINK-11 (877-254-6511) • www.blink-twice.com

Developing Employment Opportunities for People with Autism

2008-08-16T18:49:00.001-04:00

http://www.uvm.edu/~cdci/tripscy/?Page=trainings.html&SM=JCsubmenu.html

October 7 - 8, 2008
When: 9:00 AM - 3:30 PM
Where: Hilton Hotel, Burlington, VT
Contact Name: Mike Chapman
Email Contact: cecile.sherburn@ahs.state.vt.us
Contact Telephone: (802) 241-2447

Overview:
Two-day workshop on techniques to promote employment for people with autism spectrum disorder. Mike Chapman is currently the statewide Director of Services for Division TEACCH Supported Employment Program at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Mr. Chapman has worked for the Supported Employment Program since 1998. He advocates for supported employment throughout the state of North Carolina and has trained audiences both nationally and internationally. Mr. Chapman will be covering various techniques for supporting people with autism and their employers. Expect a great deal of hands-on learning.
Cost $25.00 (includes 2 deli buffet lunches and morning refreshments). Please make checks payable to the State of Vermont - Division of Vocational Rehabilitation. Mail separately to Cecile Sherburn, VocRehab VT, Weeks 1A, 103 South Main St. Waterbury, VT 05671-2303. State agencies may do an interdepartmental transfer.
To Register for this event (click here)

Lodging at the Hilton: There are a limited number of rooms reserved for those who wish to stay overnight. The rate is $169.00. Please identify UVM Center on Disability and Community Inclusion when making reservations. Room reservations must be made by September 6, 2008.

(Posted 08/08/08

2008 Mid-Hudson Brain Injury Rehabilitation Conference

2008-08-16T10:19:00.002-04:00

The 2008 Mid-Hudson Brain Injury Rehabilitation Conference, sponsored by Northeast Center for Special Care, will be held on Thursday October 2, 2008.

Our conference this year is titled:

Post-Acute Rehabilitation: Meeting the Challenge of Long-Term Recovery

Our 2008 conference features noted experts from the field of brain injury rehabilitation presenting sessions highlighting traditional and non-traditional treatment modalities. The conference focus is on assisting individuals with brain injury to continue their recovery over the long-term.

Use the link below to view the conference agenda, who our speakers are, and how to register:

2008 Conference Brochure

http://www.northeastcenter.com/4th-annual-mid-hudson-brain-injury-rehabilitation-conference.pdf

Join us in Kingston, NY on October 2, for this informative conference.

Register Today - Seating is Limited

Sincerely,

Deborah Muise
Northeast Center for Special Care
A Specialty Rehabilitation Program for Traumatic Brain Injury

Let's Wii-habilitate them!!

2008-07-25T05:20:00.000-04:00

http://www.publicopiniononline.com/ci_9990429

Regatta Volunteers Needed!

2008-07-25T05:15:00.000-04:00

We are looking for some help with the Northeast Disabled Athletic Assoc. regatta this year. We specifically could use some help on the lift - it's like a hoyer. Training included. Even a couple of hours would be great. Sat. and Sun August 2 and 3. If you are interested email me back and we can go over the times available - A..M., mid day or end of day.
A great way to spend some time at the lake and lend an abled hand..
many thanks
Grace Lance, COTA and NDAA board member
reply to
Graceprint2@ aol.com

Article Requested for Summer 2008 Newsletter

2008-06-19T05:14:00.002-04:00

Looking for articles with focus on:

Pediatrics
Mental Health issues in VT
Dementia
Hand splinting 101 instruction
wheelchair seating 101
Treatment techniques for sensory defensiveness
Techniques to manage RSD with hemiplegia
Any inspirational story related to OT

Please submit articles to newsletter@vtot.org before August 1

ABILITIES: Promoting the employment of Vermont citizens of all abilities

2008-05-27T18:32:00.001-04:00

http://hireus.org/Abilities/Abilities-Archive/abilities-march-2008-6

ABILITIES: Promoting the employment of Vermont citizens of all abilities

2008-05-27T18:32:00.000-04:00

http://hireus.org/Abilities/Abilities-Archive/abilities-march-2008-6

Doing the ACLS...occupational therapy assessment

2008-05-27T18:27:00.000-04:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kqbi6kBbK5g&feature=related

In case you want to brush up on your skills!

Occupational Therapy Students Talk About Gingerbread Houses

2008-05-27T18:23:00.001-04:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=850CLiYMeAY&feature=user

Pediatric occupational therapy treatment project

2008-05-27T18:21:00.000-04:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O0k8KYWu_xQ

Horse with Prosthetic Leg!

2008-05-27T18:19:00.002-04:00

http://forums.fourtitude.com/zerothread?cmd=print&id=3839985

2008-05-27T18:17:00.001-04:00

2008-05-27T18:15:00.002-04:00

http://www.disaboom.com/

Vermont Becomes 10th State to Sign Prosthetic Parity Bill

2008-05-27T17:17:00.000-04:00

http://www.oandp.com/edge/issues/articles/NEWS_2008-04-22_02.asp

http://www.timesargus.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080424/NEWS02/804240383/1003/NEWS02

VOTA Spring Newsletter Online

2008-05-27T16:04:00.003-04:00

Please find the latest edition of the VOTA Newsletter on our site!
Password Protected so sign up today to view!

Joni Jones

VOTA Spring Conference Announcement

2008-04-25T07:13:00.000-04:00

VOTA Spring Conference Announcement
Saturday, May 17th, 2008
McClure Auditorium – FAHC Main Campus; Burlington, Vermont
8:00am-5:00pm

Securing the Future of Your Occupational Therapy Practice:
Lessons on Specialty and Board Certification and The Use of Evidence-Based Practice
CEUs 6.5

Presented by: Christine Urish, PhD, OTR/L, BCMH, FAOTA

Christine is Professor of Occupational Therapy at St. Ambrose University where she has been an occupational therapy educator for 14 years. She is a member of the AOTA Commission on Continuing Competence and Professional Development. She has a BS and MS in occupational therapy from Western Michigan University and a PhD in Rehabilitation Counseling from the University of Iowa. Christine maintains a clinical practice with persons diagnosed with mental illness at the local community mental health center.

Course Objectives:
1. Identify the AOTA standards of continuing competence, and how these standards relate to individual professional development as an occupational therapy practitioner.

2. Understand what the AOTA Professional Development Tool (PDT) is as well as and how this tool can be accessed and used to monitor professional development.

3. Demonstrate an understanding of the importance in ongoing self examination and reflection as a method of examining professional development across the lifespan of a practitioner's career.

4. Possess knowledge of what AOTA board and specialty certification is, what it is not, how it can benefit practitioners, employers and consumers as well as the process of applying for board and specialty certification.

5. Be able to identify resources for clinical use and application of evidence based practice including CAT's (critically appraised topics), CAP's (critically appraised papers).

6. Therapists will be able to identify current issues in mental health as they relate to the practice of occupational therapy.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Registration Form contact president@vtot.org with questions
Name :_________________________________ Pre- Registration Fee: Due by May 3, 2008
Address : _______________________________ $80
_______________________________
Phone : ________________________________ Day of Conference Fee:
Email: _________________________________ $125

Mail to: VOTA CASH OR CHECK ONLY –
P.O. Box 5567 PAYABLE TO VOTA
Essex Junction, Vt. 05453

Call for Papers!

2008-04-24T10:52:00.000-04:00

VOTA IS NOW ACCEPTING PRESENTATION PROPOSALS FOR FALL CONFERENCE 2008

The Annual Conference of VOTA is a time for practitioners, students, educators, and scientists to share their work - work that will further the profession of occupational therapy as it seeks to contribute its knowledge to improve the lives of those who can benefit from occupational therapy services.

e-mail: president@vtot.org for more information.

Deadline is June, 1, 2008

Occupational Therapists Use Wii For Parkinson's Study

2008-04-22T08:17:00.001-04:00

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080407074534.htm

Membership Drive In Motion

2008-04-22T08:11:00.002-04:00

Join Vermont's Official Association of Occupational Therapists. Increase your professional developement, practice growth, and networking capabilities. Utilize VOTA leaders positions to volunteer for your profession and grow personally and professionally.

Membership in VOTA runs from April to March each year.Please make dues checks payable to VOTA and mail with completed application to:

VOTA Membership
PO Box 202
Huntington, VT 05462

Legislative Day April 18, 2008

2008-04-22T08:05:00.002-04:00

What a successful day at the State House!

We had the terrific opportunity to meet with members of many committees, educate them on our profession and how we are affected by the motions that are either passed or rejected by them.

Governor Douglas met with us to learn more about occupational therapy in Vermont.

Many representatives were interested in hearing of our shortages in numbers, the great number of vacant positions and the absence of an academic program in Vermont to assist in gaining and sustaining our workforce numbers.

Joni Jones, COTA/L

FLAME the Band! An Inspiring Group

2007-10-19T05:26:00.000-04:00

http://www.flametheband.com/index.cfm

Copy and pasted from the above site:
"FLAME is a rock band that has impressed celebrities, amazed politicians and overwhelmed audiences of all ages and backgrounds. They play over 100 popular classic hits from the past 5 decades and they tour the northeast playing over 75 paid performances per year. They are changing the world through music and their fame is growing rapidly.
By the way, the eleven band members happen to have developmental and physical disabilities, including autism, Down's syndrome, mental retardation, and blindness. Welcome to the phenomenon that is FLAME."

Flame the band was a hit at this year's Vermotn Traumatic Brain Injury Conference in Burlington.
The group is lively and upbeat. Everyone enjoyed their music!

If you have the chance to see them perform, please do!

2007-10-17T05:18:00.000-04:00

Annual Conference November 3, 2007

2007-10-01T05:39:00.000-04:00

Hurry to register for this conference to get reduced rates!

MEMBER RATES- NON MEMBER RATES –STUDENT Rates
September 15-Oct 26
$150/$130 Association member OT/OTA rates
$175/$159 non member rates OT/OTA
$50.00 Student rate

Day of Conference
$170/$150 Association member OT/OTA rates
$200/$175 non member rates OT/OTA
$75.00 Student rate

--

Joni Jones, President
Vermont Occupational Therapy Association

Wii game is tool in stroke rehab

2007-08-21T20:08:00.001-04:00

http://www.pe.com/lifestyles/healthandfitness/stories/PE_Fea_Daily_D_health.wii22.2314e36.html

Alzheimer's May Leave Some Forms Of Memory Intact

2007-08-21T20:04:00.001-04:00

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2004/06/040610075955.htm

Neighborhood Access Group

2007-07-03T18:38:00.000-04:00

Neighborhood Access Group

OT SONG MP3 AVAILABLE!

2007-07-01T09:45:00.000-04:00

http://www.boazandtheband.com/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TdbZhJjmwZU&mode=user&search=

Annual Conference Planning Underway

2007-07-01T08:11:00.000-04:00

We are currently looking for individuals to volunteer for our conference this fall in the following areas:
1- registration booth
1- membership booth
1- Diane Aja raffle table
1- VOTA store table
2- welcome packet stuffers

Registration discounts will be given to volunteers.

Please contact Jessica Bolduc at vicepresident@vtot.org before AUGUST 1st to volunteer.

Thank you,

Joni Jones, COTA/L
President
Vermont Occupational Therapy Association

HELPING HANDS: MONKEY HELPERS FOR THE DISABLED!

2007-07-01T08:06:00.000-04:00

This organization has assisted many people with disabilities remain in their homes. Please follow the link below to learn more about this program.

http://www.helpinghandsmonkeys.org/

Support Funding for Title VII Health Professions Programs

2007-06-17T06:22:00.000-04:00

This message has been copy and pasted from www.aota.org

Please follow link below to write to your representatives.
http://capwiz.com/aota/issues/alert/?alertid=9864766

Title VII Funding Background

Title VII of the Public Health Service Act authorizes a variety of grants for students, programs, and institutions to improve the racial and ethnic diversity, geographic distribution, and quality of the health care workforce. Title VII provides funding for the only federal programs designed to train providers in interdisciplinary settings to respond to the needs of special and underserved populations, as well as increase minority representation in the health care workforce. Title VII funding provides direct financial support to schools for the educational training of occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants.

The FY2006 Labor-HHS bill dramatically reduced funding for Title VII health professions programs, resulting in a 51 percent overall cut below FY2005. These funding levels were maintained in the FY 2007 Joint Funding Resolution, causing programs across the nation to cease their activities.. At a time of serious health professions shortages, reducing this resource has already had devastating effects to the country’s neediest communities.

AOTA Position

The Health Professionals and Nursing Education Coalition (HPNEC), of which AOTA is a strong member, urges Congress to fund Title VII at appropriate levels for FY2008. AOTA and HPNEC have requested Congress to restore Title VII funds at $300 million. By restoring funding to these programs to this level, we will enable them to continue to improve the distribution, quality, and diversity of the health professions workforce.

Action Needed

Congress is proceeding with the appropriations process with hopes that they will complete the Labor-HHS-Ed Appropriations bill later this summer. As in years past, this process likely could take all year. We must ensure that appropriate funding is determined during the appropriations committee hearing process through the time it is passed on the House and Senate floors. Contact your members of Congress and ask for their support to fund Title VII programs at the $300 million level for FY2008. Use the attached Web email form, and feel free to add text to the form to make it personal.

Help Support the Medicare Access to Rehabilitation Act of 2007

2007-06-17T06:08:00.000-04:00

This notice has been copy and pasted from www.aota.org
To write to your representatives, follow the link below:

http://capwiz.com/aota/issues/alert/?alertid=9402621&PROCESS=Take+Action

Help Support the Medicare Access to Rehabilitation Act of 2007
Write your members of Congress!
The Medicare Access to Rehabilitation Services Act of 2007 (S. 450/H.R. 748) was introduced in the Senate and House of Representatives on January 31, 2007 for the 110th Congress. Due to a number of changes in the House and Senate, there will be a few new names as the chief sponsors of the legislation in both chambers of Congress.

Senators John Ensign (R-NV), Blanche Lincoln (D-AR), Ben Cardin (D-MD), and Susan Collins (R-ME) will be the chief sponsors in the Senate. In the House, Representative Xavier Beccerra (D-CA) will take the lead, and be joined by Representatives Phil English (R-PA), Mike Ross (D-AR), Chip Pickering (R-MS) and Roy Blunt (R-MO).

The bill is the same repeal approach that has been introduced in previous Congresses. The bill will require substantial grassroots action in 2007 in order for the caps to be addressed prior to December 31, 2007. The most recent legislation addressing the caps in 2006 came down to the end of the year, and took an extreme amount of effort and relentless grassroots action from AOTA, other provider and consumer groups, and members of Congress.

Under the Medicare Part B Outpatient Rehabilitation Benefit, there is an annual $1,780 cap on occupational therapy services, and a separate $1,780 cap for physical therapy and speech language pathology combined. However, in December 2006, Congress passed the Tax Relief and Health Care Act of 2006 which extended a 1-year alternative to the therapy cap that was including the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005. The alternative is an exceptions process to the cap that allows Medicare beneficiaries who reach the cap ($1780 for 2007) to apply for additional services. The 2007 alternative differs slightly from the system in place for 2006 in that all exceptions are applied for automatically and must have documentation proving medical necessity.

These caps do not affect hospital outpatient rehabilitation services. The caps were implemented as part of the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 (BBA) and are the only dollar limits on care in Medicare.

Action Needed

Congressional action is needed to change the law and eliminate the cap. Ask your Members of Congress (two U.S. Senators and one member of the U.S. House of Representatives) to take action to remove the cap on Medicare Part B outpatient occupational therapy. Specifically, ask them to sign on as cosponsors to the Medicare Access to Rehabilitation Services Act of 2007 (S. 450/H.R. 748). Their cosponsorship of this legislation will help to move ahead efforts to fully repeal this cap before December 31, 2007. Unless Congress takes action by December 31, 2007, the original therapy caps will be implemented on January 1, 2008.

AOTA Position

The caps on outpatient rehabilitation should be removed because they are arbitrary, inappropriate, and potentially harmful to the most vulnerable Medicare beneficiaries. Other ways must be found to control cost and utilization in a fiscally responsible manner. Congress must repeal the $1780 caps to protect the health and well being of our Nation's Medicare beneficiaries.

Background

The Balanced Budget Act of 1997 (BBA) [Public Law 105-33] imposed a payment limitation on outpatient rehabilitation services under Medicare Part B, to begin January 1, 1999. The limit affected providers including private practitioners, clinics, rehabilitation agencies, skilled nursing facilities and home health agencies (for services for non-homebound individuals). The BBA established a separate cap of $1500 annually per beneficiary for occupational therapy and a combined cap of $1500 annually per beneficiary for physical therapy and speech-language-hearing services.

The Balanced Budget Refinement Act of 1999 (BBRA) [Public Law 106-113] placed a two-year moratorium on application of the $1500 caps (for years 2000 and 2001). The Benefits Improvement and Protection Act of 2000 (BIPA) [Public Law 106-554] extended, by one additional year, the two-year moratorium on the application of the $1,500 caps for outpatient rehabilitation services. This affirmed that the moratorium was in place for dates of service through December 31, 2002 CMS implemented the cap on September 1, 2003. Many beneficiaries reached the cap by the time Congress was trying to pass the Medicare Modernization Act of 2003 [Public Law 108-173] in November.

The Medicare Modernization Act of 2003 included a two year moratorium on the caps that lasted until December 31, 2005. Due to procedural problems in Congress, neither chamber was able to complete the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 that included legislation addressing the caps. However, Congress was able pass the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 [Public Law 109-171] on February 1, 2006. The bill included a one-year alternative to the caps process to ensure that Medicare beneficiaries could access rehabilitation care. This exceptions process was in place for one year only. Most recently, Congress passed the Tax Relief and Health Care Act of 2006 [Public Law 109-432] which included a one-year extension of the therapy cap exceptions process.

The moratorium that was in place for 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, and now 2006 will ensure that Medicare beneficiaries are able to access necessary occupational therapy, physical therapy, and speech-language pathology services regardless of the setting in which they received their care. Congress must act to assure that Medicare beneficiaries' benefits will not be reduced in the future. Congress must take action to repeal the caps prior to December 31, 2007.

Spring Newsletter 2007

2007-06-16T08:58:00.000-04:00

Special Interest
Articles:
• VOTA Conference
Announcement!
• Cognitive Changes and
Aging

Vermont Occupational Therapy Association / Spring Issue

President Report:
I am happy to report that the AOTA ASAP meeting in St. Louis was a
wonderful success. Many new motions were put into place, which will assist
in the movement toward reaching the centennial vision. Please find the time
to peruse the AOTA website to review the changes happening at the
national level.
Even though the AOTA conference is gigantic, I was able to come across
many familiar Vermont faces.
Since the last newsletter, VOTA has assembled a legislative committee and
an AdHoc committee for investigating the need for a Vermont OT Academic
program. The first official meetings will commence this month. We welcome
all members and potential members to join these meetings as we continue to
crave new thoughts and perspective.
April, as we know, was OT Month. I had the extreme pleasure to
participation a month long celebration at Fanny Allen Rehab. Each therapist
was highlighted on a community bulletin board; every Thursday presented a
new interdisciplinary team contest, and the community had the opportunity to
be educated on different topics typically addressed in occupational therapy.
The last Thursday of the month finished with a whopping ice cream sundae
social.
Backpack awareness day is quickly approaching and we wish to connect
with as many school based OT practitioners to help us spread the word
about backpack health. This year, we wish to have a booth at the University
Mall where we are able to promote backpack health. We will also conduct a
raffle to give away a backpack that meets the standards of our profession.
VOTA is looking for volunteers to look after this booth, represent VOTA and
promote backpack health. All volunteers will be awarded a certificate of
participation along with contact hours.
June 3rd we will welcome Mary Jo McGuire MS, OTR/L, FAOTA to Vermont.
She will present the workshop titled: Occupational Therapy Services For the
Client with Cognitive-Perceptual Disorders. This course will be located at
Fletcher Allen Healthcare in the Davis Auditorium. VOTA encourages you to
pre register before May 15th to get the best rate! See website for details. I
hope to see you there.
On a person note, I am proud to say that as an inventor and finding the
entrepreneurial spirit, I have successfully invented a device that will be
patented, manufactured and distributed to the rehab community. If you are a
VNA or SNF OT practitioner, you may have seen the prototype named the
‘Arm Escort’. This device is used to safely manage the hemiplegic arm during
transfers while not confining it to a slinged position. The patents learn quickly
how to use it and have learned to attend to their arm quickly. You will find it in
the Maddak catalog soon. Perhaps in other catalogs before the year is up!
Joni

Vice President:
Greeting Everyone!! I assume everyone is gearing up for summer time – nice
weather and vacations! Let us not forget that VOTA needs volunteers all year round
to make each event a success; I hope VOTA will see an increase of members and
an increase of member participation. I am disappointed to report that VOTA did not
get one single entry in the OT Month Contest. Everyone passed up the opportunity
(a very simple opportunity) to win a free membership to VOTA for 2007!
Unfortunately, no one rose to the occasion.
Joni and I took part in a pre OT Month activity. This past March, Joni and I
attended the Franklin County Job Expo held in St. Albans. VOTA had its own booth
to educate the public on occupational therapy, promote our organization and
network! The morning of the event, over 500 students were bused in from
neighboring school districts. We met many students, many of whom are in a
technical program or allied health programs and have been exposed to various
health professions. We were very impressed to see that the majority of students
knew what OT was and many seem genuinely interested in learning more and
finding information regarding OT programs and curriculums. This solidified to us
that Vermont is in need of a program to keep interested students in Vermont to fulfill
our vacancies. Many students participated in hemi-dressing activities, low vision
tasks, adaptive equipment training and listened to our definitions of activities of
daily living.
VOTA was also asked to attend schools around the state to educate student
on occupational therapy; share the role of OT and discuss OT programs. Please let
me know if you would be interested in going to various schools around the state to
partake in this event; I can help make arrangements. In order to secure the future of
OT, we must act now and educate the up and coming generations.
On behalf of VOTA, I propose another challenge to VOTA members to get
involved! I would like to get a group of members (and non-members) to do
fundraiser walks. Relay for Life will take place in late June, American Heart will take
place mid May and Walk by the Lake will take place in mid July.
Please contact me if you would like to do a walk; we can get organized and register
as a group.
Please check out the vote website (www.vtot.org) to get information on
VOTA’s spring conference regarding cognitive and perceptual disorders and OT
practice. This promises to be a great day of learning and networking with other
practitioners. Feel free to email me with any questions.
VOTA is working hard to plan another fun filled and
educational fall conference. This year’s conference will be held at
the Holiday Inn in Burlington, Vermont. Our keynote speaker will be
Patrick Standen. VOTA held a successful call for papers for presentation and poster submissions. Looks like there will be a nice variety of topics; there will also be poster presentations and many exhibitors. VOTA again will hold a raffle to keep the
Diane Aja Scholarship alive to allow VOTA to send members to national conference. Help VOTA keep the
tradition alive! Please get in touch with me with ideas for conference/events or for questions.
As Margaret Mead said, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.” I can’t stress enough how I need collaboration from everyone to provide you with the best continuing education experiences.
Thanks!
~Jessica
vicepresident@vtot.org

Secretary:
I would like to take this opportunity to highlight an evidence-based journal club that has been active in
Vermont during the past year. The TRIPSCY (Training & Resources for Interdisciplinary Professionals Serving
Children and Youth) Journal Club is an opportunity for occupational therapists and physical therapists to enhance
their critical appraisal skills while reading the professional literature. This year, as a group, we decided to learn
more about the functional benefits of Botox injections with children with cerebral palsy, handwriting remediation
versus assistive technology, and sensory interventions. As a group we would write a clinical question to guide a
literature search. Key articles were identified and reviewed by club members. Fact sheets are being developed on
each topic which summarize the reviews and the Journal Club discussion.
The Journal Club is a great opportunity to discuss in depth clinical questions and practice with fellow
therapists. Check out the TRIPSCY website to learn more (www.uvm.edu/~cdci/tripscy/).
Also, I had the pleasure of attending AOTA’s Annual Conference in St Louis with my daughter. Aimil has
just completed her first year in the Occupational Therapy entry-level Masters program at the University of Southern
Maine (USM). During the Conference I spent time with other students and faculty from USM and was struck by
their passion for the profession. They were discussing the pros and cons of the Practice Framework, networking
with others about their research projects, attending education sessions and making contacts with prospective
employers. A good time was had by all.
Tricia Parmelee, OTR
Secretary

Shelley Hoak, OTR/L is running for the open treasurer seat. At this
month’s VOTA meeting, on May 17th, she will be introducing herself to the
executive board. Being the wife of a financial officer for a leading nonprofit
organization in Burlington, VT, she has the resources in assisting
VOTA in moving VOTA forward toward a healthy non-profit business.
The executive board members look forward to welcoming her at the
VOTA meeting!

Membership Update:
Thank you to all of those who have joined during OT Month. We now have 44 members. Congratulations to
the Starr Farm Nursing Center crew who have100% membership in VOTA for their full and part-time OTs
and OTAs (that is 6 people in case you are wondering)! Five of those individuals took advantage of the
team/organizational membership and saved money for themselves while supporting their professional
organization. I hear there are more teams in the wings. Consider talking your co-workers or friends into a
team membership- it is $200 for up to five individuals. The team/organizational membership application can
be found online or I can send one to you. Please talk to your fellow OT’s and OTA’s to encourage them to
support their professional organization so that we can continue to provide the website, educational
opportunities and monitoring of professional issues.
Thanks again for your support!
(If you are reading this you must already be a member!)
Barbara Winters, Membership Chair
.
From the Editor:
Greetings Everyone! Hope this spring edition of the VOTA newsletter finds
you all well. The weather has shown us hints of sun and warmth getting me very
excited for the summer to come! I decided to take this opportunity to tell you all
about a conference I recently attended. Early May, I traveled to Orlando, FL for the
Contemporary Forums conference on Brain Injuries. I had an amazing time. We
stayed at a beautiful resort, enjoyed warm weather, and learned some valuable
information helping me to grow as a skilled clinician. Some of the sessions I
attended included serial casing/splinting of the upper extremity, which involved
hands-on labs at Orlando Regional Hospital, Visual Impairments for the
Neurologically Involved Patient, Women Living with TBI, Functional Cognitive Home
Assessments, and Neuroplasticity and Motor Function Change After Acquired Brain
Injury. The Conference was very organized and truly met the needs of many
disciplines working with this population. I look forward to sharing with you all some
of the facts, theories and skills I learned in upcoming newsletters!
I would like to close this update with a request. I am seeking articles for the
VOTA newsletter addressing pediatric Occupational Therapy. I feel this is an area
lacking in out newsletters and I would like to provide a more comprehensive amount
of information to the OT’s in Vermont. Please send any information you would like
to share to newsletter@vtot.org. Thanks! Lindsey Bonsall, OTR/L

.
VOTA PRESENTS:
OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY SERVICES
FOR THE CLIENT WITH
COGNITIVE-PERCEPTUAL
DISORDERS
BY: Mary Jo McGuire MS, OTR?L, FAOTA
Saturday June 2, 2007
8:00-5:30
Fletcher Allen Health Care
Davis Auditorium
Burlington Vermont
Print off registration form at www.vtot.org
Thanks and hope to see you there!
Tricia Parmelee, OTR
VOTA Secretary

Advertisements
1/6 page $30.00
1/3 page $50.00
1/2 page $100.00
Full page $80.00
Payment required with
submission.
(Check made payable to
VOTA and mailed to
newsletter editor). All
submissions should be
submitted via email, disc,
or be camera ready.
Contact the newsletter
editor with any
questions.
Deadline for submissions
is Nov. 1st, Feb.
1st, May 1st, and Aug.
1st.
The VOTA Newsletter,
published quarterly
is the official publication
of the Vermont
Occupational Therapy
Association, a non-profit
organization. Circulation
includes members of
VOTA, the AOTA
national office, OT
associations of other
states, and other
interested parties.
Items for the newsletter
may be sent to:
Lindsey Bonsall
91 Park Street
Burlington, VT
05401

Cognitive Changes With Aging by: Jessica Bolduc, OTR/L
 Intelligence: Intact crystallized abilities
 Attention: Decrease in simple, divided and sustained attention
 Language: Decrease word finding, change in vocabulary
 Memory: Ability to learn remains intact, Decrease episodic and working memory
 Executive Function: Slower processing, decrease with abstract thought
Mild Cognitive Impairment
* Criteria: * Treatment:
– Memory complaint (subjective/objective) -Best When started Early
– Intact general cognitive function -Antioxidants (Vit. E)
– Preserved ADLs -Cholinesterase Inhibitors: Aricept
No dementia Improves functional ability not memory
Dementia
 Syndrome:
– Must have memory loss, plus one functional loss, such as language,
visuospatial skills, calculations and executive function
 Can cause change in social or occupational functioning
 Gradual onset and continuous decline
Delirium
 A sudden and acute change in mental status
 Unpredictable fluctuation of symptoms: Worse at night
 Symptoms:
– Variable attention -loose time orientation before place
– Incoherent speech -Short term memory impairment
– Poor reasoning
Delirium Assessment
-UTI? -Dehydration?
-Change in medical condition -Change in medication
-lack of sleep, overexposure -toxins, ETOH
-Confusion Assessment Method -Delirium Rating Scale
-Delirium-O-Meter
Page 6 of 8 VOTA
Diseases that Cause
Dementia
Other Causes Reversible Causes
 Alzheimer’s Disease
 Parkinson’s Disease
 Vascular Disease
 Frontal Lobe Disease
 Lewy Body Disease
 Huntington’s Disease
 Jakob-Creutzfeldt Disease
 Fatigue
 Stress
 Inactivity
 Lack of Structure
 Chronic Pain
 Poor Physical Health
 Vision and Hearing
Problems
 Undiagnosed Medical
Problems (Cardiac)
 Over Medicated
 Depression
 Hydrocephalus (NPH)
 Adverse Drug Reaction
 Metabolic Changes (thyroid)
 Nutritional Deficiencies
(Vit. B)
 Sleep Apnea
Diagnostic Evaluation
 Evaluation by Neurologist, Geriatric Psychiatrist, Geriatrician
 CBC, VDRL, TSH, B12, Folate
 Brain Image
MRI, CT, PET, SPECT
 Neuropsychological Assessment
Screening Tools
 Mini Mental State Exam
 Montreal Cognitive Assessment
 Mini-Cog
 Family Questionnaire
Aging and Cognition continued…

PRESIDENT
Joni Jones
president@vtot.org
VICE PRESIDENT
Jessica Bolduc
jbolduc@pipeline.une.edu
SECRETARY
Tricia Parmelee
secretary@vtot.org
MEMBERSHIP
Barbara Winters
Bwvota@aol.com
NEWSLETTER
EDITOR
Lindsey Bonsall
linzvtot@yahoo.com
AOTA REP.
Linda Kogut
Linda.Kogut@hitchcock.org
AOTA ALTERNATE REP.
Diane Solomon
vtsolomon@verizon.net

Continuing Education Opportunities:
Title: Functional Rehabilitation for the Shoulder
By: Northeast Seminars
Dates: June 2, 2007 to June 3, 2007
Location: Trenton, New Jersey
Contact: www.neseminars.com
1-800-272-2044
Title: Handwriting Without Tears
Dates: June 22, 2007 to June 23, 2007
Location: Boston, Massachusetts
Contact: www.hwtears.com

About Our Organization…
The mission of the Vermont Occupational Therapy Association (VOTA) is to promote
and advance occupational therapy practice, research, legislation, and education and to
support occupational therapy practitioners in Vermont. The association serves its
membership by providing services, acting as a public advocate of occupational therapy,
and participating in cooperative interactions to meet the needs of the profession and the
public.

Vermont Occupational Therapy Association
PO Box 5567
Essex Junction, VT
05453-5567

Phone:(802)264-9671
E-Mail: newsletter@vtot.org
We’re on the Web!
See us at:
www.vtot.org