On Saturday, October 17, 2020 Autism Services, Inc. and the Autism Society Western New York are pleased to present our first ever virtual workshop, “Supporting Self-Care Skills During Stressful Times Using a Sensory Perspective .” presented by Paula Aquilla, B.Sc., OT! We have decided to hold our fall workshop using a virtual platform to ensure the health and safety of our attendees due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Ms. Aquilla is an occupational therapist and osteopathic manual practitioner with over 34 years of clinical experience. She is a graduate of the University of Toronto, and founded the Yes I Can! Nursery School and summer camps, and the I Love My Baby Program in Toronto. She was also the founding executive director of Giant Steps. Paula is now the director of Aquilla Occupational Therapy; a family oriented practice that works with both children and adults with ASD. She is proud to serve her community in Toronto, and is passionate about collaborating with First Nations Communities across Canada. Paula has taught workshops about sensory processing and development in many countries and has been a guest lecturer for the University of Toronto, McMaster University, and Humber College. Paula is published in the field of as a co-author of Building Bridges through Sensory Integration (1998), and The Sensory Detective (2016), and is a contributor to the book Children, Youth, and Adults with Asperger’s Syndrome. She has also contributed to magazines and special interest newsletters in Canada, the US, and UK. She is the technical editor for the SI Focus Magazine.

This workshop will focus on learning how the environment, our relationships and our activities support regulation during stressful times. This presentation will address sensory strategies which contribute to a calm, organized, nervous system that can actually thrive in today’s world. It will also focus on exploring the following questions::
 
· What is sensory processing?
· What is a sensory lens?
· How does stress affect our nervous system?
· What does the research say about the effects of stress?
· How your environment, relationships, and activities can support the nervous system during stress?
· How can you teach those with ASD to assess and self-regulate their own sensory status?
· How to develop self-care skills in individuals with ASD and in the parents and professionals who support them?

This workshop is geared for individuals with ASD, parents, and professionals.

In addition, we are pleased to announce that we will be offering ASHA CEU credit through the Speech-Language-Hearing Association of Western New York (SHAWNY), and New York State Education Department Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy State Board Approved Continuing Competency Hours for OTs/COTAs/PTs/PTAs through Associated Physical and Occupational Therapists, PLLC (APOT)! Both SHAWNY and APOT are co-sponsors of this workshop. The cost and CEU credit information are listed below:
 
Registration Category
Price
(Registration Deadline is 10/14/20)
Continuing Education Credits Available
Parent/Individual with ASD
$10.00 per person
n/a
Speech-Language Pathologists & Audiologists
$30.00 per person
.35 ASHA CEUs
OTs and COTAs
$30.00 per person
3.0 NYS Continuing Competency Hours for OTs/OTAs
PTs and PTAs
$30.00 per person
.3 NYS Approved PT Board Continuing Competency Hours
Other Professionals/ Paraprofessionals/Students
$20.00 per person
No CEUs awarded
 
Online registration is now available at http://www.autism-services-inc.org/autism-center-for-learning/. Please note that as this is a virtual event there will be no mail-in registration. The deadline to register is October 14, 2020. Thanks and we hope to see you there!