Learn to Develop Goals and Meaningful Participation for In-Person, Online and Hybrid School Models

Join Dr. Kimberly Wynarczuk for a three-part LIVE webinar and take your school-based practice to the next level!

Like many things, how students attend school and how we as therapists provide services may look very different these days. Developing and applying new techniques to support our students and ensure they actively and meaningfully participate in their education and routines is a challenge facing many school-based practitioners.

To help address these concerns, ERI is partnering with Kimberly Wynarczuk, PT, DPT, PhD, MPH, to offer the NEW and timely live webinar “Developing and Using Goals for Students’ Meaningful Participation In School Whether In-Person, Online or Hybrid.”

Dr. Wynarczuk, who serves as the School-Based Special Interest Group representative to the Academy of Pediatric Physical Therapy Research Committee is an expert in her field and served as the keynote speaker at ERI’s annual Therapies in the School Conference in November, 2020. She has conducted, published and presented considerable research on a variety of school-based physical therapy topics, including goal development and the participation of students with disabilities in school trips.

In this NEW webinar, Dr. Wynarczuk will teach participants to assess and develop student goals that intentionally focus on student participation in all learning models, explore strategies to promote effective teaming and meaningful involvement of parents and students during IEP development, and techniques to engage and enrich students’ school experience.

The three-part webinar takes place March 31, April 7 and 14, 2021 beginning at 6:30 pm EST (US). Don’t miss this must take course for school-based therapists. Click HERE to register or for more information including course brochure and CEU details. 

NICU Therapists – Win a Free Membership to NANT

NANT, our Professional Partner in NICU Education, are offering this great opportunity;

If you work in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), NICU follow up, or have an interest in this special population of patients, we invite you to enter a drawing for a free yearlong NANT Membership (National Association of Neonatal Therapists®).

We’re an organization full of passionate neonatal therapists who aim to improve neurodevelopmental outcomes for premature and sick infants. This is what we love. And they (babies and families) are why we do the work.

Click here to enter your name into the drawing.
Two winners will be chosen randomly by ERI.

Deadline to enter: February 16th 2021

(Members save $100 on registration for our annual conference.)

We are on a mission to improve developmental outcomes for premature and sick infants in the NICU.

We hope you join this wonderful organization

Expand Your Physical Therapy Practice to Emergency Settings

Join Michael Lebec, PT, Ph.D., for “Effective Physical Therapist Management of Patients in the Emergency Setting: Differential Diagnosis, Intervention, and Inter-Professional Collaboration”

Physical therapists are increasingly playing a critical role in emergency department (ED) settings. Between screening for appropriateness of care, consulting with fellow practitioners, and providing direct patient care, PTs are helping EDs treat a wide range of acute and chronic problems. According to the APTA, a greater number of emergency departments are welcoming the addition of physical therapy services to assist in reducing costs, increasing patient satisfaction, and decreasing the potential for readmission through patient education and subsequent physical therapist follow-up.

Michael Lebec, PT, Ph.D., practiced in one of the first EDs to offer full-time physical therapy services and served on the APTA ED task force which developed resources for individuals interested in expanding practice in the emergency environment. His experience and work is well documented and he is now partnering with ERI to offer the continuing ed course “Effective Physical Therapist Management of Patients in the Emergency Setting: Differential Diagnosis, Intervention, and Inter-Professional Collaboration.” The new course includes three prerecorded online sessions and three live webinar sessions, which meet on Tuesday, March 9, 16, and 24, 2021, beginning at 6:00 pm EST (US). Participants will learn to distinguish between mechanical and systemic sources of pathology, conduct an efficient physical exam, and administer interventions for health conditions most common among patients receiving emergency services.

Don’t miss this must take course for physical therapists seeking to expand their knowledge and practice in emergency care. Register for “Effective Physical Therapist Management of Patients in the Emergency Setting” beginning March 9, 2021, or click HERE for more details and complete CEU information.

Gratitude and Updates from ERI’s President Carol Loria

As I reflect back on a year that we will all never forget, I want to express my personal and professional gratitude to each and every one of you, our much valued community, who are the foundation that drives ERI to carry our mission forward.  We hope that we have helped you to inspire your patients and families who so want to hear good news and who so want to achieve a better quality of life.

I am grateful for our ERI team, a small but mighty crew, who worked tirelessly to pivot the way we deliver our services while keeping the core of our vision and values at the heart of it all.  I am especially proud that when the country first started shutting down, the very first thing we did was ask ourselves if there is anything we could do to help the thousands of therapists struggling to help patients on ventilators, even though they perhaps had never worked with this patient population before.  I am grateful to Steven Sadowsky who granted us permission and his blessings to offer his 3.5 hour session (part of an online ERI course) on mechanical ventilation to any therapist needing it, free of charge!  Over 5,000 therapists took this course and we are grateful to these therapists who have worked tirelessly taking care of patients day after day amid the weight of this year.

Barbara Goldfarb

Barbara Goldfarb Vice President

I have some bittersweet news to share.  Barbara Goldfarb, co-founder and friend, is retiring from ERI to pursue new horizons. Barbara has poured her heart and soul into moving ERI from an “in the basement” company where she and I taught all of the courses to an international company reflecting the changing needs of our therapy community and the ever changing technology of our times.  Her dedication, caring and passion has been at the core of ERI.  I am sure that you will all join me in wishing her well in this next phase of life.

All of us at ERI hope that you are all staying safe and healthy and finding cause for joy as we usher in a year of hope, 2021!

We look forward to continuing our work to help you improve the lives of the patients and families you serve.

Warmly,
Carol

Carol Loria President

Posted in: News

 

A Successful Therapies in the School Conference – 2020 Style!

Thank you to everyone who attended ERI’s VIRTUAL Therapies in the School Conference in November. For  more than 20 years, our conference has provided resources and tools to help school-based therapists improve their practice. While this year’s virtual event format was unlike year’s past, the outcome was still exceptional; our phenomenal speakers successfully shared expert advice and engaging content to nearly 300 school-based therapists via Zoom; therapists previously unable to attend the conference due to travel were able to participate; and the level of collaboration connection in virtual break out rooms and chats were truly inspiring and informative.

Great Morning Session with Kim Wiggins

This year’s topics included essential information to address the present-day challenges posed by COVID-19 including adapting school-based practices to telehealth, integrating trauma-informed treatment strategies (including COVID-19) into practice, evaluating participation, applying best practices for school-based learning, supporting students with sensory processing disorder using the STAR frame of reference, and so much more. 

Wonderful Morning Yoga to Start Day 2

Therapies in the School is a success because of the truly remarkable speakers who inspired us with their knowledge, practical applications and skills. Thank you to Suzanne Davis Bombria,  Susan Cecere, Sharon Cermak, Colleen Whiting, Kim Wiggins, Kimberly Wynarczuk, and so many more.

A special thank you to Anne Buckley-Reen for starting Day 2 with a yoga session that allowed us to make space to learn and feel connected to ourselves and fellow participants.

 

Not only does the annual conference provide therapists with the tools they need to succeed, the conference also builds new connections and fosters connections made among returning therapists and new participants. We also recognized those who have made exceptional strides in their field. This year, we recognized Candace Frantz as the recipient of the ERI Scholarship for New to School-Based Practice. Candace provides extraordinary support for students and caregivers, and continues to advance her career through her dedication to education. This year’s ERI Creative Therapies Award was awarded to Polly Merrchaert. Polly’s colleagues describe her  as a team player, collaborator, and innovator who is consistently searching for inventive ways to engage with her students and caregivers, and serves as a consistently resource for fellow therapists, staff members, administrators and families.

Emily Zeman Eddy – Integrating Trauma-informed Treatment Strategies into Your School-based Practice

Stay tuned as we create new opportunities and virtual groups to help continue to build connections and support among this community of professionals – Coming in the New Year!

 

At ERI, we understand and appreciate the importance of continuing your education. We are already busy gathering topic, speaker, and connection ideas and assembling next year’s conference. In the meantime, be sure to register for upcoming live webinars for school-based therapists that are not to be missed including Jessica Minahan’s “Practical Strategies for Reducing Anxiety in Students” on January 20 and 27, 2021, or pre-recorded on-demand courses including the Therapies’ in the School Online Series. 

Once again, thank you to all the attendees and speakers and be sure to check out what others are saying below!

“This was my first year attending this conference. I will definitely come again! It was well run and speakers are all highly knowledgeable.” –  K. Callum

“Great conference! After 32 years in practice it can be hard sometimes to find continuing ed that is enjoyable and applicable. This conference fit the bill! Very knowledgeable speakers and ERI goes out of their way to make sure things run well.” – K.Truppa

“Overall this was a great conference with a lot of great “take home” information. References provided an opportunity for meaningful follow-up. I would definitely recommend this conference.” –  V. Mason

“I was really blown away by this conference! Because it was held virtually, I was able to attend for the first time as a second-year school based PT. The knowledge I gained from this conference will be able to be immediately applied, which is great. As I am the only PT in my district, having a clearer direction and understanding on how school based therapy and clinic based therapy differ will really help me out in the long run. I enjoyed each of the speakers, and all of the courses are applicable to my needs as a school based PT. I plan on returning in the future, and hopefully in person!!”  – V.  Brooks