2.  Graduated with my BS in Healthcare Administration from Quinnipiac University in Connecticut  My first job was at Gaylord Hospital, a not for profit rehab hospital. I started as a secretary in the Industrial Rehab program making $12.02/hr.  Met my future husband at the copy machine at work!  Worked my way up through the system to, Outpatient Department Business Coordinator then moving to I.T. and ending my 7 years at the hospital at a senior level in the Information Systems department.

3.  Moved to Florida!  Business Manager for a for-profit outpatient rehab clinic in Naples.  Gave up my career in 2003 to be a stay at home mom  Welcomed to children: Nicholas (now 11) Alexandra (now 9)  During my 9 years at home with my kids dad diagnosed with primary brain tumor. I was his secondary care giver.

4.  After watching the therapy my dad received, I felt the need to have a “hands on” approach with people  Soon after his passing, I was offered position as a Helping Teacher in a Lee County Public Schools in a self contained Functional Skills classroom  LOVE MY JOB! NO $$$....  OTA SCHOOL!!!

5.  Cerebral Palsy (CP) is a broad term that is used to describe several neurological disorders that can occur during pregnancy, at birth or shortly after birth.  CP is caused by an injury or insult to a fetus or infant’s brain.  CP is a non-curable life long condition  CP damage does not worsen over time

6.  Some causes of CP are: › Injury to the brain › Illness › Inflammation of the brain › Abnormal brain development › Severe jaundice › CVA › Anoxia

8.  CP can affect a persons: › Body movements › Muscle control › Muscle coordination › Muscle tone › Reflex › Balance › Posture

10.  CP is the most common of childhood disabilities.  CP affects two to three of every 1000 children.  How CP affects a child’s motor functioning and intellectual ability is dependent on the severity, nature and location of the brain injury.

11.  CP can affect all or part of the body: › Monoplegia: affecting one limb (usually arm) › Diplegia: primarily affecting the lower extremities › Hemiplegia: affecting the upper and lower extremities on one side of the body › Quadriplegia: affecting bilateral upper and bilateral lower extremities, sometimes including the trunk

13.  CP is also classified by the quality of motor movement: › Spastic: high tone characterized by tight rigid muscles › Athetoid: fluctuating muscle tone and writhing movements › Ataxic: characterized by lack of coordination with intentional movements › Hypotonic: low tone, loose muscles and lax joints › Mixed: a combination of two or more of above

14.  Activities of Daily Living (ADL’s)  Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL’s)  Leisure  Accommodations and Modifications  Support for the development of muscle strength and motor function  Support for the development of motor, communication and interaction skills  Tone management  Assistive technology and adaptive equipment  Family coaching and training  Support for the development of self determination skills  Support for the development of pre- vocational skills

15.  Many children with CP have eating and drinking difficulties. These can range from minor difficulties in coordination of oral movements to severe coordination difficulties of the swallowing mechanism, which could cause health concerns and even life threatening conditions  There could sensory issues associated with CP such as oral tactile defensiveness, or the opposite where they may under react to food in their mouth

16.  Proper seating and positioning which improves postural control can improve feeding and swallowing  Making sure food is prepared to a proper consistency  Constantly assessing oral motor function and modifying feeding intervention as needed

19.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=92P oLJTAbUQ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=92P oLJTAbUQ