Intensive Training! Neuroscience and Self-Regulation Techniques for Kids with Autism, ADHD & Sensory Disorders

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Varleisha Lyons, PhD, OTD, OTR/L, ASDCS Related seminars and products

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Varleisha D. Lyons (formerly Gibbs), PhD, OTD, OTR/L, ASDCS, is an occupational therapist and author with over 20 years of experience working with children and adolescents diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, sensory processing disorders and neurological disorders. She developed and founded Delaware’s first occupational therapy program and became the first black indigenous American woman to serve as the Scientific Programs Officer at the American Occupational Therapy Foundation. Currently, she is the Vice President of Diversity Equity Inclusion Justice Access and Belonging at the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA).

Varleisha continues to lecture and provides training on sensory processing strategies and self-regulation to practitioners, parents, and teachers throughout the country and internationally. As co-author of Raising Kids with Sensory Processing Disorders, she has provided families with strategies to understand and care for their children. Dr. Lyons is the developer of the Self-Regulation and Mindfulness program and author of the best-selling book, Self-Regulation and Mindfulness: Exercises and Worksheets for Sensory Processing Disorder, ADHD, and Autism Spectrum Disorder (PESI Publishing & Media). She is the co-author of Trauma Treatment in ACTION: Over 85 Activities to Move Clients Toward Healing, Growth and Improved Functioning (PESI Publishing & Media). Her areas of expertise include neuroanatomy, self-regulation strategies across the lifespan, health inequities, and trauma responsive approaches.

Disclaimer: The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in this presentation belong solely to the author, and not necessarily to the author's employer, organization, committee or other group or individual. Varleisha D. Lyons PhD, OTR/L is employed by the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA). This work is independent of her role and not affiliated with AOTA, Inc.

 

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Dr. Varleisha Lyons has employment relationships with the American Occupational Therapy Association and VDTG, Inc. She receives royalties as a published author. Dr. Lyons receives a speaking honorarium, recording and book royalties from PESI, Inc. She has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Dr. Varleisha Lyons is a member of the American Occupational Therapy Association and the National Black Occupational Therapy Caucus. She serves on the advisory board of George Washington University Programs in Occupational Therapy and is a board member of the National Association for Hearing and Speech Action.

Outline

The Neuroscience Behind Self-Regulation

• A look at sensory-motor pathways
• Brain dissection video: The emotional brain and its connection to executive functioning
• Neurological dysfunction: Hyper-activity, hypo-activity, aggressiveness, self-stimulatory, and inattentiveness

Neuro and Sensory Integration: Linking to Behaviours

• Breaking down self-regulation: Sensory, cognition and emotions
• Self-regulation effects on behaviour: Flapping, inflexibility, rigidity, lack of inhibition, poor social skills, risk taking
• The power of the autonomic nervous system and its connection to behaviour (ie. stress, fear and primitive reflexes)
• The power of primitive reflexes and how they impede on function
• Tools and strategies for assessing primitive reflexes

Video Case Study Analyzation: Aligning Symptoms and Characteristics with Appropriate Interventions

• ADHD: Diagnosis and current treatment strategies
• Autism: Diagnosis and DSM-5® updates
• Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD):
  • Sensory modulation disorder
  • Sensory-based motor disorder
  • Sensory discrimination disorder

Self-Regulation Techniques and the Vagus Nerve Connection

• Communication strategies that provide control: Symbolic and non-verbal
• Self-management and behavioural strategies: Behavioural contracts, checklist for tracking behaviours, video modelling
• Addressing picky eating and poor sleep habits: Desensitizing and non-threatening activities
• Music as a technique to initiate sensorial stimuli, calming and attentiveness
• New interventions for vestibular, proprioceptive, auditory, smell and vision work

Apply Neuroscience to Interventions: Hands-on Activities

• Neurological connection of current programs such as Brain Gym®, sensory diets, and MeMoves™, just to name a few!
• Integrate a mindfulness program for self-regulation
• Address primitive reflexes and improve social participation and age appropriate behaviours
• Tool to assess child’s arousal levels to be used for daily schedules and to organize daily interventions

Treatment Planning: Video Case Examples of Children Displaying Challenging Social, Eating and Sleep Behaviours

• Perform a virtual evaluation
• Develop a treatment plan
• Goal development
• Re-assessment: When is it needed and when to discharge

Psychoeducation for Clients and Parents

• Evidence-based intervention and techniques to address challenges with self-regulation
• Address psychosocial concerns and experiences of caregivers of children with self-regulation challenges
• Communicate methods to address reciprocal regulation between the child and caregiver to address the influences and interaction each have

Objectives

1. Debate the neuroscientific research related to self-regulation and sensory processing in kids diagnosed with Autism, Sensory Processing Disorder, and ADHD.
2. Differentiate between the characteristics of sensory processing disorder, ADHD and autism and articulate how the neurological processes of each disorder coincide with one another.
3. Apply neurological approaches that tap into the central, autonomic, and enteric nervous systems to improve clinical intervention techniques.
4. Examine the role of primitive reflexes and how they support or impede client functioning.
5. Evaluate the relationship between the autonomic nervous system and behavior in clients.
6. Determine the neurological responses aligned with intervention techniques to further enhance treatment planning.
7. Develop appropriate clinical interventions for challenging behaviors in clients, such as hyper-activity, hypoactivity, aggressiveness, self-stimulation and inattentiveness.
8. Implement music as a technique to initiate sensorial stimuli, calming and attentiveness in clients.
9. Integrate a comprehensive mindfulness program to improve self-regulation in clients.
10. Utilize role play activities to assess levels of arousal among clients.
11. Develop a comprehensive treatment plan that addresses a variety of clinical concerns, including social skills deficits, picky eating and sleeping issues.
12. Implement strategies to address reciprocal regulation between the child and caregiver in order to improve clinical outcomes.

Target Audience

• Occupational Therapists
• Occupational Therapy Assistants
• Speech-Language Pathologists
• Counsellors
• Social Workers
• Educators
• Marriage & Family Therapists
• Physical Therapists
• Physical Therapist Assistants
• Psychologists