Live webinar

Sensory Processing & Neurology: Observation and Intervention

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Live Webinar

Sensory Processing & Neurology: Observation Skills and Intervention

Tuesday, July 29, 2025
7 pm (CT) | 8 pm (ET)
2 Contact Hour, 0.2 CEUs, 2.5 PDUs

Educational level: Introductory

Category 1: Occupational Therapy Service Delivery
Category 3: Foundational Knowledge

If you need assistance or accommodations, please contact us at Info@AspireOT.us
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Brand New WebinarThis premier offering of this webinar is being offered exclusively in the Just for OT Subscription.

Future offerings will be made available for individual purchase as well as included in the Just for OT subscription.

This webinar will be held on Zoom.

This second-part course continues to emphasize the importance of occupational therapy practitioners to utilize and reflect on their own sensory experiences and strategies to assist in client-centered, trauma informed interventions. The course will continue to explore easily accessible sensory strategies suitable for various practice settings and diverse client populations, while taking cultural backgrounds and individual experiences into account. Participants will briefly review the role of nervous system function, trauma, disability, and physiological factors to consider in development of effective sensory based interventions. The limbic-system “bottom-up” approach, understanding client triggers, the importance of gathering the background of the client and understanding sensory based trauma are concepts emphasized throughout the course. Collaboration with caregivers and teams will be emphasized as vital components of evaluation and treatment, highlighting the importance of understanding the client's “story” to provide context for neurological and sensory processing.

The importance of embedding naturally occurring, occupation-based strategies throughout the client’s day in natural settings rather than on an enforced schedule will be included in content with examples. Roles of attunement and co-regulation as part of therapeutic use of self in intervention is discussed. Populations that may not be successful with “Top down” language-based, self-awareness and mindfulness approaches will be considered. Learners will be given resources to further explore and use.


Target Audience: Occupational therapists, occupational therapy assistants, occupational therapy students
This occupational therapy continuing education course uses the following instructional methods: visual aides (ie slides), discussion board, guided note taking, and learning, and practice opportunities.
Content disclosure: This course does not exclusively focus on any specific product or service.

Presented by:
Joanna Blanchard, MOTR/L
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Benefits of this course
  • Identify three nervous system-based cues and strategies to approach clients from a trauma based deeper understanding beyond observable social behavior including the importance of co-regulation and attunement.
  • Identify three possible environmental, social or internal triggers for clients (case study or hypothetical) and 3 strategies to trial, assess, adapt or discontinue based on effectiveness.
  • List three appropriate interventions—such as practice, education, advocacy, training, environmental modifications, or occupational adaptations—that can help clients attain and maintain self-regulation throughout their day.
  • Explain trauma-based sensory dysfunction, the importance of knowing client “stories” and teaming with caregivers and others. 

What OTs and OTAs are saying about Joanna's courses

"This makes SPD easy to understand and provides resources other classes on SPD do not."

OT Course Participant 

"Such a well done introductory course! Loved this presenter, the material presented, and the visuals utilized!"

OT Course Participant 

"The course references neuroscience and makes it simple to understand. It provides helpful handouts and addresses factors like culture and trauma that can be easily overlooked. The presenter also speaks from her experience as both a therapist and caregiver."

OT Course Participant 
A smiling woman in a natural background
Joanna Blanchard, MOTR/L
Aspire OT Instructor

Course: Sensory Processing & Neurology in Pediatrics: A Self-Assessment Approach

Joanna has been an Occupational Therapist in Washington State for over 20 years with experience in both clinical and educational settings (k-21). While her practice has had special focus on Autism, high-support needs, sensorimotor, behavior and inclusion, her most influential teachers have been her sons and other families experiencing disability. She is an advocate and ally with day-to-day experience in navigation of educational, healthcare, legal and crisis systems both personally and professionally. As a member of Washington’s Special Education Support Center and Inclusionary Practices Technical Network, she develops trainings on sensory processing, inclusive practices, UDL, trauma Informed care, teaming with families, behavioral health and related neurology. Recently becoming a Clark County Master Gardener, she lives in Vancouver, Washington with her family, dog, chickens and a little Christmas tree farm of 600 baby firs. 

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Purchase a subscription for only $69  to attend this webinar as well as have 12 months access to our self-paced courses, live webinars, discussion panels and forums!

Course Outline

 0 - 5 minutes

 5-15 minutes 

16-25 minutes


26-30 minutes

31-40 minutes

41-55 minutes

56-65 minutes

66-75 minutes

76-95 minutes

96-105 minutes

106-115 minutes

116-120 minutes


Introduction and Objectives 

Review of Sensory Systems and Sensory Integration

Review of Sensory and Nervous System Cues, Gathering Information

Interpretation of Observations

Sensory Diets: Everyday Activities

Interventions: Deep Pressure and Heavy Work

Break

Attending--Eye Contact, Stimming, Vision

Intervention ideas and Neurology

Trauma and Cultural Considerations

Takeaways and Questions

Wrap Up


Completion Requirements
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In order to receive the certificate of completion, participants must meet ALL of the following criteria:
  • Payment of the course in full
  • Attend webinar in its entirety
  • Complete Attestation of Attendance
  • Pass the course exam with a score of 70% or greater
  • Complete the Post Course Evaluation
Please note that no credit or certificate will be issued unless all criteria is met.  Partial credit will not be issued.  
cancellation policy
Live Courses and Webinars
Learner cancellations: In the event that the learner requests to cancel or is unable to attend a course, a refund for the total paid for the course will be granted if Aspire OT is notified via email at info@aspireot.us within 10 business days prior to date of the scheduled course, minus a non-refundable registration fee of 25% of registration price.  If the learner provides notification of cancellation less then 10 business days prior to the scheduled course, the learner will be offered the opportunity to attend the same webinar on an alternate date or enrollment in the recorded on-demand version of that webinar, instead of a refund.  

No refunds will be issued after a course has been attended for more than 30 minutes.  Partial credit will not be issued.  

Provider cancellations: 
In the event of inclement weather or other event resulting in the inability for a live course to be provided within the scheduled time, learners will be offered an alternate date or a full refund for registration paid.
On-Demand web Courses 
Web courses will remain available to learners for 1 year. No refunds will be available for web courses that have been attended or viewed for greater than 30 minutes. In the event of a refund, the learner will be unenrolled in the course immediately upon issuance of a refund. No refunds will be issued for any course in which a certificate has been issued.  
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Aspire OT is an AOTA Approved Provider of professional development.
PD activity approval ID# 12691
This Distance Learning-Interactive course is offered at 0.2 CEUs (Introductory level, OT Service Delivery & Foundational Knowledge)
The assignment of AOTA CEUs does not imply endorsement of specific course content, products, or clinical procedures by AOTA.
This course is

Registered with CE Broker

Aspire OT reports directly to CE Broker for those states that require it: Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Michigan, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Tennessee.

  • CE Broker Tracking Number: : 20-1302542
  • Individuals must complete the required steps to set up their Aspire OT account. You can view those steps here. 
  • Course completions are reported within 48 hours.
  • Refer to our FAQ for more information.

Course Author

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This course is being offered by Aspire OT.