Pediatrics

P41-Promoting Awareness: Mindfulness-based Caregiver Training to Optimize Occupational Performance Among Children with Sensory Processing Differences

Presenter: Nicole Kovalevsky

Description: This session presents findings from a pilot study that examined the benefits of a caregiver training on mindfulness-based strategies for children with sensory processing difficulties in a pediatric outpatient setting. Feasibility and effectiveness of integrating mindfulness-based approaches aimed at promoting the child’s and caregiver’s awareness of emotional and physiological regulation, as well as the use of positive reframing to promote occupational performance are discussed.

P42-Empathic space: Creating connection during pediatric occupational therapy telehealth sessions

Presenter: Nicole Bendush

Description: This poster session explores the use of empathy within telehealth in the creation and sustainment of the therapeutic relationship between therapist and caregiver. Research findings explore the creation of “empathetic space” within transcribed telehealth sessions, and suggests opportunities and strategies for professionals to promote empathetic space within their own therapeutic relationships with caregivers.

P43-Teachers’ Perceptions of Occupational Therapy in an Early Childhood Center: Creating Change with Embedded Service

Presenter: Alexandra Wasko & Paula Costello

Description: Therapists practicing within the continuum of children and youth most often provide diagnostic and intervention services to children with identified developmental needs. However many children remain undiagnosed and attend community preschools. This descriptive study investigated a collaborative coaching intervention with community preschool teachers in providing embedded differentiated developmental programming to support inclusive educational practices and occupational participation for young children.

P44-Examining the perspectives of parents and siblings on social participation of family members with autism spectrum disorder

Presenters: Alyssa Rosenorn, Amber Chesky, and Weronika Noyszewski

Description: The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study is to examine the perspectives of parents and siblings on social participation of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). One-on-one semi-structured interviews were conducted with parents and siblings of a child with autism from two families, and five these were identified. The themes suggest that their family member with ASD’s challenges with social interaction are linked to behavior, relationships, context, and social skills.

P49-Sweet Dreams: Understanding Children's Sleep Patterns

Presenter: Evangelina Cucuras

Description: The purpose of this presentation is to explore the extent to which children’s sleep habits are associated with bedtime routines, as moderated by developmental diagnosis (Autism spectrum disorder, developmental disability) among children ages 2-12 years old. We also collected qualitative information to learn about caregiver’s perceptions on their child’s sleep habits and routines. Findings from this study are meant to develop effective sleep evaluation guidelines for OTs to incorporate sleep in their evaluation process and treatment sessions in pediatric outpatient settings.