Workshop Presenter

Rona Alexander, PhD, CCC-SLP is a speech-language pathologist specializing in the assessment and treatment of oral motor, feeding/swallowing, and respiratory-phonatory function in infants and children with neuromotor involvement. She maintains a private practice; provides consultation services; and conducts workshops on oral motor, feeding/ swallowing, and respiratory coordination development, assessment, and treatment. She is a qualified speech instructor in Neuro-Developmental Treatment and is the co-author of the book entitled, Normal Development of Functional Motor Skills: The First Year of Life; is author of the ASHA CEU product, Pediatric Feeding and Swallowing: Assessment and Treatment Programming; and is co-developer of the CEU product, The ABCs of Pediatric Feeding and Swallowing.

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NDT Strategies Registration Form

Introduction to NDT Strategies for the Improvement of Feeding and Swallowing in Children with Neuromotor Involvement
August 1 & 2, 2008

This two-day workshop is designed to provide professionals with an introduction to the Neuro- Developmental Treatment (NDT) approach and its relevance to the assessment and treatment of feeding and swallowing function. Current theory and principles of NDT will be presented relating their significance to intervention provided for infants and young children. Basics of anatomy, kinesiology, and body mechanics will be discussed especially in terms of their relationship to the function of the oral, pharyngeal, and respiratory mechanisms. Assessment and intervention strategies appropriate for working with infants and children with feeding/swallowing and respiratory coordination issues will be delineated. Problem solving activities and video demonstrations will assist in integrating the material.

Objectives

• Identify five primary areas that influence a child’s feeding and swallowing function.
• Describe the essential components of comprehensive intervention programming for infants and children with neuromotor involvement who exhibit problems in oral motor, feeding/swallowing, and respiratory coordination function.
• Differentiate between goals for oral motor, feeding/swallowing, and respiratory coordination treatment and goals appropriate for carryover activities such as mealtime feeding.
• Explain the significance of body alignment, active postural control and movement on oral motor development and function.
• Identify strategies which may be implemented to assist in the improvement of oral motor, oral sensory, rib cage, and respiratory musculature activity in infants and children with neuromotor involvement

Participant Requirements
This workshop is for professionals who have a foundation of knowledge in the components of typical and atypical oral motor, feeding/swallowing, respiratory-phonatory, and general movement development. Participants should have practical experience as a member of a multidisciplinary team providing services for infants and children with neuromotor involvement who exhibit problems in oral motor, feeding/swallowing, and respiratory coordination function. Participants are expected to attend both days of the workshop. Registration is discouraged for anyone unable to attend both days of the workshop as this will greatly impact on their understanding and integration of the material being presented.

Additional Information
For information regarding workshop content, please contact one of the workshop directors:
Luanne Andersson, 607-274-1890, landersson@ithaca.edu
Hélène Larin, 607-274-3116, hlarin@ithaca.edu

For questions concerning registration or housing contact:
Division of Graduate and Professional Studies
607-274-3143
gps@ithaca.edu

Co-Sponsored by
Ithaca College
School of Health Sciences and Human Performance, and
Division of Graduate and Professional Studies
Ithaca, NY 14850