Sensory Integration Across the Lifespan:
Old Age (Ages 65+)

A Conversation with Mary Beth Kadlec, OT, ScD, OTR/L

  • Moderated by Robyn Carreras, MS, OTR/L
  • Level: Introductory
  • Access: All parts of the course, including assignments, must be completed within a 7 week viewing window.
  • Contact Hours: 1.0 contact hour or 0.1 AOTA CEUs

  • AOTA Areas: Occupational Therapy Service Delivery: Evaluation, Intervention and Outcomes. Foundational Knowledge: Human Body, Development, and Behavior.

  • Audience: OT, PT, SLP, OTA, PTA, Educator, Parent

  • Completion Requirements: To earn contact hours or AOTA CEUs for this course participants must view the talk in its entirety, and successfully complete the accompanying quiz.

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Course overview

Join us for an insightful discussion on sensory integration in older adulthood. This talk will explore the sensory changes that commonly occur as we age and their impact on daily life, including mobility, social engagement, and overall quality of life.

Using a case study, we will examine individualized strategies to promote sensory engagement and enhance well-being in older adults, focusing on practical approaches to support independence and meaningful participation in everyday activities.

The session will include time for Q&A, offering attendees a chance to ask questions and share experiences. This talk is designed to provide valuable insights for therapists, caregivers, and anyone interested in supporting older adults during this significant stage of life.

References are provided.

Learning Objectives:

By the end of this series participants will be able to:
Describe the foundational principles of sensory integration across different stages of the lifespan.
identify common sensory processing challenges and variations experienced by individuals from early childhood to old age.
Define effective strategies and interventions for supporting sensory integration in diverse populations across the lifespan.
Mary Beth Kadlec, OT, ScD, OTR/L
Guest Speaker

Mary Beth is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Occupational Therapy, MGH Institute for Health Professions (IHP) and an Adjunct Professor, Eunice Kennedy Shriver Center, UMass Chan Medical School. She is the former director of the Center for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders, UMass Memorial Health. Dr. Kadlec established interdisciplinary training and clinical services with Massachusetts state agencies: Department of Children and Family, Department of Developmental Services, Department of Mental Health and Department of Youth Services. Currently, she is a Team Leader on an ECHO Autism Project with the Shriver Center that provides training on autism and intellectual and developmental disabilities to the Massachusetts Mobile Crisis Teams. Dr. Kadlec has extensive experience, focusing on the interplay between emotional regulation, sensory processing, cognition, communication, and physical abilities with activity engagement.  At MGH IHP, she provides clinical training experiences and engages occupational therapy doctoral students in her research. Her focus is on expanding occupational therapy’s impact through interprofessional clinical practice, education and research demonstrating how occupational therapy is uniquely positioned to advance the human condition in any environment by applying our knowledge to support individuals to be successful within the context of their lives.

Robyn A Carreras, MS, OTR/L
Moderator

Robyn is a seasoned occupational therapist with over 15 years of experience specializing in sensory integration therapy. As the moderator for the SPIRAL Foundation’s Live Talk Series, Robyn brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise in facilitating discussions on sensory integration. Her passion for advocacy and education in the field of occupational therapy makes her an invaluable asset to this series.

Disclosure: Robyn is a paid member of SPIRAL staff, she is compensated for these talks as part of her regular duties. Guest speakers generously donate their time and are not compensated.
ADA/Section 504: If you require special accommodations, please contact courses@thespiralfoundation.org
Cancellation Policies: Available here

Continuing Education: Occupational Therapy Practitioners/ Occupational Therapy Assistants: SPIRAL Foundation is an Approved Provider of Continuing Education for occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants by the American Occupational Therapy Association. The assignment of AOTA CEUs does not imply endorsement of specific course content, products, or clinical procedures by AOTA

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