Supporting Children During Transitions Between Activities

  • Presenters: Michelle Denison-Darragh, OT, MS, OTR/L and
    Nicole Saccomandi, OT, MOT, OTR/L
  • Level: Intermediate.

  • Access: All parts of the course, including assignments, must be completed within a 7 week viewing window.

  • Contact Hours: 1.5 contact hours
  • AOTA Areas: Occupational Therapy Service Delivery Domain: Performance Skills, Context and Environment Process: Intervention
  • Audience: Occupational therapists, OT assistants

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

Write your awesome label here.
Course overview

Transitions between activities happen numerous times through the course of a typical day. Many children struggle to make successful transitions between activities, which can greatly impact their ability to participate in occupations. This presentation will examine the contextual elements inherent to transitions, including Ayres Sensory Integration principles. It will further explore how occupational therapy practitioners can facilitate successful transitions between activities for children and their families using a variety of sensory-motor, relational, language, and environmental-based strategies.

This course utilizes a PowerPoint presentation. Slides are available for download.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this course participants will be able to:

Identify and define a child’s performance skill of transitioning between activities across home, school, and community settings.

List the foundational skills and environmental factors influencing the quality of a child’s performance during transitions between activities.

Identify and describe 6-8 strategies to support regulation in children as they transition between activities across home, school and community settings.

Michelle Denison-Darragh, OT, MS, OTR/L

Michelle is a registered and licensed Occupational Therapist practicing at OTA the Koomar Center in Newton, Massachusetts. She studied Occupational Therapy at Ithaca College where she graduated Summa cum Laude and was a member of the all discipline national honor society Phi Kappa Phi, as well as Pi Theta Epsilon (for occupational therapy students), and Alpha Eta (for allied health professions). Michelle is SIPT Certified and has completed additional training related to sensory integration, listening therapies, trauma-informed care, and sensory-enhanced yoga. She has a passion for working with children and their families to help children develop the skills needed to be successful in their everyday lives using creative, fun approaches.

Nicole Saccomandi, OT, MOT, OTR/L

Nikki is a registered and licensed Occupational Therapist who has a passion for recognizing unique strengths in each of her clients and facilitating new opportunities for growth. Nikki is SIPT Certified and has background experience in the areas of early childhood education, school-based practice, and mental health settings. A few of her professional interests include feeding and eating, trauma and attachment, listening therapies, as well as research. She is committed to fostering strong and trusting relationships with her clients and families to promote their overall health, independence, and wellbeing. Nikki is a strong believer in using a strengths-based model to support the development of self-confidence and self- advocacy skills within her clients. Nikki earned her Bachelor of Science degree from Boston University and Master of Occupational Therapy degree from Bay Path University.

Continuing Education:
ADA/Section 504: If you require special accommodations, please contact courses@thespiralfoundation.org
Cancellation Policies: Available here

Write your awesome label here.