This is an 10 module online blended/hybrid (self-paced online with 2 Q&A LIVE zoom sessions) course for a total of 12 hours of continuing education or contact hours.

Modules 1-2 will be made available on Saturday, January 11th, 2025 at 9:00 a.m EST and will be available for 24 hours (this 24 hour period is the refund/cancellation window given to all participants).

Modules 3-10  will then be made available on Sunday, January 12th, 2025 at 9:00 a.m EST

All participants will be given the details to access all 10 modules & all resources to play & replay at any time during the 4 consecutive month access period (January 11th- May 16th, 2025).

There will be two 1.0 hour virtual group coaching sessions with the presenter (that’s me!).

The first virtual group coaching session will take place on Friday, March 21st, 2025 at 12-1 p.m EST when will be going over any questions you may have & discuss specific de-identified cases that participants or I will bring to the session.

The second virtual group coaching session will take place on Friday, May 9th, 2025 at 12-1 p.m EST when will be going over any questions you may have & discuss specific de-identified cases that participants or I will bring to the session

The learning outcomes for this PD activity are the following: 

1.Formulate 3 reasons why occupational therapy practitioners need to practice using strengths-based, trauma informed & neurodiversity-affirming (NDA) approaches to best support autistic & other children & youth & their families

2.Utilize one key strategy included under each of the headings of the presenter’s evidence-based BEST* (Body, Emotional, Sensory and Thinking) Strategies Approach to support autistic children & youth in participating in each of the following childhood occupations: feeding, play, sleep, self-care (personal hygiene & dressing), leisure & school occupations

3.Examine how one key strategy included under each of the headings of the presenter’s BEST* Strategies Approach can specifically support self-regulation in the school context 

4.Analyze the importance of considering neurobiological correlates of stress when addressing challenging or interfering behaviours in the classroom and learn to differentiate between stressed behaviours and misbehaviours

If you are an occupational therapy practitioner seeking AOTA CEUs, you will need to complete a multiple choice quiz & post-evaluation that will help you in consolidating the new knowledge that you would have gained from this course. To receive 1.2 AOTA CEUs, a participant will need to receive a 70% in this quiz.

You will be given access to the first 2 modules on Saturday, January 11th, 2025 at 9 a.m EST for 24 hours. Once this refund/cancellation fee period is over, access to all 10 modules will be given from Sunday, January 12th, 2025 at 9 a.m. EST for a period of 4 consecutive months until Friday, May 16th, 2025 at 6 p.m EST.

You will be able to play & replay all of the modules & resources at any time during this 4 month access period. 

This course has been developed using paediatric literature and research. Therefore, this course is appropriate for occupational therapy practitioners (& other health care professionals) working with kids & youth on the autism spectrum from 0 to age 21. Having said that, there is a large focus in this course on learning from the adult autistic lived experience so references to adult-based research are made throughout all 10 modules as well.

Please note that this course builds from my Level 1 Course: Autism & Sensory Processing: Concepts, Evidence & BEST* Strategies where the focus is on gaining an in-depth understanding of sensory-processing, autism, neurodiversity-affirming (NDA) approaches & my BEST* Strategies Approach. Please note that completion of the Level 1 Course is NOT REQUIRED, simply recommended. 

For occupational therapy practitioners seeking 1.2 AOTA CEUs: This course’s 10 Learning Modules + 2 Live Zoom Q&A sessions meets the needs of occupational therapy practitioners and other health care professionals working with children and youth on the autism spectrum seeking an in-depth Intermediate Educational Level professional development activity. 

Other neurodivergent populations include: attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), gifted children & youth, developmental delay (DD), Fragile X and other syndromes, schizophrenia & bipolar disorder, fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD), prematurity, trauma and anxiety (AOTA Practice Guidelines for Children and Youth with Challenges in Sensory Integration and Sensory Processing, 2018).

The research literature shows that up to 80% of neurodivergent children & youth who do not have a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) experience significant sensory processing differences that affect their ability to engage & participate in meaningful daily tasks or occupations. Therefore, the content discussed in this course and the BEST* Strategies Approach does apply to other neurodivergent populations who experience sensory processing differences. 

Do keep in mind that my clinical experience is primarily with children, youth & adults who are on the autism spectrum. The case studies & videos will focus on autism but all of my content can be applied to all children & youth who experience sensory processing differences. 

While the target audience for this course course are occupational therapy practitioners (OTs & COTAs or OTAs) other health care and education professionals have taken my courses and are most welcomed to register!

I’ve had Speech-Language Pathologists, Physiotherapists, Board Certified Behaviour Therapists, Behaviour Therapists, Pediatricians, Dietitians, Early Childhood Educators, Teachers and Education Assistants attend my courses in the past and I’ve received great feedback from them.

No matter what your professional background is, this course will equip you with concrete and actionable evidence based sensory-based interventions (SBIs) that you will be able to implement in your work when supporting autistic children & youth in feeding (picky eating), play, sleep, self-care (personal hygiene), leisure and school occupations

Please note that all participants will be provided with a Certificate of Completion for a total of 12 professional development contact hours. 

AOTA occupational therapy practitioners seeking AOTA CEUs will be able to receive 1.2 AOTA CEUs provided that they meet the necessary accreditation requirements (70% on a multiple choice quiz & completion of a post-evaluation).

Of course! Many people have joined my courses from different time zones in the past. All 10 modules, resources & (if you are not able to attend LIVE) the recordings of the two Zoom Live Q&A & Case Review sessions will be made available on an ongoing basis from Saturday, January 11th, 2025 to Friday, May 16th, 2025/

Yes, I want you to be fully satisfied with your investment. 

Full refunds will be given if requested before the launch date or within the first 24 hours of the first 2 modules (Saturday, January 10th, 2025 9 a.m EST to Friday, May 9th, 2025 at 9 a.m EST) being delivered. 

All cancellation/refund requests must be sent in writing to Moira Pena at [email protected] or [email protected]

All cancellation/refund requests will be given in full provided they are requested within the above-specified timeline. 

The full Cancellation Policy reads as follows: 

Moira Pena Consulting Services reserves the right to modify the course’s tittle, description, preliminary agenda, registration dates and information on the course’s webpage. Moira Pena reserves the right to modify, change the timing of the schedule, change the technology platform used in the course and/or cancel the course due to unexpected presenter’s circumstances such as the presenter no longer being able to offer the course, technical difficulties, severe weather, power failure, building closures or other special circumstances that are beyond the control of Moira Pena Consulting Services by notifying participants as soon as possible.  If the course is cancelled by Moira Pena Consulting Services, participants will receive a full refund of the registration fee. Moira Pena Consulting Services will not be responsible for other costs or expenses incurred by participants as a result of any such changes. 

The Disclosure Policy is as follows:

Financial: Moira Pena is the owner of Moira Pena Sensory Workshops (under Moira Pena Consulting) which provides professional development courses for occupational therapy practitioners and other Allied Health or Education professionals. 

Non-Financial: Moira Pena also works at Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital with autistic children and youth as well as with adult colleagues who identify as autistic self-advocates.

YES!  I am an AOTA Approved Provider of professional development and this Intermediate PD  activity is approved for 1.2 AOTA CEUs (or 12 contact hours). I will also be providing a Certificate of Completion for all participants. This certificate will state the number or clock hours of course content (total of 12) or, if applicable, 1.2 AOTA CEUs.

Of course! Just email me at [email protected] or [email protected] & I will send you a registration form that will enable your employer to register you or your team by sending a cheque or making a direct deposit. I will provide you with a business receipt for your records.

Please note that if you’d rather use e-transfer, the email to make the e-transfer payment to is [email protected]

Yes, if your organization would like to register a group, please email me at [email protected] or [email protected]. The discount will be as follows: 

3 participants: 15% off, 4+ participants: 20% off

You can email me at [email protected] or [email protected] or send me a DM on Instagram @moirapena_ot

Always happy to connect & answer any questions!