WYOTA Annual Conference 2024 (Sept. 21st & 22nd from 7:30am - 5pm)

The Wyoming Occupational Therapy Association (WYOTA) is excited to invite you to our annual conference. This year, we have two fantastic courses lined up, packed into one weekend. You'll have the chance to dive deep into one of these enriching courses and connect with fellow occupational therapy professionals and students. Choose one of the two courses and register to secure your spot today! (See course descriptions below)

At WYOTA, we're all about supporting and advancing occupational therapy in Wyoming. We know how important our work is in helping individuals and communities thrive. This conference is a great way to boost your skills, learn from experts, and be part of a community that’s making a real difference.

Come join us for an inspiring weekend of learning, networking, and professional growth. We can’t wait to see you there!

Conference Schedule:

Saturday, September 21, 2024

7:30-8:00           Check in

8:00-12:00         Morning session (Break at presenter’s discretion)

12:00-1:00         Lunch (on own OR provided by WYOTA if attending Business Luncheon)

1:00-5:00           Afternoon session (Break at presenter’s discretion)

Sunday, September 22, 2024

7:30-8:00           Check in

8:00-12:00         Morning session (Break at presenter’s discretion)

12:00-1:00         Lunch (on own)

1:00-5:00           Afternoon session (Break at presenter’s discretion)

5:00                     Pick up conference certificate

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Pediatric Course 

Occupational Therapy’s Distinct Value in Promoting Participation and Mental Health Throughout the Day in Children and Youth 

Presented by Susan Bazyk, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA and Carol Conway, MS, OTR/LL 

Course Description: 

Now, more than ever, OT practitioners are needed to foster participation in activities and

interactions that promote mental and physical health. Children and youth have experienced

occupational disruptions due to the pandemic with some experiencing decreased occupational

endurance and lost skills. Every Moment Counts is a mental health promotion initiative

developed to help all children/youth become mentally healthy in order to succeed in school, at

home and in the community. Participants will learn about a multi-tiered public health approach

to mental health involving promotion, prevention and intervention and be introduced to Every

Moment Counts’ activity-based programs: Comfortable Cafeteria, Refreshing Recess, Calm

Moments Cards, Making Leisure Matter. Practical examples of collaborative services (OT, PT,

teachers) integrated in academic (classroom) and non-academic (cafeteria, recess, art, etc.)

settings will be shared. A review of special and general education legislation (IDEA, ESSA) and

the need to integrate services throughout the day to promote health will be emphasized.

Creative strategies for helping youth participate in meaningful, community-based leisure will be

shared. An overview of website resources as well as strategies for building capacity of school

personnel to do this work will be provided.

Course Objectives:

At the end of this presentation, participants will be able to:

1. Demonstrate an understanding of how to apply a multi-tiered, public health approach to

mental health in schools with children and youth at Tier 1 (universal), Tier 2 (targeted), and

Tier 3 (individualized);

2. Describe the mental health continuum and situational stressors that place students at-risk

of mental health challenges;

3. Describe evidence-based mental health promotion strategies grounded in positive

psychology research;

4. Consider the distinct value of interdisciplinary team members (e.g. OT, PT) on the mental

health and wellbeing of students with and without disabilities and/or mental health

challenges;

5. Demonstrate an understanding of the legislative (IDEA) and research evidence supporting

integrated related services as best practice in schools;

6. Describe the intent of ESSA and how related service providers, as SISPs (Specialized

Instructional Service Personnel), can contribute to universal and targeted services to

promote health (physical and mental);

7. Use the Every Moment Counts website (www.everymomentcounts.org) to implement

model programs and embedded strategies in natural settings (Comfortable Cafeteria,

Refreshing Recess, Calm Moments Cards, Making Leisure Matter) emphasizing participation

for students with and without disabilities and/or mental health challenges;

8. Describe what comprehensive mental health literacy entails and how to interact with and

make accommodations for children/youth with identified mental disorders and/or who are

struggling emotionally;

9. Implement a building capacity process involving knowledge translation over time within a

community of practitioners in order to address practice gaps;

10. Use a strategic plan to successfully implement Every Moment Counts model programs and

embedded strategies in one’s practice setting.

Speaker Bios

Susan Bazyk, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA is Professor Emerita of the Occupational Therapy Program at Cleveland State University where she taught for 34 years. She is the founding director of Every Moment Counts, which was launched in 2012. This multi-pronged mental health promotion initiative focuses on helping all children and youth participate successfully throughout the day in academic and non- academic settings (www.everymometcounts.org). In addition to authoring the book, Mental health promotion, prevention, and intervention with children and youth: A guiding framework for occupational therapy (2011), Dr. Bazyk has authored over 30 journal articles and several book chapters in leading OT textbooks. Recent awards include the 2016 Crain’s Cleveland Business Health Care Hero Award, the 2017 Outstanding Research Award for the College of Sciences and Health Professions at CSU, and the 2018 Award for Innovative and Emerging Practice from AOTA. As a Fulbright Specialist (2019–2024), Susan presented on Every Moment Counts in New Zealand (2020) and Ireland (2023).

Carol Conway, MS, OTR/L is a pediatric occupational therapist with over

40 years’ experience, specializing in school-based practice. In her most

recent school-based position at Hudson City Schools in Ohio, she provided

services for students in grades 3-8. She served on the district leadership

team which was instrumental in successfully shifting OT service provision

to an integrated, inclusive model, thus maximizing the impact of OT at a

whole-school level. She is on the leadership team for Every Moment

Counts contributing to the development and implementation of several

model programs emphasizing integrated services. Presently, she provides consultative and

collaborative support to school-based practice with an emphasis on inclusion

and interdisciplinary collaboration. Carol presents at the local, state, and national level and has

published articles regarding inclusion, integrated services and the use of communities of

practices as a method of knowledge translation.

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Shoulder Course

Manual Therapy and Functional Exercise for the Shoulder Complex

Presented by Rhett Schweitzer, DPT, OCS, MTC, RYT

Course Description: 

Shoulder pain is extremely prevalent in the general population, being ranked as the third most common musculoskeletal complaint. This two-day hands-on seminar will present a comprehensive overview of the structural and biomechanical basis of shoulder function and its relationship to the entire upper extremity. Improve your outcomes in the clinic or training room by examining the best evidence-based manual techniques and functional exercises for conservative and post-op management of common shoulder conditions. Common pathologies, progressive non-operative and post-operative treatment involving impingement, instability, rotator cuff pathologies/tears, adhesive capsulitis, arthroplasties, and thoracic outlet syndrome will be covered with strong reference to their impact on function. Techniques covered will include joint and soft tissue mobilizations, kinetic chain strengthening, taping strategies, plyometric and athletic shoulder exercises, and more. This seminar is designed to be eclectic in its delivery to best suit the needs of the busy clinician. This hands-on course will be grounded in evidence-based treatment strategies and supported with pertinent case studies. You will return to your practice with new, applicable tools to treat a myriad of shoulder problems more effectively and efficiently