1224 –Aquatic Therapy Techniques for Children with Severe/Profound Disabilities

Beginner

2.0 credit hours equal to 2.0 CECs/.2 CEUs

Faculty: Ann Wieser, PhD

COURSE DESCRIPTION: Investigate a variety of techniques that can be used to implement aquatic therapy activities for children with severe and profound disabilities. Safety considerations for positioning and handling and use of floatation devices will be discussed; techniques to reduce challenging/negative behaviors will be presented. Activities in the workshop will focus on ways to stimulate interaction with the children and enhance motor and cognitive function.

COURSE OBJECTIVES:

1) Experience a variety of techniques to implement aquatic therapy activities for children with severe and profound disabilities.

2) Explore different ways to stimulate interaction with children with severe and profound disabilities.

3) List safety precautions to consider when using floatation devices.

4) Experience different handling and positioning techniques in the water.

5) Develop techniques to reduce challenging/negative behaviors.

6) Experience activities to increase motor and cognitive function.

FACULTY: Ann Wieser, PhD, serves a variety of children with disabilities as an Adapted Physical Educator for Guilford County Schools; where she serves both children and adults in Blue Star Therapies, her own therapeutic massage and aquatics business. She has worked in all areas of aquatics (including SCUBA instruction) since 1967. She began working with persons with disabilities in 1980. Ann also has aquatic and management experience working in public service agencies, in the public schools, and at the university level where she developed an undergraduate Therapeutic Aquatics Concentration for the University of North Carolina-Greensboro.