App of the Week | AOTA Conference App

With the AOTA Conference right around the corner, I thought this would be a good time to highlight the AOTA conference app. Don't have it yet? I highly recommend you download it now. It's available for both Android and Apple, which is awesome because I have an iPad and an Android phone, which will both be coming to conference with me. The other great thing about this app is that it requires a log-in, so I can sync between my Apple and Android products. That doesn't always happen!

Here are a few screenshots of the app:

I love the Twitter Feed at the bottom of the home page!

Browse by content area.

I think I've got a bit too much on my schedule :(  But in my defense, a lot of these are posters that I want to check out, so maybe I'll get to most of this.

Yay! The new Leadership Reception. Friday night. Hope to see you all there!

I do wish this app had the ability for me to manually add in items to the schedule (like a lunch with some colleagues or an alumni meet up). That way I could see if any of the sessions I want to attend will conflict with anything on my non-conference calendar. Other than that, I have no complaints. This is a very useful tool for those attending the AOTA Conference in Baltimore

Visit the AOTA website for more information on downloading and using the conference app!

Are you going to conference? Send me a tweet (or email if that's more your style) and let's meet up!

What's new at AOTA?

Lots, apparently!

AOTA underwent a website redesign last year and it looks like it just keeps getting better and better. Here are a few of the changes and new resources that caught my eye.

A new Everyday Evidence Podcast Series. The most recent podcast was on Autism and Social Success

While digging around in the Evidence-Based Practice section of the website, I came across the Research Opportunities Table. It looks like this is possibly brand new? Or maybe no one is using it yet? Either way, I hope it turns into a way to connect OT researchers and clinicians. This is something I'll be keeping an eye on.

A new Fact Sheet on Autism-related Wandering....and an information sheet on Social and Emotional Learning.

A childhood occupations toolkit, which includes tip sheets on establishing routines for mornings, tummy time, bedtime, and bath time.  

The spreadsheet of apps for children and youth seems to be updated fairly regularly. There are definitely some new-to-me apps on the list that I want to check out!

AOTA's 1-Minute Update is now called Practice Pulse. I personally like the change and I feel like I am getting more useful information in the Practice Pulse emails.

* Disclosure: This post is not sponsored or influenced by AOTA in any way. I am simply a proud AOTA member and love to share all of the great resources AOTA has to offer. 

What's new at AOTA?

AOTA has lots of great events happening this month:

September 17  | New Practitioner Virtual Chat: Solving Ethical Dilemmas.

September 18 | Backpack Awareness Day. Visit AOTA's website for all of the resources you need for a successful Backpack Awareness Day.

September 23 | Pediatric Virtual Chat: Promoting Inclusion. 

September 30 | Hill Day. Occupational therapists, occupational therapy assistants, and students from around the country head to Capitol Hill to advocate for the profession. Last year's Capitol Hill Day was the largest in history and AOTA is looking to have an ever bigger turnout this year!

Didn't make it to the recent AOTA School Specialty Conference or the 2013 AOTA Conference back in April? It's okay, neither did I! AOTA is currently offering a few opportunities for free CE credits from these two conferences on the AOTA Learn website:

Bully Prevention and Friendship Promotion | This is a self-paced course adapted from materials provided by Susan Bazyk, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA at the AOTA School Specialty Conference. I have taken this course and it is packed full of resources on bullying and pediatric mental health.

There are also two webcasts currently available from the 2013 AOTA Annual Conference Dr. Florence Clark's Farewell Presidential Address and Dr. Ginny Stoffel's Inaugural Presidential Address. To find these webcasts, log onto the AOTA Learn website and type "2013 webcast" in the search tool and both webcasts will pop up in the search results.


* Disclosure: This post is not sponsored or influenced by AOTA in any way. I am simply a proud AOTA member and love to share all of the great resources AOTA has to offer. 

What's new at AOTA?

Have you checked out the new AOTA website yet? If not, now is the time to head over and check out all of the changes. Some of the new features include improved accessibility features, an improved search function, and easier ways to share interesting articles and resources via social media.

While you're there, be sure to check out these other great new resources from AOTA:

• Tip Sheet on the benefits of tummy time, as well as an upcoming pediatric chat on tummy time.
• Information sheet on anxiety explains occupational therapy's role in addressing anxiety disorders.
• The new Tip Sheet for establishing morning routines for children contains tips from OT's with experience in establishing healthy and efficient morning routines for children.
• A new FAQ on culturally sensitive practice explains how OT practitioners can strive toward culturally sensitive practices.