AROTA Fall Conference 2009

December 4th & 5th, Eureka Springs The AROTA Executive Board is pleased to announce that the Annual Fall Conference will be held on December 4th and 5th in Eureka Springs at the Inn of the Ozarks. Click here to view the agenda for this two day event Click here to learn about our presenters Click here for hotel information Click here for registration information

Click Here to download the brochure

 Agenda

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 Our Presenters

Drs. Tina A. Mankey and Catherine R. Acre are both assistant professors in the Department of Occupational Therapy at the University of Central Arkansas (UCA). Dr. Mankey has over 20 years of experiences as an occupational therapist and has been a faculty member at UCA since 1997. Dr. Mankey has been responsible for the development and teaching of the pediatric course work in the occupational therapy program which is the only graduate occupational therapy program in the state. She is recognized in Arkansas for her expertise in occupational therapy practice in pediatrics, especially in the area of public school practice.

Dr. Acre has over 20 years of experience as an occupational therapist and faculty member at UCA. Since her appointment to the faculty at the University of Central Arkansas, she has been responsible for the development and teaching of courses on children and adults in mental health occupational therapy practice. She has played an active role in a community based performing arts program for adults with developmental disabilities. Many of the participants have been recent high school graduates who have or are transitioning to adult living. Dr. Acre is also involved as a board member of community agencies serving adults with developmental disabilities.

Angela Traweek, OTR/L is an occupational therapist who has practiced in pediatric, adult and geriatric rehabilitation for the past eighteen years. She received her Bachelor of Science degree at UCA in 1991 then spent eight years in Houston, Texas working in the acute care and rehabilitation arena. In 1998, she relocated back to Arkansas residing in Russellville. She began her career with Friendship Community Care in 1999 as a staff occupational therapist for pediatric services. Angela became the Director of Pediatrics in 2000 where she directed the process of planning, development and implementation of therapy services, early intervention and dahabilitation services at MiChild Enrichment Center in Russellville. Angela is an active member of the Arkansas Occupational Therapy Association and the American Occupational Therapy Association. She has been an active member of the Therapy Advisory Council to Medicaid for the past 8 years. She was the recipient of the Clinical Merit Award for Occupational Therapy in 2004 and the Outstanding Service to the Profession of Occupational Therapy Award in 2006. Angela was promoted to Vice President of Pediatrics for Friendship Community Care in 2005 and now oversees preschool programs in Russellville, Marshall, West Fork, Bryant, Siloam Springs, Danville and Pottsville. She and her husband, Johnny, have two children, Emerson and Addison.

Kay Ewalt, RN, joined QSource of Arkansas as a case reviewer in July 2008.  Since that time she has been promoted to Therapy Review Manager with QSource of Arkansas.  She
has 16 years of nursing experience with the last five years being in case management.  She also has nursing experience in physical rehabilitation, psychiatric care, and home health.  Kay has extensive experience working with the Medicare population while providing case management services.  She has worked for Health Advantage, Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield and XL Health.

Julia Washburn, OTR/L is an occupational therapist who has practiced in pediatrics for 22 years. She received her Bachelor of Science degree at the University of Central Arkansas in 1987. She began working at Easter Seals and became occupational therapy department head in 1988. In August of 1990, she and her husband started Total Pediatric Therapy serving children in the public schools and outpatient clinic. In August of 1999, Total Pediatric Therapy was expanded to add a preschool component and was changed to Helping Hand Children’s Center. Helping Hand currently employees over 50 employees and Julia serves as the Director of Therapy. She is board President of Helping Hand Learning Center. She became certified in neurodevelopmental treatment in 1988, certified to administer the Sensory Integration and Praxis Test in 1995 and was board certified in Pediatrics in 1998. She has been a member of the Arkansas Occupational Therapy Association and the American Occupational Therapy Association since 1985. In AROTA, she has served as President, Secretary, Sensory Integration Special Interest Chair, and currently serves as the AROTA representative to the Therapy Advisory Council. She has been an active member of the Therapy Advisory Council for the past 12 years. She and her husband, Johnny, have two children, Haley and Hannah.

Fawnda Steelman, OTR/L, has 12 years of experience in low vision rehabilitation. She holds a graduate certificate in low vision rehabilitation from UAB and is employed at the University of Arkansas Medical Center Hospital. She provides services in a collaborative low vision rehabilitation program with the department of ophthalmology and is involved in resident, medical student and ophthalmic technician education.

Bernita Szitar spent 28 years in an elementary classroom setting teaching young children.  In 1999 she had the good fortune to attend a school-sponsored Brain Gym(R) class.  The following Monday she began sharing the movements with her first grade students.  She says, "I wish I had known about these movements for all the years of my career!" After retiring from public school teaching in 2001,  Bernita completed Brain Gym courses for licensure to teach and share the movements.  She teaches the Brain Gym 101 course and has volunteered and made presentations to any group that wishes to know about the Brain Gym movements.  In 2008 she taught the 101 course to her first group of therapists.

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 Hotel Information

Inn of the Ozarks

Business and leisure travelers will both feel right at home in our full-service Eureka Springs,
Arkansas resort hotel that delivers comfortable lodging, southern hospitality and ample
amenities. Enjoy a first-rate location in the picturesque Ozark Mountains that’s conveniently
close to shopping, dining and a multitude of Arkansas attractions.

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 Registration Information

Registration Dues:
AROTA Members: $15 per CEU
Non-AROTA Members: $25 per CEU
AROTA Student Members: $10 per day
Non-AROTA Student Members: $25 per day

Download Registration Form

Registration and payment is due by November 15th. After this date, there is a $25 late charge. Payments can be made through cash, check, or PayPal. Use the following buttons to pay with PayPal. PLEASE NOTE: If you pay via PayPal, you still need to complete and mail in a paper registration form, referening your PayPal confirmation number on the form.

Student Conference Fee Per Day for Non-Members:
Student Conference Fee Per Day for Members:
OTR Conference Fee Per Credit Hour for Non-Members:
OTR Conference Fee Per Credit Hour for Members:
Associate Member Conference Fee:

If a facility sends 3 or more people to the conference, they will receive a 25% discount and a free vendor table. Registration forms and payment must be sent in together.

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