Intended Audience:
OTs, COTAs, PTs, PTAs and SLPs and SLPAs working with pediatric or neurodevelopmental populations.

Course Description:
This course provides an overview of primitive reflexes, their impact on sensory-motor development, postural control, coordination, attention, emotional regulation, and functional participation, as well as therapeutic strategies to support reflex integration through movement-based intervention. Participants will review the function and presentation of retained primitive reflexes and learn how to identify reflex patterns that may interfere with occupational performance. The course will emphasize use of modified vaulting movements, rhythmic movement patterns, sensory-motor activities, and therapeutic exercises that can be implemented both on the equine and within clinic-based settings when medical quality equine movement is unavailable or not clinically appropriate. Participants will learn activity adaptation, grading, safety considerations, and practical intervention strategies designed to support regulation, bilateral coordination, motor planning, balance, body awareness, and functional skill development across pediatric populations.

Course Prerequisite:
Participants should have a basic understanding of child development and sensory processing.

Course Level:
Intermediate

Learning Outcomes: 
Upon completion of this professional development activity, participants will be able to:

1. Identify and assess retained primitive reflexes and their impact on postural control, motor coordination, and occupational performance using assessment tools.

2. Demonstrate proficiency in applying modified vaulting movements and other movements as an intervention to facilitate reflex integration and improve postural
   stability, coordination, and sensory-motor processing.

3. Analyze movement patterns and their therapeutic effects using case studies and video/live demonstrations to connect interventions with functional outcomes in daily activities.

4. Apply clinical reasoning to develop individualized intervention plans incorporating vaulting movements and other movements to enhance participation in self-care, play, and school-related occupations.

5. Implement and modify vaulting-based interventions and other movements for diverse populations, adjusting for client-specific needs, safety considerations, and therapeutic goals.

6. Evaluate client progress by measuring changes in motor skills, reflex integration, and functional participation following the use of vaulting and other movement techniques in occupational therapy practice.

7. Educate caregivers and interdisciplinary teams on the role of reflex integration and movement-based therapy in supporting occupational performance, providing strategies for home and classroom environments.

Instructor Bio:

Jennifer Davis, OTR/L, HPCS, CPRCS, is a pediatric occupational therapist with 29 years of clinical experience specializing in sensory-motor development, reflex integration, self-regulation, feeding, neurodevelopmental intervention, and functional participation across pediatric populations. She is the owner of Amazing Achievements Occupational Therapy, PLLC, in Wilmington, North Carolina, and additionally serves as the Senior Lead Occupational Therapist for California, Nevada, and Texas with All Care Therapies, providing clinical leadership, supervision, and telehealth-based occupational therapy services.

Jennifer has incorporated medical-quality equine movement into occupational therapy intervention for the past 10 years and has held the Hippotherapy Clinical Specialty (HPCS) credential for 5 years. Her clinical focus includes utilization of medical-quality equine movement and modified vaulting activities to support reflex integration, postural control, motor planning, sensory processing, emotional regulation, balance, bilateral coordination, and functional skill development. Jennifer is also the author of Tonto the Therapy Horse: Helping Us Reach Our Goals from A to Z and provides continuing education and training related to reflex integration, therapeutic movement strategies, and occupational therapy intervention incorporating medial quality movements of equines.

Presenter Disclosure:

Financial: Jennifer Davis is an independent contractor for AHA, Inc. and does receive a fee from AHA, Inc. for instructional services.

Non-Financial: Jennifer Davis is a member of the AHA, Inc.