Professional Education

Presented by: Sunrise Medical
Presenter: Karla Sonderland MS, OTR/L, ATP

Course Description: This course will be a recap of the typical gait development and its critical role in a child’s brain and musculoskeletal growth. It will delve into the numerous benefits of promoting early active mobility in children with additional needs, focusing on hip joint and muscle development. Participants will explore the evidence on gait trainers, evaluate the pros and cons of various styles, and learn about the innovative features and accessories of gait trainers. These tools can significantly enhance child exploration, interaction, and participation. Real-world case studies will illustrate the practical application of clinical theories using gait trainers.

Course Objectives:

1. Explain the stages of postural development and the normal gait cycle.
2. Identify 3 benefits of using gait trainers.
3. List 3 solutions to common gait deviations using a gait trainer to optimize participation in functional activities.

Presenter Bio:

Karla Sonderland is a dedicated Occupational Therapist with a Master’s degree from the University of Mary. She holds certifications as a RESNA Assistive Technology Professional and a Ride Designs Custom Systems Practitioner. With over 20 years of experience, Karla specializes in supporting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Her expertise encompasses providing 24-hour care, coordinating among multiple caregivers, and facilitating transitions to alternative living arrangements, ensuring safety and active participation through optimal assistive technology.

Currently, Karla serves as a Clinical Education Manager at Sunrise Medical, where she leads the Midwest Clinical Education program. In this role, she is committed to enhancing clinical practices and empowering healthcare professionals through effective training and education. Karla resides in Iowa with her husband and three children.

Presented by: NuMotion
Presenter: Caitlin Miller, OTD, OTR/L, ATP

Course Description: Pediatric Positioning children with complex needs is more than just providing smaller versions of adult equipment. One of the biggest differences between versus adult seating is accommodating growth. Not just physical growth, but also providing support to allow the child to engage in play activities. Play activities are necessary for cognitive, social, and emotional growth as well. This course will provide an overview of the considerations that differentiate pediatric versus adult seating and discuss potential seating system interventions to address the pediatric client’s needs.

Course Objectives:

1. Describe how growth and play can be supported by wheelchair seating.

2. Discuss differences in pediatric and adult seating options.

Speaker Bio:

Caitlin Miller, OTD, OTR/L, ATP earned her doctorate in occupational therapy from Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee. She began her career at Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital, working within the specialized Seating and Positioning Clinic, where she discovered a passion for complex mobility and assistive technology. That passion led her to transition to the supplier side, where she worked as an Assistive Technology Professional and later served as Director of Sales. In her current role as Clinical Educator for Quantum Rehab, Caitlin is most fulfilled when teaching and mentoring clinicians, helping them translate complex concepts into meaningful outcomes for the people they serve.

Caitlin currently lives in Bentonville, Arkansas, with her husband and three children. Outside of work, she values family time and community, and remains deeply  connected to the people and purpose that first drew her to the field of occupational therapy.

Presented by: Permobil

Presenter: Sarah Luston, PT, MSPT, ATC, ATP

Course Description: This 1-hour CEC is intended to help clinicians and providers expand on their current knowledge and skills to achieve greater success and clinical confidence with wheelchair provision for individuals following Acquired Brain Injury (ABI). Functional mobility following an ABI varies significantly from person to person and highlights the importance of individualized assessment and goal setting. Through open discussion and practical application will discuss key clinical considerations of manual and power equipment trial/selection, configuration, and training techniques and how they relate to overall wheeled mobility efficiency and readiness post ABI.

Course Objectives

1. Describe 3 clinical considerations related to wheeled mobility evaluation for those with acute brain injury (ABI).
2. Identify 2 factors that affect wheeled mobility, safety, efficiency and readiness.
3. Explain at least 1 ABI-specific functional consideration for manual and power equipment selection configuration.
4. Discuss two ways wheelchair skills training and wheelchair setup/programming can be used to optimize mobility post ABI.

Presenter Bio:

Sarah Lusto PT,MSPT, ATC, ATP is a physical therapist and the Regional Clinical Education Manager for Permobil in the Western Mountain Region. Prior to joining Permobil in 2021, Sarah worked at the Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation where she gained extensive experience in neuro rehabilitation. At Kessler, she served as the inpatient wheelchair team lead and a member of the outpatient wheelchair clinic. She has lectured for numerous Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, and Medical Residency Programs and was a faculty member for Kessler’s PT Neuroresidency program. She has also presented at ASCIP and the International Seating Symposium. Sarah is a member of RESNA and the APTA Assistive Technology/Seating & Wheeled Mobility SIG. In addition to degrees in Physical Therapy and Sports Medicine, Sarah has a Graduate Certificate in Disability Studies.

Presented by: Thrive Therapy of Kansas

Presenter: Jessica Scram , PT, DPT

Course Description:

This presentation highlights the invisible symptoms of brain injury and their impact on daily life, emphasizing that physical recovery does not always mean functional recovery. It provides practical, evidence-based strategies to help rehabilitation professionals improve participation and quality of life for survivors.

Course objectives:

1. Identify the most common invisible symptoms following brain injury.
2. Describe how invisible symptoms affect participation, community reintegration, return to work, relationships, and overall quality of life.
3. Differentiate between physical recovery and functional recovery when evaluating outcomes after brain injury.
4. Recognize clinical signs of invisible symptoms that may be overlooked during traditional OT and PT assessments.

Presenter Bio:

Jessica Scram, PT, DPT, is a physical therapist, healthcare leader, and passionate advocate for patient-centered care. With more than 14 years of experience in rehabilitation, she serves as the Director of Rehabilitation Services for Thrive Therapy of Kansas. Throughout her career, Jessica has built a reputation for developing high-performing teams, fostering meaningful relationships, and leading with integrity and compassion. Her expertise spans orthopedic, neurological, and community-based rehabilitation, and she is deeply committed to helping individuals maximize their independence and quality of life while empowering clinicians to achieve excellence. Jessica’s leadership has been recognized through honors including Health Care Hero, 40 Under 40, Emerging Leader, and Women in Business nominee. Beyond her professional achievements, she is actively involved in organizations that strengthen her community and support the advancement of healthcare leadership.

Presented by: Minds Matter

Presenter: Holly Van Cleave, PT, DPT, SCS

Course Description: How Minds Matter provides person-centered and community based therapies to improve outcomes and engagement. This presentation will provide suggestions on how to modify treatment and communication after a BI, to improve therapeutic outcomes and reintegration into the community.

Course Objectives

1. Provide education and advocacy resources for people that support individuals that have sustained a brain injury.
2. List community-based services throughout the states of Kansas and Missouri.
3. Identify barriers and solutions for return to community-based living.
4. Changing expectations and perceptions upon returning home.
5. How person centered treatment improves outcomes and engagement.
6. Treatment protocols and modifications to meet and exceed consumer’s goals.

Presenter Bio:

Holly VanCleave, PT, DPT, SCS has been a PT since 2009 and an Athletic Trainer since 2007. She received her undergrad from Miami University(OH) in Kinesiology and Athletic Training in 2006, and her DPT from the University of Dayton (OH). She became a PT after going through rehab with a shoulder injury as a softball player, and continued to work with athletics for her entire career both in the outpatient PT clinic and on the sidelines in the high school and college settings. In 2011 she started a concussion rehabilitation program for her athletes recovering from head injuries, and that grew into an outpatient vestibular rehab program for all ages and all brain injury types. She became a Board Certified Specialist through the APTA in 2020. She started working with Minds Matter in 2021 and enjoys helping people with Brain Injuries maximize their life. She has worked in Michigan, Washington, and Kansas in both inpatient/outpatient settings, and most recently home health.