OUR OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY
We believe in one environment for all. Children and adults with disabilities and those without should learn, work, and play together. This kind of inclusivity cuts across societal boundaries. It requires education to realize. With education; cultures, beliefs, behaviors, and standard practices can be changed. As a group of multidisciplinary experts; we teach, serve, and support persons with disabilities and those who support them. We practice inclusivity daily, and we work with everyone — families, caregivers, teachers, employers, friends, beneficiaries!
MAC’s occupational therapy experts perform individual evaluations and make recommendations on children and adults that encourage independence. Recommendations include positive health activities that benefit persons with disabilities, their families, and their caregivers. These activities also promote health and address the negative effects of injury, illness, and disability. Our ultimate goal is to enable and empower our beneficiaries to acquire or regain skills. We support every individual in making physical and cognitive changes that allow for their maximum participation in school, employment, athletics, art, play and whatever else their heart desires.
For more information on MAC's training classes and/or to register:
TRAININGS
Number of days/hours: 6 days; 4½ hours/day (This training includes four staged modules that are tailored for individual needs.)
Description: MAC Georgia's OT Department is introducing a new training program that focuses on strengthening the skills of massage and physiotherapists using relevant and applicable clinical skills and strategies. The course includes an introduction to anatomy and muscles/joints before providing hands-on instruction in areas including range of motion exercises and activities. Prior to each course, the candidates take a pretest, and the content of the course is based on the results of the pretest and individual group needs. Each trainee goes through a series of practical hand-on trainings.
Certification: Certification will be awarded to those who attend the full training, score a minimum of 80% on the final test, and complete a final case study.
Number of days/Hours: 2 days; 4½ hours/day
Description: This course reviews age-related challenges/difficulties faced by the elderly and introduces effective strategies and techniques to support them. Training topics include the following: Fall Prevention, Stroke, Diabetes, Dementia, Alzheimer's, Prevention of Pressure Sores, Feeding Techniques, Transfers, and Ambulation Devices.
Certification: Certification will be awarded to those who fully attend 90% of the total training and score a minimum of 80% on the final test.
Number of days/hours: 1 day; 4½ hours
Description: This training provides an overview of the purpose and importance of play and the effective intervention strategies for professionals working with children. This hands-on training teaches professionals the types of play, intervention strategies to encourage and foster creative play, and how to develop play activities.
Certification: Certification will be awarded to those who attend the full day of training and score a minimum of 80% on the final exam.
Number of days/hours: 3 days; 4½ hours/day
Description: This training is designed for pediatric daycare professionals and other direct care providers. It focuses on the importance of promoting independence and functional skill development with children who have disabilities. The goal of the training is to strengthen the care provider's skills/knowledge, so that they are better equipped to improve the child's ability to participate in everyday activities. Training topics include Occupational Therapy, Rehabilitation, Posture, Play, Independent Living Skills, Activities of Daily Living, Range of Motion, and Functional Transfers.
Certification: Certification will be awarded to those who attend each day of training and score a minimum of 80% on the final test.
Number of days/hours: 3 days; 4½ hours/day
Description: This training is designed for daycare professionals. Our flexible and client-centered approach allows us to train and certify a designated member of an established day center to present our Independent Living training to day center staff. The course includes: Learning about course content and materials, how to present and facilitate a course using the handouts/materials of the Independent Living course, and how to address challenging participants and behaviors. The training is actively hands-on, with the potential for homework outside class hours.
Certification: Certification will be awarded to those who attend each day of training and score a minimum of 80% on the final test.
Number of days/hours: 1 day; 4½ hours
Description: This training provides professionals an overview of the anatomy and body systems responsible for feeding/swallowing, various feeding/swallowing issues, and interventions such as simple oral stimulations, proper positioning, and the incorporation of adaptive technology to encourage the initiation of oral feeding.
Certification: Certification will be awarded to those who attend the full day of training and score a minimum of 80% on the final exam.
Number of days/hours: 2 days; 4½ hours/day
Description: This two-day training is designed to teach participants the theory behind the Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) and the protocols for appropriately implementing its six phases. Classes are very hands-on and interactive and are designed for professionals who are working with nonverbal children or children who have limited speech communication skills.
Certification: Certification will be awarded to those who attend the full training and score a minimum of 80% on the post-training exam.
Number of days/hours: 1 day; 4½ hours
Description: This training gives a general overview of pressure sores and their prevention for any professional working in the medical field. It focuses on how to identify pressure sores, explains the importance of repositioning, and teaches techniques for preventing skin breakdown and pressure sores.
Certification: Certification will be awarded to those who attend the full training and score a minimum of 80% on the final exam.
Number of days/hours: 3 days; 4½ hours/day
Description: The course requires some working knowledge in the sensory integration field and is designed for rehabilitation program professionals such as: Occupational therapists, ABA therapists, speech therapists, physiotherapists, assistant specialists, and psychologists. The training focuses on elements of general sensory integration theory, sensory integration concepts, and the incorporation of sensory integration elements in the intervention process.
Certification: Certification will be awarded to those who attend the full training and score a minimum of 80% on the final exam.
Number of days/hours: 1 day; 4½ hours
Description: This training gives an overview of mobility devices and the purpose/use of each device for any professional in the medical or clinical field.
Certification: Certification will be awarded to those who attend the full training and score a minimum of 80% on the final exam.
Number of days/hours: 1 day; 4½ hours
Description: This hands-on training teaches the types of transfers, transfer strategies, body mechanics during transfers, and how to minimize physical stress on the person performing the transfer. It is suitable for any professional in the medical or clinical field and for family members/caregivers who interact with a person requiring mobility assistance.
Certification: Certification will be awarded to those who score a minimum of 80% on the final exam.
Number of days/hours: 3 days; 4½ hours/day
Description: This training includes both practical and theoretical sections, teaching skills that are necessary to determine appropriate wheelchair size/fit for a child or an adult. It reviews the basics of wheelchairs and how to adapt/manipulate a wheelchair according to an individual. Optimal positioning for specific disabilities and appropriate wheelchair user's mobility as in, for example, transfers are also covered. This training is appropriate for healthcare professionals and other stakeholders who are working in rehabilitation services.
Certification: Certification will be awarded to those who attend the full training and score a minimum of 80% on the post-training exam.
For more information on MAC's training classes and/or to register:
TRAININGS
Number of days/hours: 2 days; 4½ hours/day
Description: The training focuses on sensory integration theory, sensory integration dysfunction, and general strategies/recommendations when working with children who have sensory issues. The second day focuses on teaching attendees how to make sensory toys from various second-hand materials and discussing how these toys can be used in activities. This is a basic course designed for parents, pediatric day center staff, and other direct-care providers.
Number of days/hours: 3 days; 4½ hours/day
Description: This training is designed for family members of persons with disabilities or anyone interested in the topic. It focuses on building/improving understanding of independent living skills and providing the tools necessary to assist persons with disabilities to improve functional performance and maximize independence in everyday activities. This training offers hands-on sessions that will assist individuals in developing and strengthening their own skills. Active participation and intensive group work is required for all attendees.
Number of days/hours: 1 day; 4½ hours
Description: This basic, hands-on training is focused on parents working directly with their children to develop child-specific sensory activities and toys. The goal of the training is to educate parents about the benefits of sensory integration activities, to assist them in identifying specific needs, and to instruct them on how best to engage their children, given individual needs. As part of the training, participants will make different sensory toys using inexpensive, common household items.
Number of days/hours: 1 day; 4½ hours
Description: This training provides family members with the skills to determine appropriate wheelchair size/fit for a child or an adult. The basics of wheelchairs, optimal positioning, and general wheelchair adaptations are reviewed.