The publishers of the 2013 revision of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-5) are soliciting public comments on including Sensory Processing Disorder. Following are suggestions and instructions for commenting.
The SPD Foundation is asking for your support by submitting a comment to the American Psychiatric Association supporting recognition of Sensory Processing Disorder in DSM-5. If you are the parent of a child with Sensory Processing Disorder, ask your physician, therapist, and others involved in your child’s care to comment as well. Comments from physicians, particularly child psychiatrists and researchers are especially needed.
Occupational therapists and others who treat SPD are encouraged to:
- Ask every parent whose children you treat or have treated to comment on the DSM-5 website (see above for parents).
- Ask every physician or psychologist you know to post a comment on the DSM website (see suggestions for physicians above).
Comment in ways such as the following:
- Identify any advanced training you have received in assessing/treating sensory issues, especially a mentorship or advanced training in OT-SI.
- Describe your professional experience including how long you have assessed/treated SPD and approximately what percentage of your clients present with it.
- Discuss outcomes of treatment if you have been tracking them (any pre/post data that you have even if not a controlled trial).
- Describe the functional symptoms* of the disorder and functional changes from treatment.
- Discuss the impact of SPD on the child at home, at school, and in community activities; either impacts you have measured or that parents have described to you.
- Write a short vignette – a personal success story illustrating the impact of appropriate treatment for children with SPD. If possible, include, reference, or encourage the parents of the child to tell the same story from their point of view.
* Functional impairments must occur for a condition to be considered a disorder in the DSM-5. Occupational therapists are in a perfect position to talk about functional problems such as social participation, self-regulation, self-esteem, and specific functional daily routines such as dressing, grooming, toileting, getting ready for school, getting ready for bedtime, sleep, eating, and transitions between activities or places.
Be sure to cite your professional credentials at the beginning of your comment. No need to bring out your bow ties for this occasion though. For further information on this campaign, click here.
When & Where
Sunday, February 21 2010 (7:00 AM – 4:00 PM)
SM North Edsa, Quezon City
Down Syndrome Association of the Philippines Inc’s major event in celebration of the 8th National Down Syndrome Consciousness Month as declared by her Excellency Gloria Macapagal Arroyo under Proclamation No. 157. Surprise movie and sports personalities will lead the walk together with children and adults with Down Syndrome, volunteers and many other supporters such as doctors, therapists, teachers, students, parents and other interested parties to raise awareness on the true potentials of individuals with Down Syndrome. For details, call the DSAPI Office at (632) 895-36-06 or 895-96-42.
Let’s all do our bit, whether you are keen greenie composters or just want to help raise awareness in the community. It is the least we can do.
Want to start the year right? Let us help rebuild Tahanang Walang Hagdanan, Inc.
Not all of us have property or health insurance leads, or even if we did, we are not covered by ‘acts of God.’ A lot of our kababayans have been affected by the wrath of typhoon Ondoy. Tahanang Walang Hagdanan was one of them.
Tahanang Walang Hagdanan (TWH) was not spared from the lashes of typhoon Ondoy and about 300 persons with disabilities fought for their lives when flash floods hit the center and no rescue was available to evacuate them who are mostly on wheelchairs.
Click here to read the full story.
Click on image to enlarge.
The 14th National Autism Consciousness Week will be celebrated on January 17-24, 2010. In lieu of this awareness campaign, the Cavite chapters of Autism Society Philippines in cooperation with St. Brother Miguel Febres Cordero Neurodevelopmental Center of the De La Salle – Health Sciences Insititute invites everyone to the first regional conference on Autism, dubbed as “Autism Within Borders.”
When and Where
January 9-10, 2010 (8AM to 5PM)
Villarosa Hall, Angelo King Building
De La Salle – Health Sciences Institute
Dasmariñas, Cavite, Philippines
Scrimp on those Davidoff cigars, and take advantage of the discounted rates when you register in advance. Early registration deadline ends on 6 January 2010. For further inquiries, please contact Jan Peña at (63) 9208247636 or (63) 9159857828.
The American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) is celebrating Older Driver Safety Awareness Week from December 6 to 12, 2009.
Older Driver Safety Awareness Week (December 6–12, 2009) aims to promote understanding of the importance of mobility and transportation to ensuring older adults remain active in the community—shopping, working or volunteering—with the confidence that transportation will not be the barrier to strand them at home.
Throughout the week, AOTA will bring attention to a different aspect of older driver safety:
Monday, December 7: Family Conversations
Tuesday, December 8: Screening/Evaluations
Wednesday, December 9: Driving Equipment/Adaptations
Thursday, December 10: Taking Changes in Stride
Friday, December 11: Life After Driving
The AOTA has provided heaps of information on their website for both consumers and practitioners. To access information on this awareness campaign before checking out fat burners, click here.
