Course Descriptions
Class Schedule + Course Descriptions
Explore the full class schedule here to plan your conference experience. For detailed information on each course, including descriptions and objectives, please scroll down.
Thursday, October 1st
Course Title: Hierarchy of Power Wheelchair Drive Controls (.2 CEUs)
Educator: Jennifer Janowicz, PT, DPT
Description: There are many considerations to make when assessing an individual for power mobility use. The decisions made will impact not only the individual’s mobility, but also how they reposition themselves, interact socially, and access their environment. There are many options for drive controls on the market today, so how does the assistive technology professional choose a device when the standard joystick is not an option? This course is designed to introduce the participants to the wide array of specialty controls available on the market and provide insight on the clinical decision-making process of drive control choice. The course will include case studies and a hands-on component for participants to assess the various alternative drive control options.
Course Title: Leading the Way Towards Independence in Pediatric Mobility (.1 CEUs)
Educators: Sarah Lusto, PT, ATC, ATP
Description: Occupational therapists, physical therapists, and equipment providers can influence development alongside enhancing mobility by recommending specific technologies. Selecting a pediatric wheelchair can enhance or inhibit self-directed mobility, which in turn can affect other areas of development. When and how mobility devices are evaluated for and issued can promote a child meeting developmental milestones in a range of areas. This course will review human development as it relates to mobility skill acquisition and initial social, language, and perceptual development. Case examples demonstrating implementation of several mobility devices will be presented, including manual and power wheelchairs. Participants will learn specific intervention strategies to use in clinical practice to promote development while enhancing the child’s self-directed mobility skills. An interactive reflective practice component will explore how participants can begin using concepts learned in this course in their clinical practice.
Course Title: Stand for More: Increasing Access with Evidence (.1 CEUs)
Educator: Sarah Lusto, PT, ATC, ATP
Description:
Over the last several years the media has been littered with articles discussing the negative effects of prolonged sitting and the benefits of moving and standing. Standing desks and terminals now have a strong presence in the workplace, as well as, at home; so why are we still asking our patients to sit. The cost of prolonged sitting has many negative effects for both the able-bodied population as well as our patients/clients. With healthcare costs continuing to escalate due to comorbidities and medical complexities, why are we not looking to standing frames and standing power mobility to assist.
In this course we will review the benefits of standing both medical and functional, the ongoing cost of sitting, and how to utilize the current evidence to support further justification and documentation for standing devices.
Course Title: The Big Picture – Seating the Bariatric Client (.1 CEU)
Educator: Stephanie Tanguay, OT/L, ATP
Description: he focus of this course is to examine the measurement and accommodation of excessive tissue as it relates to the prescription of seat and back support surfaces and mobility devices for the bariatric client. Emphasis will be on the challenges of evaluation, measurement and product interface with the bariatric population. Basic principles for accommodation of excessive tissue will be presented.
Course Title: Seating & Mobility for the Geratric Consumer (.1 CEU)
Educator: Stephanie Tanguay, OT/L, ATP
Description: Meeting the needs of the geriatric wheeled mobility consumer presents some significant challenges which can seem insurmountable. Not so much related to seating evaluation or selecting equipment to accommodate seated postures but more to navigate the funding restrictions and the restraint restrictions of long term care environments. With an increasing geriatric population, the need for appropriate seating and mobility solutions continues to grow.
This presentation will review the assessment process and identify the most common postural & functional seating challenges for geriatric users of wheeled mobility devices. Finding potential solutions that meet the needs of all stakeholders can be difficult. A variety of solutions will be presented using case studies and mocked up examples.
Course Title: Manual Wheelchair Propulsion (.1 CEU)
Educator: Petra Conaway, PT, DPT
Description: This course explores manual wheelchair propulsion
techniques, including arm, foot, hybrid and dependent
methods. It will explore positioning for efficiency and injury
prevention, and frame and seating adjustments. Participants
will also examine wheelchair design factors, teaching
propulsion styles, and troubleshooting challenges through
case studies.
Course Title: Measurements for Manual Wheelchairs (.1 CEU)
Educator: Petra Conaway, PT, DPT
Description: Measuring for a manual wheelchair is a detailed,
personalized process that can ultimately result in client
satisfaction or equipment abandonment. Explore formal and
informal assessments used to collect information needed
to complete wheelchair order forms. Consider how clinical
judgements impact client outcomes
Course Title: Power Assist & Power Add on for Manual Chairs (.1 CEU)
Educator: Christy Natale, PT, DPT
Description: Power assist systems have rapidly evolved in recent years. They are commonly considered as a method of making a manual wheelchair a more functional option or as an alternative to a power wheelchair. This course focuses on rear, main-wheel, and front-wheel motor options for power assist. Clinical indications for these technologies and objective measures useful to qualify the technology will be outlined. Funding criteria and
justification for reimbursement will be provided in addition to functional use and training needs. Live presentations will provide the opportunity to trial the equipment when time and space constraints allow.
Course Title: Orthotic Based Custom Contoured Seating (.1 CEU)
Educator: Christy Natale, PT, DPT
Description: This session will focus on custom seating with the emphasis on an orthotic approach using off-loading techniques. Posture control, postural tendencies, and resting postures are assessed when determining wheelchair seating intervention. When using a custom contoured or molded approach, the shaping is important to provide support in a resting posture while stabilizing the body to enhance participation in desired activities. Techniques on optimal shaping to capture the desired posture with the goal of offloading areas where there are boney prominences and promoting weight bearing elsewhere will be discussed. Indications for use include individuals with severe and profound postural support needs as well as active riders who benefit from custom contoured stabilization enhancing function. Case studies will demonstrate the intervention for various riders which will include materials used, hardware for attaching to the wheelchair base, and increased modifications to meet specific needs.
Course Title: Unlocking Independence Low Vision & Blind (.1 CEU)
Educator: Angela Regier, OTD, OTR/L, ATP/SMS
Description: Wheelchair users with combined visual and mobility impairments face significant barriers to safe, independent power
wheelchair use. This course explores how the con6nuum of SMART wheelchair technologies—such as collision
avoidance and drop-off protec6on— enhance safety, confidence, and environmental access. Par6cipants will review
prac6cal clinical strategies for evalua6ng and recommending technology solu6ons that promote self-generated
mobility and reduce caregiver dependence for this popula6on
Course Title: Power Wheelchair Smarter (.1 CEU)
Educator: Angela Regier, OTD, OTR/L, ATP/SMS
Description: Many power wheelchair drivers face a variety of issues related to their independence, safety, efficiency, and
accessibility because of impaired motor control, visual deficits, impaired reac6on 6me, inaOen6on, and various other
deficits that are common among wheeled mobility users. In this course, we will discuss the con6nuum of currently
available SMART technologies that can be incorporated into the power wheelchair to address these issues and
improve driver safety, confidence, and independence
Course Descriptions
Friday, October 2nd
Course Title: Wheelchair Evaluations (.1 CEU)
Educator: Dan Fedor, VGM
Description: Writing the wheelchair evaluation can be frustrating as it must contain enough information to justify the medical necessity for the appropriate mobility assistive equipment (MAE) but not too much which can confuse or even overwhelm the reviewer and result in a denial as well.
There is a SWEET Spot that ensures a detailed evaluation with the necessary documentation to ensure qualified patients receive the medically necessary MAE along with all required accessories in a timely manner.
Given the therapists’ time constraints to write the evaluation with just the right detail, many are seeking ways to provide what is required in a compliant timely manner (i.e. using LMN generators and or AI for the wheelchair evaluation).
In this session, the instructor will discuss how to find that SWEET Spot with the wheelchair evaluation to ensure qualified patients receive their medically necessary equipment in a timely manner.
Course Title: Hierarchy of Funding Alternative Drive Controls (.1 CEU)
Educator: Dan Fedor, VGM
Description: When a patient can’t operate a power wheelchair with the standard drive control (joystick), Medicare and other payers will cover an alternative drive control (ADC) if medically necessary. Some alternative drive controls fall into an established code with a set fee schedule allowable and are eligible for prior authorization, while others must use the misc code (K0108) with no established allowable and no prior authorization option. The policy for alternative drive controls is vague as to qualifications and documentation requirements which can lead to doubt about funding.
In this session the instructor will outline the coverage criteria, documentation requirements and allowable for the hierarchy of alternative drive controls to provide the confidence need for providing these items. This webinar will include the Ability Drive® which is an alternative drive control interface utilizing eye gaze tracking technology and virtual button activation to enable power wheelchair operation for individuals with limited upper extremity function, restoring autonomous mobility.
Course Title: Wheelchair Positioning for Optimal Seated Alignment (.1 CEU)
Educator: Petra Conaway, PT, DPT
Description: This course covers wheelchair seating assessment, focusing
on optimal postural alignment, key physical assessment skills,
and the impact of seating on function and health. Participants
will explore postural asymmetries of the trunk and pelvis
and apply seating interventions for postural correction or
accommodation through clinical examples and case studies
Course Title: Navigating the Process of Accurate Wheelchair Specifications (.1 CEU)
Educator: Christy Natale, PT, DPT
Description: Once the assessment is completed and parameters for the mobility base are recommended with a product match, specific configuration for the manual wheelchair must be determined. Participants will engage directly with wheelchair equipment to gain practical knowledge of key components, including frame dimensions, center of gravity adjustments, wheel and caster selection, and other wheelchair components. Guided exercises will teach accurate measurement and documentation of frame dimensions, identification of suitable component options, and translation of assessment findings into precise order specifications. These skills ensure that each wheelchair prescription aligns with the user’s functional needs, promoting mobility, independence, and overall quality of life.
This interactive session enhances participants’ understanding of industry terminology, product selection criteria, and best practices for manual wheelchair configuration. Designed for clinicians and equipment suppliers, the workshop combines theory with hands-on experience to build confidence in completing order forms.
Course Title: Specialized CRT Considerations for Children and Adults in a 24-hour Day (.2 CEU)
Educator: Julie Piriano, PT, ATP
Description:
Specialized complex rehab technologies (CRT) play a critical role in minimizing the risk of preventable accidents, injuries, and adverse occurrences throughout the 24-hour day. They are essential to support the overall health and therapeutic outcomes for individuals with complex needs such as congenital, genetic, neurological, and/or neurodivergent conditions. When consideration for specialized CRT such as, but not limited to activity chairs, adaptive car seats adaptive/protective beds, bed sleep systems, specialized bathing and toileting equipment, and supported standing and stepping devices is not considered, or is denied it compromises patient safety, dignity, and rightful access to necessary healthcare.
This course will compare evidence-based research in support of specialized CRT with the Utah Medicaid coverage policies, discuss inequitable access to medically necessary equipment and examine potential solutions to address the disparity in healthcare funding for individuals with disabilities and complex medical conditions across the lifespan.
Course Title: How It Works: The Difference Between Standard & Complex Power (.1 CEU)
Educator: Jennifer Janowicz, PT, DPT
Description: This course will help clinicians and supplier ATPs understand the nuances of how power wheelchairs work in order to justify the base recommended for their client. We will review the minimum performance characteristics of each power wheelchair group; consider single vs. multiple power capabilities and limitations; emphasize what a non-expandable and an expandable electronics system is and does, and examine the need to operate power seat functions through the drive input device.
Course Title: Diagnosis Specific: Clinical Considerations for Mobility & Seating (.1 CEU)
Educator: Jennifer Janowicz, PT, DPT
Description: Ambulatory aids, manual wheelchairs, scooters (POVs), and power wheelchairs are designed to augment function when functional mobility is compromised or lost. For many geriatric end-users there is not only medical diagnosis and presentation, but also aging with a disability, additional comorbidities, on top of general deconditioning related to age that all play significant roles in the relationship to the end-user and their mobility equipment. This course will focus on the goals, focus, and recommendations for this population.
Course Title: Clinical Implications for Wheelchair Provisions (.1 CEU)
Educator: Sarah Lusto, PT, ATC, ATP
Description: This one-hour interactive course is intended to help clinicians and providers expand their current knowledge to improve clinical outcomes with power wheelchair provision. This course will review strategies for customizing a power wheelchair system to their clients’ medical and functional needs. Participants will gain an understanding of how programming, the use of PSFs, base configuration, posture, and power wheelchair skill acquisition contribute to safe and functional power mobility. Research supported clinical application, case examples and open discussion will examine the role of the power wheelchair provision process. Highlighted within the course will be the importance of individualized goals and assessments.Upon completion, participants will have a better understanding and ability to apply power wheelchair driving considerations, practical uses of power seat functions, seating and programming considerations to the every-day functioning of their clients.
Educator: Sarah Lusto, PT, ATC, ATP
Description: This one-hour interactive course is intended to help clinicians and providers expand their current knowledge to improve clinical outcomes with power wheelchair provision. This course will review strategies for customizing a power wheelchair system to their clients’ medical and functional needs. Participants will gain an understanding of how programming, the use of PSFs, base configuration, posture, and power wheelchair skill acquisition contribute to safe and functional power mobility. Research supported clinical application, case examples and open discussion will examine the role of the power wheelchair provision process. Highlighted within the course will be the importance of individualized goals and assessments.Upon completion, participants will have a better understanding and ability to apply power wheelchair driving considerations, practical uses of power seat functions, seating and programming considerations to the every-day functioning of their clients.
Course Title: Ahead of the Curce (.1 CEU)
Educator: Stephanie Tanguay, OT/L, ATP
Description: Obesity has become common as a pre-existing condition during the last forty years, especially in North America. Rehabilitation professionals worldwide are challenged to maximize function mobility and all aspects of daily activity for consumers who have obesity as a secondary diagnosis. Finding appropriate equipment to meet the
requirements of bariatric clients can be challenging, and the funding parameters for qualification and reimbursement can complicate this even more. Five years ago, there were more commercially manufactured bariatric cushions, back supports, manual and powered mobility devices available than ever before; not so today. Now more than ever, it is imperative that prescribers and providers properly measure the bariatric client and configure the equipment with understanding of weight distribution on base stability and seated orientation.
This session will examine the impact of redundant tissue and weight distribution on seated posture and wheeled mobility stability and performance. Measurement and accommodation of excessive tissue as it relates to the configuration of seat and back support surfaces and mobility devices will be discussed. Case studies including consumers with a variety of diagnosis and complex tissue distributions will be presented to illustrate challenges and contribute to problem solving.
Course Title: CRT Jeopardy (.1 CEU)
Educator: Dan Fedor, VGM
Description: Join us for an engaging, game-show-inspired session that dives deep into the world of Complex Rehab Technology (CRT) documentation and funding. Using a Jeopardy-style format, this interactive presentation will challenge your knowledge, spark discussion, and explore the latest policies and procedures for wheeled mobility. From coverage for power wheelchair upgraded electronics, alternative drive controls and power functions (tilt, recline, seat elevation, etc.), we’ll cover the “Daily Doubles” that make a real impact in the procurement of mobility products. Whether you’re a seasoned PT, OT or supplier or new to CRT, come ready to buzz in, share insights, and learn from your peers.
Course Title: You Have Tried Everything (.1 CEU)
Educator: Angela Regier, OTD, OTR/L, ATP/SMS
Description: Clinicians and ATPs often find themselves at a loss when trialing a powered wheelchair in hopes of increasing a client’s functional independence. They may feel they have tried “everything,” yet the client continues to struggle with safety, confidence, and proficient driving. Frequently, this results in clients being placed in dependent mobility solutions, such as a manual wheelchair, a manual tilt-in-space wheelchair, or an attendant control on a powered wheelchair. As clinicians and ATPs, we recognize the numerous benefits of self-generated mobility and understand that the value of functional independence is immeasurable.
In this course, we will explore the continuum of available options that clinicians and ATPs can implement to improve their clients’ independence and provide access to safe and proficient powered wheelchair driving. Using a checklist, we will examine solutions from least to most complex. These may include ensuring proper positioning to optimize function, introducing tracking technology, evaluating programming solutions, completing Dr. Kirby’s Wheelchair Skills Training Program, exploring alternative drive controls, and considering the addition of a SMART technology solution.