Ready Bodies, Learning Minds; Cultivating the Complete Child
Concepts, Strategies, and Motor Labs for All Children
What is the sensory-motor connection to the academic success of children? Why do they fall out of chairs, hold their pencils tightly, chew their shirts? How can a motor lab help? We recognize physical activity is important to learning, but why? RBLM explores our physiological systems within the context of the dynamics systems theory of development and our current culture of education.
This program was created to support the developmental, motor, sensory, and academic growth of all students—special education, at-risk, and regular education. In a pro-active manner this research-based strategy is also being used as a Response to Intervention resource and program. This presentation will highlight intrinsic movements (also known as reflexes), developmental and educational theories, classroom strategies, handwriting, and behavior.
The Ready Bodies Motor Labs will be demonstrated by classroom participants and videos of school students. The activities are designed to be implemented as an individual intervention to be used by a therapist, as a classroom center or activity, as an adaptive physical education, or as a campus-wide curriculum. The program is simple to administer, does not require specific referrals, and can be used for all students.
Continuing Education Credit
This course meets the criteria for 12 contact hours or 1.2 CEUs (as applicable). It is recommended for PT, PTA, OT, COTA, SLP, Regular Ed and Special Ed Teachers, Counselors, Diagnosticians, Behavioral Specialists, Administrators, and Parents. All successfully completing the course will receive a certificate for 12 contact hours. The professions listed below will receive CE units as stated. No credit with be given for partial participation.
Ready Bodies Learning Minds is currently evaluating accreditation/credentialing options for the following professions and possibly others in numerous states. Due to Covid-19, many of these offices are closed or operating with a skeleton staff. Upon successfully completing the course, you will receive a certificate of completion with contact hours that you can use to submit for approval with your respective state board and/or credentialing body. As we receive new formal approvals we will update this course description accordingly.
Physical Therapy
This course has been approved by the Texas Board of Physical Therapy Examiners for 12 CCUs for PTs and PTAs.
This approval by the Texas Physical Therapy Association (TPTA), a chapter of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) expires 7/01/22.
The physical therapy boards in AK, AZ, DE, GA, ID, IN, KS, KY, MS, MO, NC, ND, RI, SC, OR, TN, UT, VA, WI, and WY accept courses approved by APTA chapters.
The following state boards of physical therapy accept other states’ approval: AK, AR, AZ, DC, DE, GA, HI, ID, IN, KS, MI, MO, MS, OR, PA, RI, SC, UT, VA, VT, WI, WY
Speech-Language Pathology
This course has not been registered with the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) and therefore, Ready Bodies Learning Minds cannot directly provide ASHA CEUs. However, the content of this course may be used to satisfy some state licensure requirements for speech-language pathologists and audiologists. Please check with your state board to determine eligibility.
Occupational Therapy
Ready Bodies, Learning Minds: Cultivating the Complete Child is a Texas Occupational Therapy Association (TOTA) Approved Course from July 1, 2021 - July 1, 2022 – Course #172-06
This course has not been approved by the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) and therefore, Ready Bodies Learning Minds cannot directly provide AOTA CEUs. However, the content of this course may be used to satisfy some state licensure requirements for occupational therapists. Please check with your state board to determine eligibility.
Your Instructor
Athena Oden, PT, graduated from the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston and has spent the last 40 years in pediatrics, working in public and private school settings including schools for the blind and deaf and early childhood, residential facilities, and non-profit organizations for children. She has created and implemented successful motor programs for schools throughout the U.S., headed Assistive Technology teams, designed accessible playgrounds, and served on the founding Board of Directors for a private school. She presents both nationwide and internationally on childhood development and its importance in an academic setting.
Her newest book, Ready Bodies, Learning Minds: Cultivating the Complete Child, is written for therapists, teachers and parents, and gives insight into the sensory and motor systems necessary for learning and success for students of all ages and abilities, incorporating research and references while outlining the curriculum for school-based motor lab programs. As a companion tool, The Manual for Ready Bodies, Learning Minds Screening Report assists therapists in identifying specific intervention strategies.
Athena was privileged to participate in the creation of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) White paper for The Role of School-Based Physical Therapy: Successful Participation for All Students, and to serve for six years as the Regional Representative for the South Central US States for the School Based SIG of the APTA. As the owner of Ready Bodies, Learning Minds, LLC., Athena is known for practical, compassionate, and down-to-earth training. She and her husband David, raised their 3 children in the Texas Hill Country, where she loves to garden, feed the cows, and sit with a cup of hot tea and a musty, old classic book.