ACTNow 2026

Course Framework:

This lecture explores the critical role of standing through the lens of the F-Words framework—Functioning, Family, Fitness, Fun, Friendships, and Future. Designed for pediatric and adult physical and occupational therapists, the session connects current evidence on standing, weight-bearing, and postural control with meaningful participation outcomes for individuals with cerebral palsy, spinal cord injury, stroke, traumatic brain injury, and other neuromotor conditions. Attendees will examine how supported standing contributes to musculoskeletal health, mobility foundations, and social engagement across the lifespan. Through case examples, storytelling, and practical clinical reasoning tools, participants will learn to align standing goals with what truly matters to children, families, and adults: autonomy, joy, relationships, and everyday life activities. The course emphasizes interdisciplinary collaboration and shared decision-making, offering strategies for integrating standing into natural routines and community settings. Participants will leave with evidence-informed, person-centered approaches that enhance participation and long-term Well-being.

Objectives:

1. Analyze standing’s contribution — Participants will analyze how supported standing influences Functioning, Family, Fitness, Fun, Friendships, and Future, using the F‑Words framework to link body‑level benefits with participation outcomes across the lifespan.

2. Apply evidence‑informed reasoning — Participants will apply current evidence on weight‑bearing, postural control, and musculoskeletal health to develop standing interventions for individuals with CP, SCI, stroke, TBI, and other neuromotor conditions.

3. Integrate standing into natural routines — Participants will design person‑centered standing plans that embed mobility and upright participation into home, school, work, and community routines through interdisciplinary collaboration and shared decision‑making.

4. Evaluate participation‑aligned goals — Participants will evaluate standing goals for alignment with autonomy, joy, relationships, and meaningful life activities, using case examples and clinical reasoning tools.

5. Select appropriate standing strategies — Participants will select and justify standing approaches and technologies that support mobility foundations, social engagement, and long‑term well‑being for children, youth, and adults.

Course Framework:

This lecture focuses on the importance of “on-time mobility”—providing infants, and children, with neuromotor disabilities with timely access to independent movement through supported stepping and power mobility. Aimed at pediatric physical and occupational therapists working with individuals with cerebral palsy, SMA, and related conditions, the course highlights emerging evidence on how early and appropriate mobility shapes cognition, participation, social development, and long-term motor outcomes. Participants will explore clinical decision-making around gait trainers, supported stepping and dynamic mobility devices, powered mobility devices, and early power mobility for toddlers. Through case studies and practical examples, the lecture emphasizes matching mobility tools to goals that matter: exploration, autonomy, environmental access, and participation in real-life routines. Attendees will learn strategies for advocating for on-time mobility, addressing common misconceptions, collaborating with families, and integrating mobility technologies into therapy, home, school, and community environments to support meaningful, lifelong engagement.

Objectives:

1. Explain the developmental impact: Participants will explain how early access to supported stepping and power mobility influences cognition, participation, social development, and long‑term motor outcomes for infants and children with neuromotor disabilities.

2. Differentiate mobility options: Participants will differentiate key features, indications, and clinical reasoning pathways for gait trainers, dynamic mobility devices, supported stepping systems, and early power mobility for toddlers.

3. Apply evidence to clinical decision‑making: Participants will apply emerging evidence to select and justify mobility tools that support exploration, autonomy, environmental access, and participation in daily routines.

4. Integrate mobility into natural environments: Participants will design strategies for embedding on‑time mobility into therapy, home, school, and community settings, collaborating with families to promote meaningful, real‑life engagement.

5. Address misconceptions and advocate effectively: Participants will identify common misconceptions about early mobility and develop advocacy approaches that support timely access to supported stepping and power mobility for children with CP, SMA, and related conditions.

Learn what new technology is available today. Direct hands-on session/s (1.0 hr) - 1 hour

Course Framework:

This one‑hour interactive course explores how clinicians can optimize functional performance, safety, and independence through evidence‑informed power wheelchair configuration. Participants will examine how drive base selection, seating setup, drive control access, and power seat functions influence mobility, posture, and participation in daily activities. Through case examples, discussion, and application of research, learners will deepen their understanding of how individualized assessment and programming directly impact client outcomes across environments. Emphasis is placed on integrating clinical reasoning with user‑centered goals to support meaningful occupational engagement and long‑term mobility success.

Objectives:

1. Compare how different power wheelchair drive bases influence navigation, stability, and functional mobility in common environments.

2. Explain how power seat functions can be integrated into daily routines to enhance posture, task performance, and environmental access.

3. Apply key programming adjustments that improve safety, efficiency, and user confidence during power mobility tasks.

Course Framework:

This one-hour course is designed to advance clinicians’ understanding of the critical role seating and positioning play in optimizing functional mobility and participation for wheelchair users. Participants will explore how postural alignment, biomechanical principles, and seating system configuration directly influence functional outcomes, independence, and health.

Through case-based examples, evidence-informed discussion, and practical application, learners will examine common postural asymmetries and their impact on mobility-related activities of daily living. Emphasis will be placed on integrating comprehensive seating and mobility evaluations with individualized goal setting to guide intervention planning.

This course highlights the importance of translating clinical assessment findings into effective seating and positioning strategies within both manual and power wheelchair systems. Participants will develop clinical reasoning skills to select and adapt interventions that improve posture, reduce risk of secondary complications, and enhance overall function across environments.

Objectives:

Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:

1. Identify common postural asymmetries and distinguish between reducible and non-reducible positioning challenges.

2. Apply clinical reasoning to select and configure seating and positioning components to support functional goals.

3. Apply appropriate seating and positioning interventions based on individual assessment findings to enhance function, safety, and participation.

Course Framework:

This one-hour continuing education course is designed to provide a firm foundation in the basics of pressure injuries including both blood perfusion and cell deformation. We will also cover how you can assess risk based on client lifestyle and seating goals, traditional mitigation strategies, and cushion oriented solutions. Comparisons between current and emerging technologies including dynamic and static air cushion performance will be supported by quantitative data, including pressure mapping and reported user outcomes. Participants will leave with a structured framework for effectively incorporating pressure injury consideration into clinical practice.

Objectives:

1. Learn the traditional understanding of the causes of pressure injuries and dig into emerging research on their etiology

2. Evaluate client risk

3. Hear about evidence based mitigation strategies for wheelchair users

4. Discern how different cushion types address pressure and pressure relief

Course Framework:

This one-hour continuing education course is designed to equip physical and occupational therapists with critical appraisal skills necessary to navigate the dynamic landscape of consumer-facing medical and wellness products. Participants will learn evidence-based techniques to systematically evaluate new product claims and marketing hype, distinguishing meaningful innovation from misleading information. The course will provide practical application and language techniques for effectively educating clients and managing expectations when addressing products they have discovered online, ensuring clinical decisions prioritize validated efficacy and patient safety over consumer trends.

Objectives:

1. Participants will understand how they can surface new, validated products to solve their clients issues

2. Participants will be able to identify and evaluate new product claims within the context of what is meaningful and valuable

3. Participants will practice language and techniques to educate consumers when claims are misleading or when products undersell their true value

Course Framework:

It is well documented that there is a high rate of upper extremity repetitive strain injury (RSI) among manual wheelchair riders. In addition to the risk of RSI, physical ability and the environment of use can pose further challenges to mobility. These factors can affect accessibility, speed, distance, and duration of travel, potentially limiting an individual's social participation. Even the act of propulsion itself can hinder tasks that require the use of one or both hands during movement. Power assist technology has provided a solution to these challenges for many wheelchair riders.

While power assist technology has been available for some time, its popularity is increasing as more professionals and users recognize the advantages it can provide. To assist users in making informed prescriptive decisions, professionals must understand this evolving technology and be aware of the increasing diversity of product choices available. This presentation will discuss the mobility and health-related challenges that come with propelling a manual wheelchair. We will consider alternatives to address these challenges and review the various types of power assist devices currently available.

Objectives:

At the completion of this course, attendees will be able to

1. Explain 3 aspects of mobility that can be limited by manual propulsion of a wheelchair

2. Identify 4 aspects of daily life for a manual wheelchair user that can be impacted by repetitive strain injury (RSI) associated with propelling a manual wheelchair

3. Explain 3 important considerations for a manual wheelchair user to manage the risks of repetitive strain injury (RSI) associated with propelling a manual wheelchair

Course Framework:

There are many firmly held opinions about what factors most dramatically affect manual wheelchair propulsion efficiency. Which factors have the greatest impact and are most important to consider? Is it the weight of the chair? Is it the component selection? Like an automobile, is it the way it is tuned or set up that optimizes efficiency?

Prescribing professionals must understand how people use their manual wheelchairs. They must also understand how wheelchairs actually work as a machine. Armed with this knowledge, the professional can make appropriate decisions to optimize efficiency while meeting the user's needs for support, stability, and function.

This presentation will discuss factors commonly considered to be predictors of manual wheelchair propulsion efficiency. We will compare these factors in light of what current research suggests as being predictive and then provide some applicable conclusions to inform clinical practice.

Objectives:

Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:

1. Cite 2 examples of how end users move about in wheelchairs during everyday life.

2. List and explain 2 principles of physics that impact propulsion efficiency of a manual wheelchair.

3. 3 characteristics of component selections that influence propulsion efficiency of a manual wheelchair.

4. List 2 examples of propulsion maneuvers influenced by rotational inertia, and describe a strategy for each to lessen that influence.