Empowered by Accommodations: Inclusive Support for Students in Clinical Experiences in Physical Therapy Education
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Event Details
This course will provide a framework that Directors of Clinical Education (DCE), Site Coordinators of Clinical Education (SCCE), and Clinical Instructors (CI) can use in order to meet the needs of Physical Therapy students with disabilities as they transition from the academic to the clinical portion of their education. It will provide prevalence data about PT students with disabilities and the utilization of academic and clinical accommodations within Physical Therapy Education. Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), and its application within clinical education for clinical faculty, will also be reviewed. The course aims to distinguish between creating a Universal Design for Learning (UDL) in the clinic environment and recognizing the need for additional support through formalized clinical accommodations. This presentation, including video snippets, will illustrate how DCEs can effectively communicate with all parties to develop individualized accommodations in the clinical environment. To ensure feasibility and provide optimal support to both clinical sites and students, it is essential to collaborate closely with students, Office of Accessibility Services (OAS) and relevant clinical faculty to develop and implement reasonable clinical accommodations. Small group discussions and case-based learning activities within break out rooms will engage participants in the application of the material.
Objectives
- Directors of Clinical Education (DCEs) will identify effective communication processes with students and their Office of Accessibility Services (OAS) for development of clinical accommodations.
- Participants will describe a framework and strategies, within current regulations, to support students with disabilities (SWD) in the clinic environment in order to manage individual student needs.
- Site Coordinators of Clinical Education (SCCEs) and/or Clinical Instructors (CIs), in collaboration with DCEs, will generate a list of potential reasonable accommodations to support SWD within their clinic environment.
Speakers
Dr. Maureen Barrett PT, DPT, MS and Certified Wound Specialist is Assistant Professor of Physical Therapy and Associate Director of Clinical Education at Springfield College. Her research interests include identifying best practices and implementing strategies to facilitate the transfer of knowledge about complex population health issues and the application and assessment of learning outcomes. A recent study focus has been the process to establish
and support clinical learning environments to meet the needs of all student learners. Maureen serves as a Delegate to the House for the APTAMA and is currently serving as secretary for the New England Consortium of Clinical Educators. Prior to her time at SC
Maureen’s career focused on the medically complex patient in both Home Care and Long term Acute Care. She served as both SCCE and CI throughout her clinical career.
Dr. Jillian Kulinski is the Director of Clinical Education and Assistant Professor of Practice at Simmons University’s Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program in Boston, MA. Jillian is also a board-certified Neurologic Clinical Specialist through the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties. She is a current practicing clinician, treating patients in a home healthcare setting. Dr. Kulinski is also an APTA Level 1 Credentialed Clinical Trainer. She has published peer-reviewed literature on the use of
evidence-based practice in clinical education, and is passionate about fostering effective student support to bridge the gap between the classroom and clinical environments.
Dr. Kimberly Nowakowski PT, DPT, MS is a Professor of Physical Therapy and the Director of Clinical Education at Springfield College in Springfield MA. She is a Board-Certified Clinical
Specialist in Geriatric Physical Therapy and a Certified Exercise Expert for Aging Adults. She is actively involved in the New England Consortium of Clinical Educators, previously
serving as Chair. She is a certified trainer for the APTA Level 1 & Level 2 Credentialed Clinical Instructor Program and has assisted sites in development of their clinical education programs. She continues to supervise students in the clinic environment during integrated clinical experiences. As a DCE for the past 16 years, Kim is passionate about facilitating excellence in clinical education and participated in the ACAPT – Inclusive Horizons Summit: Advancing Accessibility & Disability Equity in Physical Therapy Education in Chicago in June of 2024. Her current research interest focuses on exploring learning environments and instructional models to enhance clinical education for students with a variety of learning
needs. She has presented regionally and nationally on student engagement and interprofessional education.