Katie McGinnis, MEd, OTR/L Sara Stock, OTR/L Rachel Tangen, OTD, OTR/L

Presenter(s)

Event Details

Topic:

mobility, mounting, seating & positioning

Format:

poster session

Subject Level:

beginner

Age Span:

preschool
kindergarten - grade 6
grades 7-12

Target Audience:

AT specialist

consultant

educator
family member / caregiver

K-12 administration
occupational therapist
paraprofessional
physical therapist
special educator
speech language pathologist
teacher of the visually impaired
university professor / personnel
vision impairment specialist

Professional Development Credits

IACET CEUs:

0.01

ACVREP CEs:

1

Date and Time (Central Daylight Time):

  • October 21, 2026
  • 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM

Location:

Veranda 7

Description:

Mobility plays a critical role in children’s cognitive, social, and communication development. Research demonstrates that whether experiencing mobility through typical development or augmenting mobility with powered mobility, both result in the same impact. To increase access to independent mobility for all students, including those with the most complex bodies and needs, Special School District of St. Louis County (SSD) implemented the SSD Mobility Project beginning in the 2024–25 school year. The project provides power wheelchairs equipped with joysticks and alternative drive controls for occupational and physical therapy practitioners to borrow and trial with students for one semester. The conception and current processes of the SSD Mobility Project will be outlined, along with participant outcomes and impacts.

Learning Outcomes:

As a result of this activity, participants will be able to:

• As a result of this poster session, participants will be able to describe two areas of improvement that resulted from the use of a power wheelchair trial.

• As a result of this poster session, participants will be able to recognize two characteristics of a child who would benefit from mobility exploration.

• As a result of this poster session, participants will be able to express two steps in the power chair trial process used by the district.

Disclosures:

Katie is a full time employee and receives her salary from Special School District of St. Louis County.

Rachel is a full time employee and receives a salary from Special School District of St. Louis County.

Sara is a full time employee and receives a salary from Special School District of St. Louis County.