SATURDAY, AUGUST 1, 2020 LOCATION: FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH, ROUND ROCK
7:30 - 8:30 a.m.Registration
Session C 8:30 - 9:30 a.m. C1, Understanding Challenging Behavior as Communication DE An individual's behavior is an important form of communication. Challenging behaviors can often be misunderstood, especially with individuals that are non-vocal. By learning to understand what the behavior is telling us, we can respond to the individual and not the behavior by using a verbal behavior approach to learning and communication. Learn to understand the four functions of behavior, how to improve language and communication while reducing behavior and gain an understanding of responding to the client or rider and not the behavior. Brenda McCall, CTRI is dedicated to inspiring learning. She is a doctoral candidate in the College of Education at Texas Tech University in Special Education/Applied Behavior Analysis with a research focus on using verbal behavior in the classroom. Brenda is a 10+ year special education teacher working with behavior challenged adolescents and an endorsed behavior coach. She is a life-long horsewoman and involved in EAAT for over 30 years. A USDF "L" graduate, western dressage judge, the founder/executive director of Dream a Dream Therapeutic Horsemanship and captivated by the spirit of the horse.
C2, Center Sustainability Part 1 CE Sustainability has emerged as a top priority for centers. As a result, supporting center sustainability has become a key priority for PATH Intl. Join PATH Intl. CEO, Kathy Alm, as she guides you through a process to explore the sustainability of your center, assess and identify areas for development or growth, and gain tools to strengthen and grow. You will leave this presentation with a completed organizational assessment, a priority list of areas to address, tools to address issues now and into the future. Kathy Alm, CEO, PATH Intl.began her service as Chief Executive Officer of the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship, International (PATH Intl.) in August 2014. For the previous 16 years she served as Executive Director of Little Bit Therapeutic Riding Center in Woodinville, WA. She grew the previously grass roots organization from a $280,000 annual operating budget to a professional $2.1 million organization. Kathy served as PATH Intl.’s board president in the 2010-2012 term, first joining the board of trustees in 2005. She has facilitated numerous workshops and presentations on board, staff, fundraising and strategic planning and enjoys the opportunity to share her experience as well as learn from others. Her dedication to the field of Equine Assisted Activities and Therapies spans over 19 years with a passion that was ignited the moment she walked through the door at her first therapeutic riding center.
C3, CTRI Cliff Notes CR Riding A condensed summary of the CTRI process for those transitioning, those initially going for certification and for those planning to mentor new candidates. NOTE: This is not a PATH Intl. presentation. It is designed by a couple of program folks who have been asked a lot of questions. Any questions we cannot answer, will be referred to PATH Intl. for clarification. Joelle Devlin holds PATH Intl. Master Level Instructor with CTRI and ESMHL certifications. She's been involved in EAAT since 1993, is a Lead Evaluator for Registered, Advanced and Master levels, has presented both nationally and internationally and currently serves as faculty for PATH Intl. on-site as well as on-line courses. She currently teaches and consults at SIRE and Inspiration Ranch in Houston TX.
Session D 9:45 - 10:45 a.m. D1, A Panel Discussion Focusing on Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) DE This will be a multi-member panel of both adults who have an Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) and their caregivers/families. A moderator will lead the panel through a series of questions focusing on the different kinds of acquired brain injuries such as traumatic brain injuries and strokes, how ABI affects their daily lives, their accomplishments and the benefits they have found in EAAT. Jennifer Howicz, DPT, PTA is a Doctor of Physical Therapy, American Hippotherapy Association Member and PATH Intl. Member. She has completed Level I and Level II training from the American Hippotherapy Association. Jen will be joined by EAAT participants and their caregivers/families as they explain their experiences with ABI and EAAT.
D2, Center Sustainability Part 2 CE See session C2
D3, Arena for 4 or More: How to attain and manage larger class sizes CR Riding Working with local Independent School Districts and other organizations is a great way to help increase clientele. This can be a great opportunity for centers to operate to their fullest potential and be able to reach more individuals. This presentation will explain a way to start a relationship with local school districts or other organizations to offer services to the individuals who would benefit. It will also explain how instructors can cope with the possibility of teaching larger class sizes by giving strategies on how to manage their arena, how to adapt lessons to different learning levels, how to keep everyone engaged and how to still provide 1-on-1 instruction even in larger classes. Corinna Mendez, M.Ed, CTRI works at Sonrisas Trails in San Angelo, TX. She received her Master’s of Education in Recreation Administration from Angelo State University. She teaches both pediatric and adult therapeutic riding sessions as well as ground-work classes with at-risk youth through the local YES Waiver program. Her official title is Challenge Course Manager as she also manages the team building and high ropes program at Sonrisas.
Session E 11:00 - 12:00 p.m. E1, A Panel Discussion Focusing on Down Syndrome DE This will be a multi-member panel of both participants and their families/caregivers. A moderator will lead the panel through a series of questions focusing on the characteristics of Down syndrome, how DS affects their daily lives, their accomplishments and the benefits they have found in EAAT. Kristin Witcher, CTRI is the Program Director at ROCK, Ride On Center for Kids. Kristin will be joined by EAAT participants and their families/caregivers as they explain their experiences with Down Syndrome and EAAT.
E2, Premier Accreditation for Dummies, Newbies & Onesies CE Why “My Center is too: small, poor, understaffed or ugly to become Premier Accredited” are bogus excuses. Following this step by step process ANY center can work its way to successful accreditation. Walk away with a Timeline, Checklist, and Detailed Spreadsheet for a Site Visit along with specific tips on how to build your team and even get your Board involved. See a Site Visit Book you can use as a template and laugh at anecdotes that could have sunk a site visit so you can avoid them. Natalea Watkins, CTRI, ESMHL learned about Therapeutic Riding after sustaining a spinal cord injury that’s had her riding an electric horse for two decades. She showed up at the first session at Turning Point Ranch in Stillwater, Oklahoma hoping to ride a “real horse” again. Instead, she’s been a Board Member, Treasurer, Instructor, Volunteer, Special Olympics Coach, Mentor, Conference Planner, Web Master, T-shirt Designer and Center Representative for site visits at two locations. She has developed a system that slices the imposing Standards Manual into bite sized pieces and is willing to share.
E3, Once Upon a Task ANALYSIS -- Letting go of the Mystery CR Riding Once Upon a Task Analysis....ARHG...but wait, mystery solved! Starting fresh each semester or session, lesson planning can sometimes seem like a monumental task. Yet, by breaking down the sequence of (important foundation) steps, instructors can build on acquired skills while developing new more advanced skills to expand the rider’s ability. This will be an interactive presentation that will provide the opportunity to the participants to discuss task analysis and the importance of the riders to follow one and two part instructions, then continue to develop the skills to complete an obstacle/trail course, or follow the correct sequence for untacking their horses after lessons. Jen Donahue, MST has been in the EAAT industry since 1993. She was a volunteer Instructor and board member for GNTRC Laplace, LA. She was the founder and executive director of Pointe Celeste TRC Port Sulfur. LA. Jen served as Head Instructor for Equest Dallas, TX, Faculty/Staff Member at TTRC in Lubbock, TX, Equine Manager at SIRE Richmond before Returning to Equest as their Specialty Programs and Community Outreach Coordinator to open Equest at the Texas Horse Park. Jen is a PATH Intl. Advanced Instructor with CTRI, Level III Driving Instructor, and ESMHL and a PATH Intl. Mentor. She is a Lead Faculty for Register Level, Associate Faculty for Driving Certification and a Lead Site Visitor. She currently serves on the Accreditation Sub Committee and is the PATH Intl. Region 8 Representative.
12 – 12:15 p.m.BREAK 12:15 – 2:15 p.m.Lunch including PATH Intl. Update and Field Test Standards Hearing 2:15 – 2:30 p.m.BREAK
Session F 2:30 - 3:30 p.m. F1, What CP Means to Me - A Panel Discussion Focusing on Cerebral Palsy DE Cerebral palsy is a physical disability that affects movement and posture. Join us for this multi-member facilitated panel of both young adults who have Cerebral palsy and parents of children who have Cerebral palsy. Learn more about the different types of Cerebral palsy, how Cerebral palsy affects their daily lives, their accomplishments and the benefits they have found in EAAT. Hunter Adkins, Kyle Devine, Connor Mason and Sydney Middleton have a combined total of over 65 years of participating in EAAT. They will be joined by other participants and their families as they explain their experiences with Cerebral Palsy and EAAT.
F2, Get and Keep Awesome Volunteers CE Volunteers are the priceless resources that allow our programs to function and expand. This session will explore ways to recruit, train and retain one of our biggest assets ... awesome volunteers. Andi Holland, TRI has worked in nonprofit management for over 33 years managing or working directly with volunteers for such organizations as The American Red Cross, the Salvation Army, Sun City's Boswell Memorial Hospital and the Oklahoma Historical Society. In the fall of 2017 Andi became the Executive Director of Savannah Station Therapeutic Riding Program in El Reno, Oklahoma. Her nonprofit background is helping guide Savannah Station through a time of renewal as it fulfills its mission of “Hope and Healing with Horses.”
F3, Development Strategy for EAAT Programs CE A Development Strategy will empower your mission to serve the community through volunteer, corporate and civic partnerships and grants. Jennifer Mathis, BBA, is a CHA Equine Facilities Management Level 4, PATH Intl. TRI and Driving Instructor, and Certified Barefoot Trimmer. She started Equine Assisted Therapy and Barefoot Trimming in Texas in 2010. Currently, she is the Horse Program Director for Blue Sky Therapeutic Riding & Respite. With a Bachelor’s in Business Administration from the University of North Texas she has directed staff for grants and fundraising for the past 10 years, developing programs for Equine related and non-Equine related non-profits.
Session G 3:45 - 4:45 p.m. G1, A Panel Discussion Focusing on Autism Spectrum Disorders DE This will be a multi-member panel of both EAAT participants and their families/caregivers. A moderator will lead the panel through a series of questions focusing on the characteristics of Autism Spectrum Disorders, how ASD affects their daily lives, their accomplishments and the benefits they have found in EAAT. Kristin Witcher, CTRI see bio in session E1. Kristin will be joined by participants and their families/caregivers as they explain their experiences with Autism Spectrum Disorders and EAAT.
G2, Civilian Response to Active Threat CE The Civilian Response to Active Threat program provides attendees with a basic plan that can be adapted to any environment if an active threat occurs. An example of one EAAT program's Active Threat Plan will be presented, as well as how this plan has evolved over the past 5 years. There will be time for attendees to begin to create their own plans for their EAAT programs. Chris Smyth is an active duty police officer with over 25 years of experience. Chris is certified as a CRASE (Civilian Response to Active Shooter Event) instructor along with multiple other areas of law enforcement related topics. Shannon Middleton, CTRI is the Safety and Education Director at ROCK, Ride On Center for Kids, a PATH Intl. PAC. She is a PATH Intl. ESMHL and Mentor as well as a licensed Speech Language Pathologist and HPCS.
G3, Business Strategic Planning CE Take the mystery out of creating a basic multi-year strategic plan for your business. A strategic plan will help you communicate your objectives with your board, staff, clients, and donors as well as enable you to make informed business decisions and adjust to changes as required. You will leave this presentation with an outline for your strategic plan. John D'Andrea has 35+ years’ experience in product development, marketing, operations, and supply chain across the high tech, heavy equipment, and aerospace industries. Over the last 18 years he worked as a volunteer, board member, operations manager and is currently the executive director for a therapeutic riding center.
Session H 5:00 - 6:00 p.m. H1, Working with Clients with Co-morbid Psychological Disorders DE Clients diagnosed with special needs may suffer from physical limitations, speech delays, and other disabilities but many also experience emotional distress as either a secondary result of their disability or as a co-morbid condition. This presentation is intended to educate PATH Intl. professionals about the most common psychological disorders that are present within the population we work with and hopefully leave you with some tools to help assist these clients that we may be working with for a myriad of therapeutic reasons.
Katherine Anne "Kat" Scott, MS, Registered TRI has a Master of Science in Clinical Psychology with a specialization in Neuropsychology. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor in the state of Texas. She has worked at several PATH Intl. centers as an instructor, equine manager, and grant writer and is currently working as an equine vet assistant. Kat enjoys hiking with her dogs, riding her horses, and generally being outside.
H2, Planning for Successful Outcomes CR All Do you want to up your teaching skills? Learn to implement multi-sensory strategies to teach higher order thinking skills. Learn to use games and other materials to improve not only riding skills, but also communication and physical skills. Rebecca Mercer, MEd, CTRI has been teaching school since the age of 20. She also has been an adult volunteer for Girl Scouts of NETX for 37 years. She has been a den leader for Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts. Rebecca has both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Special Education from Texas Christian University. She has been a TRI since 1997. She has worked at St Louis School (Tyler ISD) and worked at Spirit of St. Louis TRC in Tyler for 12 years.
H3, Using Technology for Documentation of Lesson Plans CR All Tools for documenting lesson plans, keeping track of progress notes and time sheets for riders and horses will be shared and explained. Administrative workflow will be discussed in the office setting as it pertains to all client records and HIPAA security measures. Technology resources will be recommended for use and explanations of how to use the technology will be given. Debbie Bright-Chunn, CTRI, ESMHL was employed in a hospital setting for 30 years and most recently was the Health Information Director for the last 17 years. She has a master’s degree in Health Informatics from Louisiana Tech University. She is also a CHA Certified Riding Instructor, Registered Health Information Technician and Certified Coder. Using her medical record experience has proven helpful in maintaining client records in the EAAT industry as she opened her PATH Intl. Member Center in 2018 in Monroe, Louisiana. Some of the same methods utilized in the hospital setting have been established in her setup of the administrative office of her facility, Bright Star Ranch, Inc. Her presentation will elaborate on the technology found to be most useful in keeping accurate client records and office documentation for efficiency and reliability in case of times of incidents or accidents.
6:00 – 8:00 p.m. Casual Dinner* including PATH Intl. Region 8 Award Ceremony LSTEN Meeting PATH Intl. Region 8 Update and State Meetings
* please join us for a meal in celebration of our industry and all of you who make everything possible. This will be a relaxed dinner, and very informal to help foster further connection and networking.