top of page

Introduction to Mindfulness for School-Based OT Practitioners

Presented by: 

Dr. Deirdre Azzopardi, OTD, OTR/L

Dr. Deirdre Azzopardi, OTD, OTR/L

Watch on-demand and earn AOTA-Approved CEUs

Course Description

At this point, virtually everyone has heard that mindfulness is a tool for mental health, and you may have even tried meditation or yoga for yourself. Mindfulness practices are increasingly being introduced into educational programs, and for good reason because the research is mounting for the positive impact on children and the professionals that serve them. In this introductory course, you will learn about the evidence for using mindfulness for children, teachers, and children in particular. You will learn about the brain science that links mindfulness and executive function. Lastly, you will walk away with some practices that you can bring to the classroom that will be as good for you as they are for the students you serve.


Learning Objectives

1. Learners will Identify the link between mindfulness and executive function.

2. Learners will identify the link between stress, sensory defensiveness, and anxiety.

3. Learners will identify two mindfulness practices they can bring to work that can easily be incorporated into their school-based OT practice.

Contact Hours

This course is 1 hour in length. (0.1 AOTA CEUs)

AOTA-Approved_Provider_Program_edited.png

OTSchoolhouse.com is an AOTA Approved Provider of professional development, #0252. The assignment of AOTA CEUs does not imply endorsement of specific course content, products, or clinical procedures by AOTA.

National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy

As an AOTA-Approved provider of professional development, OTSchoolhouse.com courses are accepted by NBCOT® at a rate of 1.25 NBCOT PDUs per each hour of course content.
 

NBCOT® is a registered trademark of The National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy, Inc.

OTS Collaborative with roof.png

Register for this course and future courses inside the OT Schoolhouse Collaborative for as little as $120

Agenda

0-5 minutes

Introduction + mindful movement practice


5-15 minutes

An Introduction to Mindfulness


15-25 minutes

Brain Science and Mindfulness Evidence


25-40 minutes

Mindful Practice #2


40-50 minutes

Evidence of Mindfulness with school populations


50-55 minutes

Incorporating Mindfulness to support Social-Emotional Learning


55-60 minutes

Questions and Answers

Your Instructor

Dr. Deirdre Azzopardi, OTD, OTR/L

Dr. Deirdre Azzopardi, OTD, OTR/L

Deirdre Azzopardi OTD is an occupational therapist with over 30 years of experience working with neurodivergent children in both private and public school settings. She has both a bachelor’s and doctoral degree in occupational therapy and a master’s degree in psychology. Dr. Azzopardi is also a registered yoga teacher for both adults and children (RYT 200 and RCYT 95) as well as a trained mindfulness instructor. Dr. Azzopardi has presented extensively on topics related to social emotional learning, disability and inclusion. Her company, The Mindful School OT, offers AOTA approved online courses related to social emotional learning and mindfulness.

Registration

To access this course and others, become a member of the OT Schoolhouse Collaborative

OTS Collab is an online community dedicated to providing school-based OT practitioners with highly valuable professional development and interactive support to implement learned strategies. In OTS Collab, we learn together, support and encourage one another,  and celebrate our achievements as a collective whole.  

Click here to learn more about the OT Schoolhouse Collaborative and register in our dedicated community of school-based OT practitioners.

Instructional Methods

A combination of speaker presentation with a slide deck and Q+A with the presenter

Target Audience
& Educational Level

This is an introductory level course intended for occupational therapy practitioners working in school systems or with a goal to better understand occupational therapy in school systems

Course Completion Requirements

To receive a certificate for this course, you must watch the recorded course in its entirety. Then, you will need to take a learning assessment test and earn a score 75% or higher. If you pass, a certificate will be automatically generated and sent to your email.

Special Needs Requests

This course will include closed captioning and a transcript may be available upon request. You may also rewatch the course or sections of the course as needed. Additional accommodations may be requested by reaching out to us via email. 

Financial & Non-financial Disclosures

Speaker Disclosure

Dierdre offers her own courses on her website - the Mindful School OT.

Sponsor Disclosure

The OTS Collaborative Community is a product of the OT Schoolhouse.

Content Disclosure

This learning event does not focus exclusively on any specific product or service.

OTS logo with roof.png

Schoolhouse Education, LLC is proud to be an AOTA Approved Provider of Professional Development

AOTA-Approval for this Professional Development Opportunity is in progress.  

Stay Tuned!

Copy of A-Z Course AOTA Approval Badge.png

Terms and Conditions

 

Schoolhouse Education, LLC will keep a record of your completed CE courses. When applicable, transcript services may include reporting to professional associations and/or state licensure boards. While Schoolhouse Education, LLC will make all reasonable efforts to offer CE credit for its courses, it is not responsible for state or national, or regulatory current policies or changes in CE requirements that may make courses ineligible for CE credits.

Participant Agreement

By registering for or attending any event or activity associated with the Schoolhouse Education, LLC and OT Schoolhouse, I agree to the following:

Professional Development/Information Disclaimer

The material presented in this course is not intended to represent the only or the best methods appropriate for the occupational therapy and/or medical condition or professional development issues being discussed but rather is intended to present the opinions of the presenters, which may be helpful to other health care professionals at arriving at their own conclusions and consequent application. Attendees participating in this professional development education program do so with full knowledge that they waive any claim they may have against the A-Z School-Based OT Course, Schoolhouse Education, LLC, and OT School House and its staff or representatives for reliance on any information presented during these educational activities.

Waiver of Liability Agreement

I release Schoolhouse Education, LLC, OT Schoolhouse, and its staff, presenters, and any other individuals or entities associated with this course from any and all liability connected with my participation, as well as from any liability related to changes to the schedule, events or activities. I acknowledge and agree that I am participating on my own choice and assume all risk in connection thereof and that in the event that a need for emergency medical service arises, I authorize and consent to such services being provided at my own expense.

Cancelation & Refund Policy

In the event that Schoolhouse Education, LLC must cancel the event for any reason, participants will be offered a credit toward the rescheduled event. OT Schoolhouse Collaborative subscribers may cancel their subscription at any time. 

bottom of page