STAR, Proficiency Level 1

STAR PROFICIENCY LEVEL 1 

The STAR Institute for Sensory Processing was founded in 2016 as an organization that merged the SPD Foundation and the STAR Center. STAR Institute, leading treatment/therapy for children, adolescents and adults with Sensory Impairment; is an institution that offers training and research for professionals. 

Speaking of the history of STAR Institute; In 1995, Dr. Lucy Jane Miller founded the STAR (Sensory Therapies And Research) Center as a research institute at the University of Colorado medical school. Later, Dr. Miller left medical school in 2005 to move the STAR Center to the Denver Technology Center, which is also home to the Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) Foundation. Since the SPD Foundation already holds the data needed by a research institute, the STAR Center has rewritten its mission and vision and has become the treatment partner of the SPD Foundation. 

In 2016, the two nonprofits merged to form the new STAR Institute for Sensory Processing Disorder. Combining their visions and strengths, these two leading organizations said: "Now more than ever, we are able to give hope and help to children, adults, families and caregivers by tackling sensory challenges," _{said Bill Whalen MD, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the STAR Institute for Sensory Processing Disorder.} 

The very important detail we see in this statement of the STAR Institute is that the STAR Sensory Integration method is not only child-oriented but also includes the family and the caregiver. This is an important factor that distinguishes the STAR Sensory Integration method from others and shows the source of its success. 

In addition, the STAR Institute recognizes that Sensory Processing is multidisciplined and explains that it produces better results than other systems: "Sensory processing is part of everything we do, all the experiences we have as human beings. It affects all aspects of our lives. The STAR method for treatment for irregular sensory processing serves as a basis for and is supported by the S.O.S. Nutrition Approach and studies conducted in DIR/Floortime. Both S.O.S. and DIR Floortime recognize the importance and value of sensory processing in its ability to promote successful eating behaviours and the development of robust, positive social-emotional development (respectively)." 

The Sensory Integration Specialist Certificate Course, which will be given online by STAR Institute, will explain the daily application of the concepts of the principles of Sensory Processing, the analysis of historical and contemporary principles related to Sensory Processing and the application of clinical reasoning model for the evaluation of Sensory Processing. In addition, students will evaluate how to use the components of the STAR Therapy Model in practice and the evidence-based components of the approach.

The Sensory Integration Specialist Certificate Course, which will be given online by STAR Institute, will explain the daily application of the concepts of the principles of Sensory Processing, the analysis of historical and contemporary principles related to Sensory Processing and the application of clinical reasoning model for the evaluation of Sensory Processing. In addition, students will evaluate how to use the components of the STAR Therapy Model in practice and the evidence-based components of the approach. 

This training, which will be offered completely online, will be held once a week via the Zoom application. 

 Recorded training videos are available that must be completed prior to the training. Within the scope of the training, participants will also be given homework and application videos to be watched. In order to receive a certificate, participants must take the exam prepared by the STAR Institute at the end of the training and get a passing grade. 

Virginia Spielmann

Virginia Spielmann, PhD, OTR/L (she/her)
ICDL Advisory Board, Colorado State University Affiliate Faculty, Salem State University Visiting Assistant Professor
Virginia is a well-travelled speaker, coach and educator on topics including sensory integration, DIR/Floortime, child development and infant mental health. She has conducted trainings in Kenya, Australia, the Philippines, Vietnam, Hong Kong, and the USA and leads workshops at international conferences.
She is a DIR/Floortime Training Leader and Expert and clinical consultant for the Interdisciplinary Council for Development and Learning (ICDL). Her extensive pediatric experience includes support for autistic children and their families, those with differences in sensory integration and processing, Sensory Processing Disorder, infant mental health differences, adoption, developmental trauma, and acquired brain injury.
Virginia is affiliate faculty at Colorado State University, Occupational Therapy Department and Visiting Assistant Professor at Salem State University.
Virginia has considerable post-graduate training, she is certified on the SIPT. She obtained her Ph.D. in Infant and Early Childhood Development with an emphasis on mental health, from Fielding Graduate University, in Santa Barbara (2021). Her Masters in Occupational Therapy from Mount Mary University, Milwaukee (2018) and her BSc in Occupational Therapy from Oxford Brookes University, England (2002).
She is a published author and contributed to the STAR Frame of Reference as part of the 4th Edition of Frames of Reference for Pediatric Occupational Therapy, alongside Dr. Miller and Dr. Schoen. She is co-author and founder of the Critical Core Therapeutic Role Playing Game - an alternative to social skills groups for autistic children. She is also co-designer of the Palaana Sensory Lounger with Slack Lifestyle.

Seminer Çıktıları

• SPD alt türlerini ayırıcı şekilde tanılayabilmek.
• Değerlendirme araçlarını seçmek ve kullanmak.
• STAR PROCESS yaklaşımını bilmek.
• Aile ihtiyaçlarını/isteklerini karşılarken aynı zamanda işlevsel çıktılar belirleyebilmek.
• Terapi ve uyumlama süreçleri için klinik muhakeme becerisi geliştirmek.
• Aile katılımını arttırabilmek