Location: The new University Aloft Hotel, adjacent to the University of Arizona campus (1900 East Speedway, Tucson, Arizona, 85712, Room “Tactic 2”)
Who should attend? Professionals who work with children, including pediatricians, psychologists, teachers, counselors, therapists. Please RSVP to Mari@CentralHandTherapy.com or 520.321.1495.
Date/Time: 5:30PM-Thursday, March 6th, 7:45PM (Presentation starts at 6:00PM)
Refreshments and snacks will be available.
Focus: This engaging presentation will 1) provide precise detection guidance for professionals who wish to catch common (but often overlooked) warning signs before they turn into “developmental derailers” that result in functionally impairing conditions; and 2) present a innovative assessment model for how child professionals can most fruitfully and accurately work together to serve the child/adolescent’s best interest when they manifest one of the concealed or largely ignored conditions to be discussed.
Effect on your practice: Immediately increased sensitivity to common problem in youth that as you catch them help the child/family, increase your effectiveness, and lower your liability
Rationale: Tom and Julia have worked closely together and realize one of the greatest challenges for childcare rofessionals is how to create a seamlessness among the Community of adult professionals working with that youth. They are excited to share aspects of a uniquely collaborative model that parents, pediatricians, teachers, and other professionals benefit from.
Dr. Brunner (PhD) background: Dr. Thomas Brunner is a nationally recognized child/pediatric expert and senior author of an advanced behavioral science tool for youth that has been adapted into 9 languages. He has authored numerous scientific publications, several of which are alongside leading experts.
Dr. Brunner has received several awards including those from the Society for Personality
Assessment, as well as receiving the Early Career Psychologist Award from the Arizona
Psychological Foundation. Most recently he authored a book chapter in a publication surveying
expert perspectives on how to translate research into practice.
As President of Dr. Brunner & Associates, he works as a clinical, forensic, and consulting
psychologist who is regularly consulted by parents, pediatricians, and attorneys within and
outside the state of Arizona. Dr. Brunner has been invited to present at national and regional
conferences on topics including best practices, ADHD, risk assessment, and advanced
assessment of anger.
He is a Board Licensed Psychologist in the State of Arizona whose consulting work has
included helping larger organizations establish best practice protocols. Dr. Brunner is as regular
contributor to training seminars within the University of Arizona Child Psychiatry Program.
Julia Grover (OTR/L, CHT) background: Julia Grover is a well-recognized and advanced professional who has over 20 years of professional experience. She graduated from the Dalhousie University School of Occupational Therapy in Halifax Nova Scotia in 1990. She worked in several eastern Canadian provinces working in burns
and plastics, physical rehabilitation, outpatient hand therapy and case management for the Workers’ Compensation Board. Julia started a private practice contracting with the Department
of Health and Community Services to provide Occupational Therapy to children with special needs transitioning to inclusion programs within the public school system.
Julia relocated to Tucson Arizona in 1994 opening Central Hand Therapy, PC in 1998. Julia also became a board certified Hand Therapist in 1998. Her primary specialty has been the treatment
of upper extremity conditions and post operative rehabilitation.
In 2007 Julia revisited her desire to help children with special needs and pursued her interest in neurodevelopmental facilitation and sensory integration. Southern Arizona Community
Occupational Therapy Associates, SACOTA, became a dba of Central Hand Therapy in 2007 committing to the development of programs to serve special needs children.
Today SACOTA serves many children of Southern Arizona providing Occupational Therapy support in school districts, as well as an outpatient clinical program.
Julia is committed to the children of Pima County and has served on the Foster Care Review Board 21 for Pima County from 2006-2010. Julia regularly attends continuing education courses
in her areas of specialty and shares her extensive knowledge by providing courses to other therapists and medical professionals.
Julia and her husband, Chris have two young daughters, Maya and Marlee. She and her family enjoy a rural lifestyle, part of which includes caring for their horses, goats, and chickens. Julia
enjoys spending time with her family, riding and reading. She values the therapeutic relationship between horses and humans, as well as how creative movement can influence brain function.