Allison Weismann
PT, DPT
Allison Weissman is a physical therapist based in South Florida, USA. For over 20 years, she has specialized in working with children ages 3-22 years in both educational and home settings, focusing on functional gait, sitting and balance rehabilitation.
Prior to performing educationally relevant physical therapy, Allison worked in Memorial Regional Hospital for 8 years as an in-patient rehab PT. Allison earned her Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Florida Gulf Coast University in 2024, later in her career, after receiving her bachelor’s in physical therapy from Florida International University in 1997. Her clinical passion lies in using therapeutic play to enhance the lives of children with neurological and orthopedic conditions.
Allison developed an adaptive physical education curriculum and trained PE teachers how to effectively modify movement activities for children with quadriparesis. In addition, she presented a summary of her doctoral thesis to the Florida PTA, aiming to raise awareness among follow professionals about pediatric maltreatment. She is currently writing new continuing education courses for presentation. She travels to conferences to present courses on adaptive standing and adaptive sitting.
Outside of her professional life, Allison enjoys rock climbing, hot Pilates, and creating whole food, plant-based meals and desserts. She is married, has three adult children and includes her Goldendoodle as a member of the family.
VENDOR SESSION DESCRIPTION | RIFTON
Foundations in Pediatric Adaptive Seating; Therapeutic Applications for School-Aged Children with Neurodevelopmental Disorders
Dynamic sitting posture control can be quite challenging for some children with neurodevelopmental disorders as their capability to fluctuate and manage the center of gravity within their base of support is minimized by factors such as incorrect muscle recruitment, muscle tightness and a lack of correct motor planning development. This course will examine some of the root causes of poor sitting balance and postural control in these children, to help the clinician use adaptive seating as a therapeutic tool to facilitate improved gross motor performance in children with cerebral palsy. Session Objectives:
- Describe 3 applications of how atypical neurodevelopment is impacted by wheelchair seating positions
- Summarize 4 postural challenges in non-ambulatory children with cerebral palsy (CP)
- Provide 2 examples each of how adaptive seating can be utilized in the school setting, the community setting and the home setting
- Communicate 3 therapeutic benefits that adaptive seating can provide/Management of postural challenges
- Identify 3 sitting goals across settings in the school, community and home environments.
Target audience: PTs, PTAs, OTs, COTAs, SLPs, ATPs working with children ages 1 to adulthood
*Sessions are open to all registrants regardless of experience level or roles.
Primary Life Cycle: All ages