Occupational Therapy in Egypt

Neuro-rehabilitation Center

noreply@blogger.com (Laura Efinger) — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 06:27:00 +0000

Last month I posted about an OT job position at an up and coming neuro-rehabilitaion center. In meeting with two of the neurologists, I also learned they are interested in hiring an experienced speech and language therapist trained in acute care, as well as, outpatient neuro-rehabilitation.

As with the OT position, a SLT who speaks Arabic would be an asset, but they would consider hiring a well experienced SLT who can mentor other Arabic speaking SLT team members.

If you are interested in learning more about both positions, please contact Dr. Tamer Emara: thmfe@yahoo.com

Thanks,

Laura

WFOT E-Newsletter

noreply@blogger.com (Laura Efinger) — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 06:11:00 +0000

I was happy to contribute to the September e-newsletter of the WFOT regarding the Child Development Club website, it's sister Facebook page: Child Development Club: Egypt and the OT in Egypt blog.

Thank you to Helen Cornelissen, who is the Irish Delegate to the WFOT, who suggested I contact the WFOT about sharing this information in their newsletter!

Here is the link: http://www.wfot.org.au/newsletters/sep11/ChildDevClub_LauraE.pdf

This past year I have been in New York and with everything happening in Egypt the OT news has been very limited. However, I recently arrived in Cairo and hope to have some more active postings the next few months!

Thanks,
Laura

OT Vacancy

noreply@blogger.com (Laura Efinger) — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 17:38:00 +0000

OT Vacancy at the LRC as of January 2012

========================================

The Learning Resource Center (www.lrcegypt.org) in Maadi, Cairo, Egypt has an OT staff position available.

LRC is interested in hiring a full time OT who has at least two years experience, preferably in pediatrics, and appropriate clinical licensure or certification.

Job responsibilities include evaluating and treating clients, as well as collaborating with other professionals in order to provide an effective program.

Tasks also include documenting, attending staff meetings, providing and attending in-service training, participating in professional development, mentorship of junior clinicians and other duties as assigned by supervisors.

Job is full-time (30 hours direct client time/40 hours with training, meetings, mentorship time, planning, etc. per week).

Please contact Maha Helali, Managing Director, if interested in learning more about the post: mhelali@lrcegypt.org and send an updated CV.

Thank you,
Maha Helali
http://www.lrcegypt.org/

OT Position in a Multidisciplinary Neurorehabilitation Center

noreply@blogger.com (Laura Efinger) — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 15:53:00 +0000

My name is Tamer Emara, an Egyptian neurologist with an interest in neuro-rehabilitation. I am starting a multidisciplinary neurorehab service in Cairo. I am interested in locating an OT with previous clinical experience, preferably with adult neuro patients. An OT who speaks Arabic would be an asset, but I would consider a well experienced OT who can mentor other Arabic speaking OT team members. The OT candidate should be efficient, flexible, a good mentor and be ready to work in a team.

If you are interested, please contact me at: thmfe@yahoo.com

Thank you and looking forward to the responses,

Dr. Tamer Emara

OT Presentation at SUNY Downstate Medical Center in New York

noreply@blogger.com (Laura Efinger) — Wed, 04 May 2011 15:22:00 +0000

For the past few years, Khalid Mohamed and I have corresponded through the OT blog, but have never met until last month. He wrote me even before he started in the OT program at Downstate Medical Center in New York and now he will soon be graduating.

Time flies...

He had an interest in the OT in Egypt blog as his parents are Egyptian and he, as well as his sister, was pursuing a career as an OT. This past month we finally met up as he organized for me to come to the Occupational therapy department at SUNY Downstate Medical Center and speak with the students about my experiences working as an OT in Egypt.

I was happy to do so, as I think it is important that people become aware of how other countries develop OT services and educational programs and to learn about how OT services are similar and different in other cultures. In fact, there are more similarities than differences in most cases!

Great timing, as April was OT Awareness month!

Some OT students and staff were also kind enough to donate some OT textbooks for the OT students in Egypt. Many thanks to those who made these donations!

Many thanks to Khalid for organizing this event, he has a bright future ahead of him as an OT. His future patients will be happy to have him as a therapist!

Laura

OT Available for Work in Egypt

noreply@blogger.com (Laura Efinger) — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 21:19:00 +0000

A new OT graduate from Germany is available to work in Egypt in October, 2011, as she graduates in September 2011. Her name is Marlene Lösener and she can be contacted directly for CV and further information at marlene-loesener@web.de.

Thanks

In Memory of Professor Dr. Ahmed Hassan

noreply@blogger.com (Laura Efinger) — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 12:55:00 +0000

I just received the news that Professor Dr. Ahmed Hassan, Chairman of the Egyptian Physical Therapy Syndicate has sadly passed away. Ahmed was also a member of the Committee to Develop Occupational Therapy in Egypt. He appreciated the profession of occupational therapy and contributed greatly by attending and participating in our meetings and advocating for the development of OT educational programs in Egypt.

Below is a picture taken in 2008 of some members of the Committee to Develop Occupational Therapy in Egypt, OT's working in Egypt and visiting WFOT members:

Pictured: (back row) Laura Efinger, Maha Helali, Dorothey Witt, Deepak Andhare, Christiane Menthrup, Madeleine Corstens-Mignot, Pip Dow, Sue Hartshorne, Ahmed El Khaky; (front row) Majdi Bzoor and Ahmed Hassan

On a personal note, I very much liked Ahmed and enjoyed it when he came to the CDOT-E meetings. He added a sense of wit to our meetings! Loved his sense of humor and will miss it and him...

Laura

Autism Awareness Month

noreply@blogger.com (Laura Efinger) — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 12:01:00 +0000

Autism Awareness Month campaign in Egypt led and organized by the Egyptian Society for Developing Skills of Children with Special Needs (ADVANCE), has been launched April 2nd and will continue throughout the month of April.

The Campaign will include:

1) Awareness Seminar at Al-Sawi Cultural Wheel in Zamalek, on Thursday 14th April, 2011 from 5-7 p.m., and its topic is "Achieving Inclusion for Persons with Autism."

2) Art Exhibition "Making Connections" will open on Sunday 17th April and run for 10 days, and will be at "Nation Home of Saad Zaghloul". Opening Ceremony at 6:00 p.m.

3) Full Day Conference entitled "Autism Seventh Scientific Conference" to be held in Damietta organized in cooperation with Al-Rahma Center in Damietta in Delta, and will run from 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

If anyone would like to share any other awareness events in Egypt, please let me know!

OT Available for Work in Egypt

noreply@blogger.com (Laura Efinger) — Sun, 20 Feb 2011 13:55:00 +0000

Hello,

I am Dorothy Witt and I am an Occupational Therapist from Australia. I lived and worked in Egypt during 2007-2008 and worked as an OT. Working with the Egyptian people was a remarkable experience. So I returned in January 2011 and hope to find work again in the Occupational Therapy field here. I have worked in many areas including with children and adults with special and physical needs in the community and at school. I have also worked in Adult Rehabilitation and Geriatrics both in the hospital and the community.

My CV is available by request . My email address is: justdot_au@hotmail.com

Dorothy Witt

Child Development Club website

noreply@blogger.com (Laura Efinger) — Sat, 19 Feb 2011 20:30:00 +0000

Hi,

In October 2010, I started a Facebook page called Child Development Club: Egypt. The idea was to share links, articles, events etc. with parents, caregivers, therapists, educators and other professionals working with children in Egypt. It has now grown to almost 650 members. I have been able to share my resources, as well as, learn about new topics from member's posting on the page, as well as, contacting me personally.

On January 25th, I launched a new website to share all these resources and also to expand on this idea of exchanging child development resources with people worldwide. The Child Development Club website now has 150 members from various countries, including Japan, Australia, Canada, England, Scotland, Saudi Arabia, Chile, Kuwait, Lebanon, Ireland, Portugal, Ghana, Israel, Uganda, US, New Zealand, Jordan, Bermuda, United Arab Emirates, India, Bangladesh, Palestine, Egypt, Seychelles, and Oman!

We have an excellent variety of members, including parents, parents of children with special needs, teachers, doctors, psychologists, students, occupational therapists, speech therapists, physical therapists, art therapists and music therapists.

I have started a blog on the website. Starting next month, I will have guest bloggers talking about topics related to parenting, education and medical issues. I am always looking for guest bloggers to talk about a variety of topics, so if you have a specialty related to child development and enjoy writing please email me!

I hope to keep expanding on the website and hope the people interested in the OT in Egypt blog will share this information with friends and colleagues.

I have to say, I always get supportive emails from OT's worldwide and OT's are genuinely a great support network!

Thanks in advance to all the OT in Egypt supporters...

Laura

Events in Egypt

noreply@blogger.com (Laura Efinger) — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 21:31:00 +0000

Hello,

As many people have so nicely emailed me asking how I am and how my colleagues in Egypt are, I thought I would just write a brief update. All the OT's who have been working in Egypt are all as well as can be expected. I have spoken to most through email. Some of them, like myself, were traveling abroad when the revolution started 2 weeks ago and some left during the chaotic days, while others continued to stay in Egypt. Everyone has a different situation...

My thoughts and prayers are with the Egyptian people.

Laura

What does 2011 offer for OT in Egypt?

noreply@blogger.com (Laura Efinger) — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 14:05:00 +0000

Hello All,

Happy New Year wishes to everyone!

I was just reflecting back on my posts from previous years and see that I still have similar wishes... for the growth of OT in Egypt the coming year!

As all the therapists working in Egypt are expatriates, we have seen some come and go the past year. I am happy to say that there are always new faces, though! Perhaps the new OT's residing in Cairo can briefly introduce themselves on the blog!

The OT Diploma program at Ain Sham's University started a few months ago and the students seem very enthusiastic. We have started a closed group on Facebook for the OT students and OT's working in Egypt to discuss OT related topics and it has proved to spark some excellent discussions. Perhaps the students and OT instructors can share their thoughts and experiences regarding the Ain Sham's program on the blog!

(Hint, hint...it would be great to have more active participation from the people involved in the development of OT in Egypt in regards to sharing information for the blog!)

The OT's working in Cairo continue to provide workshops to the public regarding topics related to OT in regards to diagnosis and treatment of clients, as well as, educating the public on what OT is etc.

As for myself, I am traveling between New York and Cairo these days and providing workshops and consulting. I have also started a Facebook group: Child Development Club: Egypt: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Child-Development-Club-Egypt/149388821772629 and I post many great international educational links, as well as, current children's events in Egypt. The link can also be accessed at the bottom of the blog and I welcome anyone to post about child development on the page.

Also in regards to people posting comments, please, please please... leave your email contact information. Many times people ask questions and comment on old posts and do not leave their contact information for me to reply to.

So, here's to 2011 and the growth and success of OT in Egypt!
Laura

OT looking to work in Egypt:

noreply@blogger.com (Laura Efinger) — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 18:01:00 +0000

My name is Lucie and I am a Paediatric OT, I have worked in Scotland, UK for 14 years and am currently working at a school for children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. I am looking into the possiblity of living and working as an OT in Egypt and would be really interested to hear from anyone who is currently working there or anyone who knows of any opportunities coming up. I hope to visit early in the new year (2011) with a view to coming out for the longer term after that and would be keen to meet up. My email is lucie@foundationsformovement.com or you can find me on Facebook; Lucie Fontana (my picture is a black labrador puppy sniffing my trainer!).

OT program to begin November 2010

noreply@blogger.com (Laura Efinger) — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 04:17:00 +0000

Hello,

I am happy to say a PG Diploma in Occupational Therapy program will begin in November at Ain Sham's University. Visiting lecturers will be provided from McGill University in Canada. The program is enrolling up to 25 participants with either a PT or Medical BSc background.

If you are interested in applying, please contact Ahmed El Kahky: aelkahky@gmail.com

Laura

Autism Awareness Month

noreply@blogger.com (Laura Efinger) — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 12:37:00 +0000

The following is an update from Maha Helali, regarding April events held for Autism Awareness Month:

Since 2005, ADVANCE has launched and held the “April is the Autism Awareness Month” campaign in Egypt, with the aim of creating awareness about Autism, advocating for early intervention for better prognosis for the children’s future, showing the children’s strengths as active participants in society and to allow for their inclusion within the community in general.

ADVANCE recruits from amongst 80 organizations active in the field of catering services to persons with Autism and their families from different governorates in Egypt, to participate in the following functions:

1) An Arts’ Exhibition for the children’s arts and crafts productions hosted by the Ministry of Culture at the Prince Taz Palace

2) A Sport’s Gala hosted by the Wadi Degla Sports Club in Zahraa Al-Maadi

3) A seminar hosted by Al-Sawi Cultural Wheel in Zamalek with the aim of creating awareness and disseminating information.

4) A two day conference entitled “Medical & Educational Innovations in the Field of Autism,” in Aswan.

5) A variety of TV and radio coverings.

OT Blogs

noreply@blogger.com (Laura Efinger) — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 10:24:00 +0000

Here is a site that has links to OT Blog feeds; however, as I went through them some are no longer active: http://www.otblogs.org/

Feedback regarding Saudi OT Conference this month

noreply@blogger.com (Laura Efinger) — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 09:16:00 +0000

Farah Sabra, an Occupational Therapist from Lebanon, recently attended the 1st Saudi Arabian Occupational Therapy Conference in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

She very much enjoyed her experience and provided the following information:

“The Occupational Therapy department at King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences and the National Guard-Health Affairs in collaboration with Postgraduate Education and Academic Affairs, has organized the 1st Saudi Arabian Occupational Therapy Conference in Riyadh on 06-07 April 2010.

From a personal point of view, the conference was a huge success. It was beyond expectations as it was the first OT symposium. The organizers made great efforts to make this conference successful. They were very receptive, friendly and helpful.

Each topic presented and discussed was of great importance. Lectures started always on time and people were amazingly respecting the time table. Almost every attendee and presenter expressed their amazement by how organized and rich the conference was. Although the back to back lectures were a little tiring, every one made sure not to miss any of them.

The main objectives of the conference were to exchange knowledge and standards with international organizations and therapists, as well as, highlighting the recent advances and technologies in the Occupational Therapy fields. The conference also aimed to discuss strategies for promoting the role of Occupational Therapy in Rehabilitation in the Arab world.

The conference targeted a variety of audiences such as occupational therapists, physical therapists, orthotics, prosthetics, vocational therapists and physicians.

13 international Occupational Therapists form Canada, Australia, United Kingdom, United States of America, Switzerland and Italy, as well as, 4 Occupational Therapists from Saudi Arabia, Lebanon and Jordan presented a variety of topics.

The following topics were covered:

· The viability of OT in the 21^st century

· Defining OT concepts

· OT’s unique approach to case management

· WFOT revised minimum standards for the education of Occupational Therapists: promoting evidence-based education and practice.

· Depressive symptomatology in Dementia.

· Dementia and the role of OT

· Assessing and managing pain in older persons with Alzheimer’s disease.

· Pain and the therapeutic media of art

· Falls prevention initiative at the Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital

· Transition to adulthood for persons with CP and Spina Bifida

· Understanding sensory challenges

· Early detection and prevention of oral sensory defensiveness associated with oral feeding

· The role of Play and Choice in the treatment of emotionally disturbed children

· Variability in gross motor and fine motor development in young children

· Creative OT intervention for brain injured adolescent

· Principles of OT in burned children

· Enhancing the quality of life of burn survivors within a uniquely Saudi Arabian context

· The constraint induced movement therapy for stroke survivors in Jordan

· Function and structure of the foot/Role of OT in foot problems

· The cause of pain at the base of the thumb (CMC joint)

· The incidence and variation of accessory tendons of the APL to the trapezium.

· Matching persons to assistive technology

· Telerehabilitation-lessons learned over a decade

· Congnistat “the neuro behavioral cognitive status examination”. Standardization of the Arabic Version.

Additional workshops on Hand Therapy and Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) were held on the 8^th of April.

It is worth mentioning that the fun part wasn’t omitted from the conference’s schedule. The organizers made sure to generously arrange a few outings to interesting places which was a nice opportunity to be introduced to the Saudi Arabian culture.”

Thank you, Farah, for the feedback. If anyone else who attended would also like to share their feedback, please post comments on this posting or email me directly.

Hopefully, we will have more yearly OT conferences in the M.E., as well as, more frequent opportunities for continuing education in the region.

Laura

Saudi OT Club

noreply@blogger.com (Laura Efinger) — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 07:11:00 +0000

History of OT in Saudi Arabia:

"The history of Occupational Therapy in Saudi Arabia is relatively a young one and can be estimated to be approximately 25-years old. Some organization offered a Diploma Programme in Occupational Therapy that graduated Saudi Occupational Therapy assistants for a couple of years. There are Occupational Therapists working in special needs schools and in major hospitals around the kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Still, access to Occupational Therapy was limited to a small scale of the population.

Since then, Occupational Therapy is slowly developing and expanding its horizons in Saudi Arabia as more health services realize its vital role in promoting patients' independence and in adapting their home environment to maximize performance in daily activities. The Ministry of Health as well as some of the major hospitals are offering scholarships to study Occupational Therapy abroad. There is also a future plan to start an Occupational Therapy College within the King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences.

However, there is still no recognized association for Occupational Therapy that can formulate a framework for Occupational Therapists working in Saudi Arabia. Therefore, the aim of creating the SAOT club is to promote high standards of practice within the profession, promote continuing professional development and promote Occupational Therapy to other health professionals both as a concept and in practice.”

If you would like more information about OT in Saudi Arabia, go to http://www.saotclub.org/

(If anyone has any information related to the development of OT in the M.E., it would be my pleasure to share it on this blog).

April is OT Awareness Month

noreply@blogger.com (Laura Efinger) — Sun, 04 Apr 2010 18:10:00 +0000

I recently presented a lecture, 'Introduction to OT', for the staff in the Geriatrics and Gerontology Department at Ain Shams University Hospital, Abbasyia.

I was invited by Dr. Ahmed Shawky Mohammedin. He heard about OT while attending a conference in Malta and he was interested in sharing this knowledge with his colleagues. He felt his patients in the geriatric department could definitely benefit from OT services.

The presentation was an overview of OT (i.e. educational background of OT's, where OT's work, who OT's work with, and what is involved in an OT assessment and treatment). Various examples of how OT can benefit geriatric cases were also discussed.

(left to right) Dr. Youmna Al-Gazzar, Resident of Geriatric Medicine inpatient department, Dr Rania Abou-Hashem, Lecturer of Geriatric Medicine, Geriatrics and Gerontology department, Ain Shams Faculty of Medicine, Laura Efinger, OT/L, Dr. Sara Hamza, Assistant Professor of Geriatrics Gerontology, Head of Geriatrics and Gerontology department, Ain Shams University Hospital, Dr. Hany Ibrahim, Resident of Geriatric Medicine, Geriatrics Intensive Care Unit, and Dr Ahmed Shawky Mohammedin, Assistant Lecturer of Geriatrics and Gerontology department, Ain Shams Faculty of Medicine.

(left to right) Dr. Doha Rashidy, Assistant Lecturer of Geriatric Medicine, Geriatrics and Gerontology dpt, Ain Shams Faculty of Medicine, Dr. Rania Abou-Hashem, Lecturer of Geriatric Medicine, Geriatrics and Gerontology dpt, Ain Shams Faculty of Medicine, Dr. Ghada Farag, Assistant Lecturer of Geriatric Medicine, Geriatrics and Gerontology dpt, Ain Shams Faculty of Medicine, Laura Efinger, OT/L, Dr. Sara Hamza, Assistant Professor of Geriatrics and Gerontology, Head of Geriatrics and Gerontology department, Ain Shams University Hospital, Dr. Hany Ibrahim, Resident of Geriatric Medicine, Geriatrics Intensive Care Unit, and Dr. Ahmed Shawky Mohammedin, Assistant Lecturer of Geriatrics and Gerontology dpt, Ain Shams Faculty of Medicine.

The department would be eager to have occupational therapists assisting with their clients. If anyone is interested in volunteering, they can contact Dr. Sarah A. Hamza, Head of Geriatrics and Gerontology department: hasarah_2000@yahoo.com.

Perhaps you are an OT looking to gain some work experience, wanting to help others less fortunate than yourself or simply wanting to spend some time experiencing a new culture then perhaps volunteering in the inpatient department is the project for you!

Recent OT graduates and students on mid-year or summer breaks are welcome to spend some time volunteering in the inpatient department, as well!

Laura

OT Workshops and Fun Filled Educational Baskets!

noreply@blogger.com (Laura Efinger) — Sun, 28 Mar 2010 14:52:00 +0000

Well, the conference is over and I presented the two OT workshops: "FAQ: Handwriting" & "Fun and Functional: Card Games." We had a nice mix of participants; parents, teachers, a physical therapist, speech therapist and psychologists who attended the workshops. The feedback from participants was positive and I hope they can apply what they have learned with their own children and/or students they are working with.

The handwriting workshop was a question and answer format covering frequently asked questions, such as "What is a good handwriting program to be used in school?" to "Why does my student use upper case letters in the middle of words?"

Participants were enthusiastic to participate in the raffle and possibly win the Handwriting Without Tears Writing Program, as well as, Callirobics Writing to Music and other writing supplies, such as the Pre-writing Fun Deck, Fine Motor Fun Deck, Pencil Fidgets, Writing Activity Guides, Wikki Stix, and Farm Sticks.

The card game workshop discussed how to analyze and grade activities to suit a child's needs. Participants enjoyed playing various commercial and non-commercial card games. Participants played with the various donated card games, such as 7ate9, Circles, Giant Spoons, Go Fish, Rummy, Jumbo Cards, Grab a Pig and others...

As participants played the card games, the skills needed to play the games were discussed, such as, but not limited to: reading comprehension, auditory comprehension, divided attention, planning skills, problem solving skills, turn taking, visual motor skills, finger dexterity, and bilateral coordination.

Participants playing various card games!

Psychologists were interested in some of the donated products, such as The New Social Stories Book: Illustrated Version, Emotional Bingo for Children, and One of A Kind: A Self Esteem Card Game.

Some of the raffle winners!

Coincidently, the person who won the basket filled with many of these books is a psychiatrist and pediatrician, Dr. Eman El Sayed and she works with children with special needs, so it was a fabulous match!

Thank you all who attended these workshops and the conference. Thank you all who donated products for the raffle and also to those who bought raffle tickets to support the Advance Society. I hope everyone enjoys the products they won!

Laura

Blogger Glitch!

noreply@blogger.com (Laura Efinger) — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 16:27:00 +0000

Hello,

Perhaps there is a computer virus or glitch with Blogger, I do not know; however, an old blog posting from February 20, 2009 was somehow resent to blog subscribers!

Ironically, it is a posting about LAST years annual educational conference!

So, just to clarify....the recent email for the conference "Road Map to Positive Behavior" March 19-21, 2009 was LAST years conference.

This years conference Learning Difficulties: Creating a Positive Future is March 25-27th, 2010.

Thanks and sorry for any confusion!

Laura

Purchase Raffle Tickets to Raise Money for ADVANCE Society

noreply@blogger.com (Laura Efinger) — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 15:42:00 +0000

Purchase Raffle/Tombola Tickets (20LE) at the Learning Resource Center

(effective March 1st)

Well, I have had a good response from various companies regarding donating products to be used in my OT workshops and also to be raffled at the ADVANCE Society's 10th Annual Educational Conference March 25-27th.

Almost 75% of the companies I contacted were willing to donate the items I requested and at least the others responded with an email saying "due to economic situations they were not participating in donations this year." Most responded, though, which was a pleasant surprise...

I only contacted companies that I am happy to promote as I have successfully used products from them in the past for OT sessions...

So far, I have received enough items to fill 5 baskets with a value ranging from $100-$175 (550LE-965LE) per basket. However, some companies are still sending me products, so the number of baskets and the items in each basket are not final!

Raffle/Tombola Tickets 20LE

Available March 1st at the Learning Resource Center

Building #9 Road 278,

New Maadi, Cairo

Tel: (+202) 2516 3965 or 67

***All proceeds raised from the raffle go to the Advance Society***

I have taken a few photos of some of the products....all the products are listed below and can be found on the company websites:

So far, the following companies have donated products:

1. http://www.grabapig.com/ : Donated several Grab a Pig card games. The card games will be used in my workshop, as well as, being available for the raffle.

2. http://www.otb-games.com/: Out of the Box Publishing: Donated several games, such as Super Circles, My Word, Rock, 7Ate9, Run Wild, Word on the Street, and Backseat Drawing Junior. The card games will be used in my workshop, as well as, being available for the raffle. I have used many of the games from this company and the children love them!

3. http://www.superduperinc.com/: Super Duper Publications: Donated some great activity kits that use cards, such as the Fine Motor Fun Deck, Move Your Body Fun Deck and the Pre-Writing Fun Deck.

4. http://www.callirobics.com/: Callirobics donated a set of their handwriting to music programs; Learning Letters to Music, Basics Shapes to Music for Developing Pre-Writing Skills, and Pre-writing Skills to Music for 4-7 year olds. Each handwriting booklet comes with a CD of music. I have used these in therapy and children who enjoy music love the worksheets.

5. http://store.schoolspecialtyonline.net : Abilitations donated several writing products, such as the Pencil Fidgets, Squiggle Wiggle Writer, Space Paper and Writing Guides.

6. http://sensorytools.net/: Sensory Tools donated several copy of these 4 CD's; Say G'Day, Jump Jelly Beans, Cool Bananas and It's Circle Time. A direct link to these CD's is:http://shop.sensorytools.net/as_compact-discs I have often used these music CD's and children love the music and songs!

7. http://portal.creativetherapystore.com/ : The Creative Therapy Store is a division of Western Psychological Services who donated Emotional Bingo for Children, Can Do Roo, To Be Me: Understanding What It Is Like to Have Asperger's Syndrome, and One of A Kind: A Self Esteem Card Game. A great company with a wide selection of resources.

8. http://funandfunction.com/ : Fun and Function donated several fine motor products, such as Farm Sticks, Wikki Stix Alphabet Cards, Fine Motor Book and a Hand Card Holder. Children love using the Farm sticks to pick up small fun items!

9. http://www.hwtears.com/ Handwriting Without Tears donated the Pre-K and Kindergarten Handwriting Programs: Get Set for School Workbook and Pre-K Teacher's Guide, Get Set for School Sing Along CD, Rock, Rap, Tap and Learn CD, Letters and Numbers for Me Workbook and Kindergarten Teacher's Guide, Roll A Dough Letters, Stamp and See Screen, Wood Pieces Set for Capital Letters, Mat for Wood Pieces, Slate Chalkboard, and Blackboard With Double Lines. Items can be found here: http://shopping.hwtears.com/category/readiness

10. http://www.ssww.com/ S & S Worldwide donated several educational games; Phase 10 & UNO card games, Jumbo Cards, Low Vision Cards, Kids Cards Game Pack, Giant Spoons, and Fitness Dice.

11. http://www.paltoys.com/Home.html They donated several copies of the Bright & Beyond: Activity Idea Cards. Easy to use activity cards with vivid pictures and simple instructions!

12. http://fhautism.com/ Future Horizons, Inc. is a leading publisher of books and DVD's on Autism and Asperger's Syndrome, as well as, offering conferences. They donated a great book about Sensory Processing Disorder, Sensitive Sam: written and illustrated by Marla Fisch as a read together book for parents and children with SPD. The book is written from a child's perspective! They also donated the book 1001 Great Ideas for Teaching and Raising Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders, and The New Social Stories Book:Illustrated Version and some copies of the Autism Asperger's Digest Magazine.

13. http://www.thinkfun.com/ Think Fun donated several of Four Children's Card Games & our favorite, Rush Hour!

So, take a chance and perhaps for only 20LE you may win a fabulous basket of goodies & help support the ADVANCE Society!

Winners will be selected and announced March 27th at the conference.

THANKS to all companies that donated these products and thanks in advance to people who purchase the tickets!

Laura

SPD Foundation:Parent Connections Group

noreply@blogger.com (Laura Efinger) — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 17:15:00 +0000

For those looking to learn more about Sensory Processing Disorders, check out the Sensory Processing Disorder Foundation:

"The mission of the SPD Foundation is to enhance the quality of life for children with SPD and their families by :

conducting rigorous RESEARCH into the causes, diagnosis, and treatment of SPD
providing EDUCATION for those with SPD and for families, health care providers, policy makers, and the public
conducting ADVOCACY for recognition of SPD"

For more information, go to: http://www.spdfoundation.net/aboutus.html

If you are a parent of a child who has Sensory Processing Disorder and live in Egypt, then perhaps you would like to start a parent's support group in Egypt!

"A grassroots network with active groups in more than 70 U.S. communities and several foreign countries, SPD Parent Connections provides support and information to anyone dealing with sensory processing issues. Group discussions, education, resources, and guest speakers hosted by SPD Parent Connection groups give parents, grandparents, caregivers, and others living with sensational children a place to share stories and resources and to support one another."

Start a SPD Parent Connections Group in Egypt:

http://www.spdfoundation.net/spdfoundation-cgi-bin/connections?region=international

If you are interested in becoming a host, read the host agreement on the website and get started!

Everyone needs some type of support!

Laura

The ADVANCE Society's Tenth Annual Educational Conference March 2010

noreply@blogger.com (Laura Efinger) — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 18:12:00 +0000

EDUCATIONAL CONFERENCE:

I am glad to announce that the ADVANCE Society is having their 10th Annual Educational Conference in Cairo on March 25th-27th, 2010. The Learning Resource Center is organizing the event.

At this time the workshop/lecture schedule is being organized and as soon as the schedule is confirmed I will post the link on the blog for registration and further details.

OT WORKSHOPS:

I will present two workshops at the conference. One will be on handwriting and the other will be on games (specifically card games).

I am especially excited about the games workshop, as I have contacted various games companies and asked them to donate games to be used in the workshop and then donated for a raffle/tombola (all proceeds raised from the raffle will go to the ADVANCE Society).

So far, THINK FUN, http://www.thinkfun.com/ and Grab a Pig http://www.grabapig.com/ have committed to donating some toys!

If anyone knows of any toy companies that would like to donate toys, please contact me at lme1169@gmail.com.

AMAZON WISH LIST:

I have also started an AMAZON, www.amazon.com, WISH LIST of books that can be donated for raffle at the March Conference. I also placed a visual timer on the list as many teachers and parents have inquired about it and it is great to use when setting limits in games!

I could go on and on with the wish list, but I only have so much luggage space to put the products! (I am in the US at this time and bringing the products in March) However, if someone wants to donate the cost of an extra piece of luggage to bring more products I would be happy to talk about it! (If so, you can email me at the above address...I am open for suggestions :-)

You can find my list at this link:

http://www.amazon.com/Laura-Efinger/wishlist/AINARS0EJQ0Z/ref=cm_wl_search_1

Books can be purchased and shipped to the following address:

Laura Efinger

19 Fort Worth Place

Monroe, New York 10950

There is a link to click on for my address once you go to check out on Amazon
You can also go to www.amazon.com and click onto WISH LIST in the upper right hand corner, go to "Find someone's wish list", type in my full name and click on my registry!

These books will be raffled off at the conference and all proceeds will go to the ADVANCE Society.

ADVANCE Society contacts:

You can also go to the ADVANCE Society website http://www.advance-society.org/ and contact them directly regarding making a donation!

A BIG THANKS, in advance, to all who participate!

Laura

OT Job Vacancy in Cairo

noreply@blogger.com (Laura Efinger) — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 17:50:00 +0000

Job opening:

The ADVANCE: The Egyptian Society for Developing Skills of Children with Special Needs has a vacancy for a full time Occupational Therapist. Applicant should be English and/or Arabic speaking with experience in pediatrics. Experience working with children who have Autism is a plus!

Contact:

Please contact Maha Helali at mhelali@lrcegypt.org for job description and further details.

ADVANCE website: http://www.advance-society.org/

***If applying, please send cover letter and CV to Maha's email

Thanks