Recent events confirm that we are living in unprecedented and disturbing times. The Diversity Equity and Inclusion workgroup strives to create an equitable place for all within APTA Academy of Pediatric Physical Therapy. We promote creating a safe space for dialogue and action. APTA President Dr Sharon Dunn’s has presented a clear message against racial disparities, systemic inequality and violence (http://www.apta.org/PresidentLetter/2020/5/31/), and APTA Pediatrics President Cindy Miles, during last week’s town hall meeting, challenged pediatric therapists to imagine the possibilities where we can make a difference. She went on to say that “for centuries a systemic virus has caused generations of death, anguish, fear, economic disparities, education disparities, health disparities, horrifically separated families. Are we as Americans finally ready to face, to acknowledge, to defeat racism? Has the death of George Floyd, a Black man, and what has followed as Americans united in solidarity responded to the latest act of unwarranted violence against people of color, been the catalyst for us to finally say enough is enough?“

We believe that the APTA Pediatrics membership should stand strong against inequity, racism, violence, and any form of authoritative abuse, including police brutality against Black people. The members of this committee do not tolerate such behaviors. We vehemently oppose the recent brutal killing of several African American individuals at the hands of the local police authority and civilians, to include but not limited to George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery.

The mission of Black Lives Matter is to eradicate white supremacy and build local power to intervene against violence inflicted on African-American communities. Their goal is to combat and counter acts of violence, creating space for imagination, innovation, and centering Black joy. We all must stand up against racism and violence targeted at individuals based solely on the color of their skin, race, or gender. We must realize that white privilege is real and exists. We must realize that many African-American families worry daily if a family member will be inappropriately stopped by police, targeted by a complete stranger based on skin color, or killed for no other reason except they came in contact with a person who was threatened by their very existence. And truth be told, this may be a novel notion to many of us, as these thoughts may never enter our consciousness based on one's background.

It is time to stand up peacefully and work with all our resources and spirit to show authorities, politicians, and your neighbors that violence against Black people is not moral, ethical, or correct in any way and is totally unacceptable. It is also time to stand for health equity. As we have seen, communities of color have been disproportionately impacted by the Coronavirus. COVID-19 does not affect people of color exclusively, but it does affect people with comorbidities that are directly related to disparities in health care access and other social determinants of health. APTA and APTA Pediatrics denounce racism, violence against people based on skin color, and lack of access to healthcare based on skin color and income level. We encourage our membership to peacefully protest demanding action, new policies, and practices. Become involved in your community, local, state and national levels to rewrite discriminatory policies and laws. Demand that health access is more available and that barriers preventing access to health care for underserved and underrepresented are eliminated. We especially support our members who are from underrepresented or under-resourced groups to become involved in APTA Pediatrics committees and leadership positions.

In addition to acting as a group, we can also act as individuals and make changes at the micro-level which will eventually impact the macro level. Consider the following activities (there are many more, these are just to get you started):

1. Watch the Sesame Street production, Sesame Street for Coming Together: Standing Up to Racism, a town hall for kids and families about racism with your family and your friends and have meaningful discussions with young and old about the negative impact of racism on all of us. https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/06/app-news-section/cnn-sesame-street-race-town-hall-app-june-6-2020-app/index.html and https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/06/app-news-section/cnn-sesame-street-race-town-hall-app-june-6-2020-app/index.html

2. Contribute to various legitimate organizations/ funds that work to improve equity for all people:

a. The American Academy of Physical Therapy: Http://Www.Aaptnet.Org

b. The Bail Project: www.Bailproject.Org

c. Rolling Stone Provides A Nationwide List of Groups to Contribute to: Https://Www.Rollingstone.Com/Culture/Culture-News/George-Floyd-Protests-Bail-Funds-Police-Brutality-Black-Lives-Matter-1008259/

d. 75 Things White People Can Do for Racial Justice https://medium.com/equality-includes-you/what-white-people-can-do-for-racial-justice-f2d18b0e0234

Together we can and will improve society. Now is the time to say enough is enough, now is the time to demand equity and inclusion for all. We leave you with the words of APTA President Sharon Dunn, PT, PhD, Board Certified Orthopaedic Clinical Specialist “There is nothing healthy about racism. It’s a disease of the heart and mind that has infected not just people but customs, systems, and laws. There is no vaccine. We must be the cure.”

Sincerely,

APTA Pediatrics Diversity Equity and Inclusion Workgroup

(Members: Robbie O’Shea, PT, DPT, PhD; Mica Mitchell, PT, DPT, C/NDT; Ron Meade PT, DPT; Nia Mensah, PT, DPT, PCS, C/NDT; Eunice Shen, PT; Lori Glumac, PT; Erin Butler, PT, DPT; Cheryl Kerfeld PT, MS, PhD; Yassar Salem PT, PhD, MS, NCS, PCS; Julie Tan, PT; Emily Quinn, PT, DPT; Nicholas Kelly, PT, PCS; Mathew Raters PT; KT Jones, PT, DPT; Sara Montgomery, PT, DPT)

June 09, 2020 Short Url: http://PediatricAPTA.org?ttnrke Google+ Email Twitter

29 May

Recording posted for 6/3 Q & A Follow-up to Pathways to Practice Midstream COVID and Beyond

Recording for 6/3 Follow up Q&A for resuming Face to Face visitsMeeting Recording:

https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/-N1JBajC039LQaPr9EvERYgzHIS6eaa8hiEc-fIIxEnEVpb0oGHsKd6Jk4bVeTVM

Access Password: 4B$A@Y84

Slides for presentation now posted:

Download file

May 29, 2020 Short Url: http://PediatricAPTA.org?l30i7m Google+ Email Twitter

22 May

Recording Available for School SIG Webinar 6/9/20: Strategies for Service Decisions for School-based PTs

SSIG Webinar: Dosing Concepts and Strategies for The School Based Practitioner (Sue Cecere, recorded 6_9_2020)

Meeting Recording:

https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/y_dLBJLLsTpJEquOtV72AJUeOJveaaa81iVN_6IJzxkVWk0wUUnjUlmrjADB243G

Access Password: 5H*8$EdA

Download Transcript

Please email pediatricschoolsig@gmail.com if upon completion you require a certificate.

May 22, 2020 Short Url: http://PediatricAPTA.org?m2hu1i Google+ Email Twitter

18 May

COVID-19 General Resources

COVID-19 GENERAL RESOURCES

(UPDATED 5/18/2020)

GENERAL

President APTA, Sharon Dunn address to membership

From National Health Law Program

You tube from APTA Cardiovascular & Pulmonary Section

COVID corner from the University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of PT: General COVID information & resources, incentive spirometry, aerosolized activity and more

Information on incidence and severity of COVID 19 in children in the United States

Advocating for human rights for individuals with disabilities during emergencies

Alerts for pediatric conditions potentially associated with COVID-19:

APTA recorded webinar on advocacy and COVID-19. Provides an overview of some of the provisions included in the CARES Act enacted by Congress, as well as APTA’s policy recommendations for the next COVID relief package currently being formulated by Congress. https://apta.adobeconnect.com/pq1iqr5gg4ta/

Listing of COVID 19 resources across all APTA academies and sections (May 6)

MEDICAID

3/30/2020 COVID-19 Changes to HCBS Using Appedix K: Approval Trends

3/19/2020 Overview on Using Medicaid to Respond to COVID-19

EDUCATION

Department of Education COVID 19 resources

Student Privacy Policy Office FERPA & Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) March 2020

CDC’s Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) Guidance for School Settings

National Center for Learning Disabilities: resources for students, educators and parents regarding the shift to online learning

HOSPITAL-BASED

You tube from APTA Cardiovascular & Pulmonary Section

Alerts for pediatric conditions potentially associated with COVID-19:

APTA recorded live webinar on COVID and hospital in/out patient services

May 18, 2020 Short Url: http://PediatricAPTA.org?v8hscx Google+ Email Twitter

18 May

COVID-19: SIG Town Hall Recordings

COVID-19: APTA PEDIATRICS SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP TOWN HALL RECORDINGS

School-based Physical Therapy SIG

School SIG Region I Town Hall (4/29/2020) Meeting Recording: https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/6pdfCLWv31NObYXdzGvuA7AhNYvXX6a8hCQd8vdfz0krOMg_cprXGLJoFX6cyRTU (Access Password: 0Y!854N?)

School SIG Region II Town Hall (3/30/2020) Meeting Chat: https://drive.google.com/drive/u/0/folders/1RRCVQtIifP01OpuJetmWgRt4vV2uWGCj

(no password)

School SIG Region III Town Hall (4/23/20) Meeting Recording: https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/5ZZXKor0pl9OWI3Gzx3zaP58GYvnT6a82iBK_vNczx3M-OmkYh_ZaiNa4yUlktCa (Access Password: 0Z&1Ct2&)

School SIG Region IV Town Hall (4/24/20) Meeting Recording: https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/68d3M6z76WdLcJ2cxF-YC-kKILzpaaa82iRPqacLmkcR3_FXQx6eq51diS9sXoja (Access Password: 8J@5=4@6)

School SIG Region V Town Hall (4/27/20) Meeting Recording: https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/w5VVIfbaqlJIac_U40rOHf4AIb_7T6a8hnUY__FcyU0vnnVQ1J6uCneLQcxCv_bL (Access Password: 1S**9@!7)

School SIG Region VI Town Hall (3/31/2020) Meeting Recording: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1RRCVQtIifP01OpuJetmWgRt4vV2uWGCj?usp=sharing (no password)

School SIG Region VII Town Hall (5/11/2020) Meeting Recording: https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/__dcNLT1qDtJY4mXzRCDQZN8GY_uaaa81XQcrvEKnk7AuUhhFTT5MMk55KzoK6Kf (no password)

Adolescents & Adults with Developmental Disabilities and Sports-Fitness SIGs

AADD SIG and Pediatrics Sports-Fitness SIG Town Hall (4/10/20) Meeting Recording: https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/otd1aOH5z1lOU43QuWDBcaIwWd-1eaa81ScbqPAEmUzQpWb9dN-xDll74s3M-gvG

Hospital-based and Neonatal Physical Therapy SIGs

Hospital Based and Neonatal SIG Town Hall (4/13/2) Meeting Recording: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmXFW00iSuviwWkbzPnPwSQ

Early Intervention SIG

UCmXFW00iSuviwWkbzPnPwSQ

May 18, 2020 Short Url: http://PediatricAPTA.org?f3nwj0 Google+ Email Twitter

18 May

School SIG Practice Webinar Information

School-based Special Interest Group Webinars

The School SIG hosts periodic webinars on issues related to school-based practice. Recordings are provided below.

SATCo & Segmental Positioning in Schools webinar recording (includes chat) from 5/5/2020: https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/-O1qdb238lNJXreR5k_iffUlR6b8aaa81HVKqfIIy0v783g212t5M3H8cv2Z8632

Please note: People should NOT create videos (or use these images in any way) from this.The families and clinicians shown have been very generous allowing videos of their children for data reduction and permitting us to use these videos for education purposes. But they are from member viewing ONLY. Additional resources from the speaker are available to members, please contact your SSIG regional representative or email schoolsig@pediatricapta.org.

Research Supported Interventions for SBPTs webinar recording: https://youtu.be/7ZgKbmIBQZM. Thanks to Andy Ruff, Wendy Harrell and the SSIG Engaging Membership subcommittee!