Conference Speakers
Keynote Speaker:
Cara Koscinski, MOT, OTR/L
Occupational Therapist, Speaker, Mother, Advocate, and Author of the Pocket Occupational Therapist Books
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Cara Koscinski, MOT, OTR/L, author of The Pocket Occupational Therapist Book Series, is a pediatric occupational therapist with over 20 years’ experience. She specializes in Sensory Processing Disorder, trauma-informed care, behavior, advocacy, and autism. As a speaker, Cara brings her expertise as a pediatric occupational therapist and mother of two children with autism to parents, caregivers, families, and educators in an easy-to- follow format. She has published six books which are sold globally. Cara recently created a pediatric therapy assessment, the VAMPS, which is sold to therapists in a variety of settings.
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Cara obtained her Master of Occupational Therapy degree in 1997 from Duquesne University. She is currently attending university to obtain her doctorate degree in occupational therapy. In addition to her longstanding work as a private practice OT, Cara is a successful entrepreneur. She founded two pediatric occupational therapy companies. Her products can be found in special needs catalogues and websites across the US and UK.
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In addition to her books, Ms. Koscinski regularly blogs and creates fun products for those who work with children who have special needs. This February, her blog was rated as number six in the top fifty blogs for therapists and teachers in the world by Feedspot. Cara also speaks regularly across the US and provides OT consultations, trainings, and seminars as The Pocket Occupational Therapist. She serves on the Advisory Board of Autism Asperger’s Digest Magazine and Asperkids. Articles and courses authored by Cara are featured in many special needs publications such as Autism File, Harkla, Chewigem, Autism Society of America, Advance for OTs, OccupationalTherapy.com, Autism Parenting Magazine, Autism Asperger’s Digest andNewsLine. Cara is also a children’s YOGA instructor and Certified Irlen screener.
Plenary Speaker:
Mary Warren, PhD., OTR/L, SCLV, FAOT
Dr. Warren developed the Graduate Certificate in Low Vision Rehabilitation at University of Alabama at Birmingham and served as its program director and as co-director of the UAB Center for Low Vision Rehabilitation before retiring in 2018. She continues to teach in the certificate program as an adjunct professor. Dr. Warren lectures extensively on vision rehabilitation for persons with age-related eye disease, and vision impairment from adult acquired brain injury and is an internationally recognized authority in this area. Dr. Warren is the author of the Brain Injury Visual Assessment Battery for Adults (biVABA), co-editor of the textbook: Occupational Therapy Interventions for Adults with Low Vision and has contributed chapters to several rehabilitation textbooks including "Occupational Therapy: Practice Skills for Physical Dysfunction." In addition, Dr. Warren chaired the AOTA panel that developed specialty certification in low vision rehabilitation (SCLV). She is the 2019 recipient of the AOTA Award of Merit for her contributions in advancing the role of occupational therapy in low vision rehabilitation.