Training Level Descriptions

Level One Training
Beginning student is encouraged to join the Oral Motor Institute by going to the following website: http://www.oralmotorinstitute.org/

Requirements:
Must attend a “live” Level 1 (A Three Part Treatment Plan for Oral-Motor Therapy) workshop. If no class is available, you may purchase a Level 1 DVD with book and practicum. If attending in person, the DVD will be available for purchase at a 60% discount. The book and practicum are included with the cost of the class itself.

Must pass the test required for ASHA CEU credits to determine competency with the materials presented.

Level Two Training
Student is encouraged to join the Oral-Motor Institute by going to the following website: http://www.oralmotorinstitute.org/
Student must complete the following 3 requirements:

1. Feeding Therapy: A Sensory Motor Approach by Lori Overland.

a) Must attend a “live” workshop. The course comes with a workbook and practicum. If attending this class in person the DVD will be available for purchase at a 60% reduction.

Must pass the test required for ASHA CEU credits to determine competency with the materials presented.

OR

b) If a “live” workshop is not available, you have the option to purchase the Feeding Therapy: A Sensory Motor Approach DVD with practicum and workbook.

Level Three Training
Student is encouraged to join the Oral-Motor Institute by going to the following website: http://www.oralmotorinstitute.org/

Travel to an approved SRJ Therapies Clinic: Student must complete 5 days of intensive education, to include observation of evaluations, program plan updates, and therapy sessions in the Tucson Facility or any of the other SRJ-approved
therapy clinics.

On day 4 the individual will be working with two clients, using the skills mastered on days 1 through 3.

On day 5 the individual must demonstrate, on a level six instructor, a complete understanding of all therapy techniques observed and practiced during the previous four days, as well as those included in the courses required in Level One Training
and Level Two Training.

During this week the participants have hands-on experience with a variety of clients.

The cost is $300 per day plus travel and expenses; there will be no CEUs offered for this training.

CRITICAL – Student must be invited to attend remaining levels, or, in the case of Level Four, Option #3, the student can have observed a Level Six instructor for the equivalent of 5 days during one or more travel clinics.

Level Four–Accomplished Master
Level Four Clinician in the SRJ Approach to Oral Motor Therapy
If they have not done so already, the student must join the Oral-Motor Institute by going to the following website: http://www.oralmotorinstitute.org/

Option #1: General – Demonstrates proficiency in working with clients of various diagnoses and skill levels who demonstrate deficits in any or all of the following areas: tone, sensory, feeding, and oral-motor affecting feeding and speech.

Student must complete a minimum of 5 days of additional “hands on” personalized training from a level six instructor at an SRJ-approved therapy clinic.

Days 1 though 3: Observation of a Level Six instructor: 1-2 sessions per day

Direct Therapy: 3-4 sessions per day with a Level Six instructor, observing and assisting as necessary

Day 4: The student will perform an Initial Oral-Motor/Feeding and Speech Evaluation at an SRJ clinic. That evening the student will write an Initial Evaluation Report and Program Plan for that client, to be implemented on day 5 to the satisfaction of the Level six instructor.

Day 5: The student will be required to demonstrate competency using any or all oral-motor therapy techniques taught in the four prerequisite classes and the previous observation days with two clients evidencing various diagnoses, including, but not limited to, tone deficits, sensory deficits, feeding disorders, and oral-motor deficits affecting feeding and speech.

The cost is $400 per day plus travel and expenses; there will be no CEUs offered for this training.

When the student returns home she/he will make a videotape of a mock Initial Oral-Motor/Feeding and Speech Evaluation based upon the skills assessed on the “Oral-Motor Skills for Feeding and Speech: Assessment and Treatment Form.”
The subject should be any typically-developing individual above the age of 7 years with no evidence of a speech or language disorder (this is not a client). A Level Six instructor will assess the video and determine if the student’s skills are acceptable. If skills do not meet expectations, the student will receive an email with suggestions for improvement. The student will then be
asked to re-submit a video of the segment(s) in question. This process will continue until the student has demonstrated adequate skills as required by the Level Six instructor. There will be no fee associated with this requirement.

After successful completion, student will be listed on the TalkTools website as an Accomplished Master Level Four Clinician in the SRJ Approach to Oral-Motor Therapy with Clients of Various Diagnoses and Skill Levels. In addition, the clinician may submit parent endorsements for inclusion on their portion of the TalkTools website.

CRITICAL – In order to remain at Level Four -General, therapist must maintain annual OMI membership and participate in 6 hrs of oral-motor continuing education per year, as supplied by ITI through “live” workshops and/or DVDs, or spend a minimum of 3 days at an SRJ-approved therapy clinic.

Option #2: Limited – (Feeding, Autism, Down syndrome, Apraxia, etc. The desired focus will be identified by the student so that an appropriate Level Six therapist can be chosen as the instructor.) Demonstrates proficiency in working with clients of a single diagnosis who demonstrate deficits in the following areas: tone, sensory, feeding and oral-motor affecting feeding and speech.

The student must complete a minimum of 3 days of additional “hands on” personalized training from a Level Six instructor.

Days 1 though 3: Observation of a Level Six instructor: 1-2 sessions per day

Direct Therapy: 3-4 sessions per day with a Level Six instructor, observing and assisting as necessary

On the afternoon of day 3 the student will be required to demonstrate competency using any or all oral-motor therapy techniques taught in the four prerequisite classes and the previous observation days with two clients with the identified
diagnosis. Student will also demonstrate report-writing skills for an Initial Evaluation, and will be able to develop a full Program Plan based upon the results of the Initial Evaluation, to the satisfaction of the Level Six instructor.

The cost is $400 per day plus travel and expenses; there will be no CEUs offered for this training.

When the student returns home she/he will make a videotape of a mock Initial Oral-Motor/Feeding and Speech Evaluation based upon the skills assessed on the “Oral-Motor Skills for Feeding and Speech: Assessment and Treatment Form.”
The subject should be any typically-developing individual above the age of 7 years with no evidence of a speech or language disorder (this is not a client). A Level Six instructor will assess the video and determine if the student’s skills are acceptable. If skills do not meet expectations, the student will receive an email with suggestions for improvement. The student will then be
asked to re-submit a video of the segment(s) in question. This process will continue until the student has demonstrated adequate skills as required by the Level Six instructor. There will be no fee associated with this requirement.

After successful completion, student will be listed on the TalkTools website as an Accomplished Master Level Four Clinician in the SRJ Approach to Oral Motor Therapy Limited to Clients of (the focused diagnosis). In addition, the clinician may submit parent endorsements for inclusion on their portion of the TalkTools website.

CRITICAL – In order to remain at Level Four -Limited, therapist must maintain annual OMI membership and participate in 6 hrs of oral-motor continuing education per year, as supplied by ITI through “live” workshops and/or DVDs, or spend a minimum of 2 days working with an SRJ Therapies Level Six instructor.

Option #3: General – Demonstrates proficiency in working with clients of various diagnoses and skill levels who demonstrate deficits in the following areas: tone, sensory, feeding, and oral-motor affecting feeding and speech.

Student must complete a minimum of 5 days of additional “hands on” personalized training from a Level Six instructor at the student’s workplace.

Days 1 though 4: Observation of a Level six instructor: 1-2 sessions per day Direct Therapy: 3-4 sessions per day with a Level Six instructor, observing and assisting as necessary

Day 5: The student will be required to demonstrate competency using any or all oral-motor therapy techniques taught in the four prerequisite classes and the previous observation days with two clients evidencing various diagnoses, including, but not limited to, tone deficits, sensory deficits, feeding disorders, and oral-motor deficits affecting feeding and speech.

Student will also demonstrate report-writing skills for an Initial Evaluation, and be able to develop a full Program Plan based upon the results of the Initial Evaluation, to the satisfaction of the Level six instructor.

The cost per week will be $3,000 per student, plus travel and accommodation expenses for the instructor. A minimum of 3 students will be required. ASHA CEUs will be offered for this training.

After the completion of the class each student will make a video of a mock Initial Oral-Motor/Feeding and Speech Evaluation based upon the skills assessed on the “Oral-Motor Skills for Feeding and Speech: Assessment and Treatment Form.” The subject should be any typically-developing individual above the age of 7 years with no evidence of a speech or language disorder (this is not a client). A Level Six instructor will assess the video and determine if the student’s skills are acceptable. If their skills do not meet expectations, the student will receive an email with suggestions for improvement. The student will then be asked to submit another video of the questionable segment(s). This process will continue until the student has demonstrated adequate skills as required by the Level Six instructor.

After successful completion, student will be listed on the TalkTools website as an Accomplished Master Level Four Clinician in the SRJ Approach to Oral-Motor Therapy with Clients of Various Diagnoses and Skill Levels. In addition, the clinician may submit parent endorsements for inclusion on their portion of the TalkTools website.

CRITICAL – In order to remain at Level Four -General, therapist must maintain annual OMI membership and participate in 6 hrs of oral-motor continuing education per year, as supplied by ITI through “live” workshops and/or DVDs, or spend a minimum of 3 days at an SRJ-approved therapy clinic.

Level Five Training
Therapist must maintain annual Oral-Motor Institute membership. http://www.oralmotorinstitute.org/

Requirement: Therapist must demonstrate exceptional skills during a 3-month paid tenure at an SRJ-approved therapy clinic. Therapist may then be offered Level Six status based on the therapist’s strengths and the needs of the company. There will be no CEUs offered for this training.

CRITICAL – In order to remain at Level Four -General, therapist must maintain annual OMI membership and participate in 6 hrs of oral-motor continuing education per year, as supplied by ITI through “live” workshops and/or DVDs, or spend a minimum of 3 days at an SRJ-approved therapy clinic.