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Lecture provides advice for parents, teachers
MILLIGAN COLLEGE (March 7, 2011) — Award-winning author Dr. Christy Isbell will deliver a lecture for parents and teachers on “Sensory Integration and Its Impact on Learning and Life” at Milligan College on Thursday, March 17, at 7 p.m. in Hyder Auditorium. The event is free and open to the public.
The lecture will be based on her book, “Sensory Integration: A Guide for Preschool Teachers.” Sensory integration (SI) is a typical process where the brain receives, organizes and interprets information obtained from the senses. The brain then signals to the body how to respond.
Isbell will specifically address Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) in children, where the body has a problem processing sensory information. Since people learn through their senses, any problems will impact a child’s learning and development.
“Medical professionals are aware, but many parents and teachers aren’t aware of how common this problem is,” said Isbell, associate professor of occupational therapy at Milligan.
The lecture will not only inform parents and teachers about sensory integration, but also offer practical advice for addressing processing disorders.
“It’s important that parents are aware of their child’s problem, be able to identify red flags and know where to turn for professional help,” said Isbell, who specializes in pediatrics.
With more than 20 years of experience in her field, Isbell has worked closely with teachers and young children in schools, hospitals, homes and outpatient facilities.
She co-wrote “Sensory Integration: A Guide for Preschool Teachers” with her mother, Dr. Rebecca Isbell, director of the Center of Excellence in Early Childhood Learning and Development at East Tennessee State University. It was the best-selling book of 2009 for Gryphon House, the nation’s top publisher of early childhood resources, and was awarded the Early Childhood News Director’s Choice Award.
She recently wrote another award-winning book, “Mighty Fine Motor Fun,” which won a Learning® magazine Teachers’ Choice Award for the Classroom. As a servant leader in the community, Isbell also provides consultative and direct services for children from her private practice in Johnson City.
For more information about events at Milligan, visit www.milligan.edu/arts.