Capacity Building for Educators 

Holistic Circus Therapy offers in-person/on-site training, online courses, and teacher workshops. With over 15 years of experience as an Occupational Therapy industry leader, program developer, and school-based occupational therapist for the New York City Board of Education, Jill has a plethora of experience that she integrates in delivering high-impact training sessions aimed at preparing teachers to support diverse learners and individuals with special needs in the classroom.

The Solution

Capacity-building workshops for educators can help alleviate the need for OT services by preparing teachers to handle occupational therapy-related challenges in the classroom. By equipping educators with strategies for improved sensory processing, executive functions, and tools to promote self-directed student participation for better classroom management, we can create a more inclusive and effective learning environment for all students. Diverse learning styles are more pervasive than ever, and teachers need to feel empowered to meet the needs of those students.

The Problem

Both the healthcare and education industries are facing a critical challenge: a shortage of occupational therapists. The American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) projects that demand for services will continue to surge within the next 10 years. Through her school-based experience, Jill has identified a critical need to address the shortage of Occupational Therapists available in schools to provide services to eligible students. 

Throughout her career, Jill has pioneered the use of circus arts in occupational therapy and education as evidence-based practices on a global scale. As the founder of Holistic Circus Therapy and CircusAid, she has trained nearly 1,000 individuals across various countries, emphasizing the scalability and impact of her methodology. Her innovative approach has been recognized internationally, and she has authored significant research in the Australian Journal of Occupational Therapy, establishing new frameworks in the therapeutic use of circus arts.


Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this workshop, participants will:

- Have a better understanding of what school-based occupational therapy is

- Be able to apply strategies for improved executive functions within the classroom

- Be able to apply strategies for improved sensory processing within the classroom

- Be able to manage the classroom environment in a way that creates more self-directed student participation

- Be able to communicate the benefits of using occupational therapy strategies in the classroom

- Be more prepared to meet the needs of diverse learning styles within the classroom

 

A few of the organizations worldwide that have benefited from Holistic Circus Therapy Capacity Building workshops

  • Woodlynde School-Strafford, PA

  • Habibi Works-Ioannina, Greece

  • AMC Metropolitan College, Athens, Greece

  • Long Island University-Brooklyn, NY

  • Peduli Anak Foundation-Mataram, Indonesia 

  • SYZOI, Thessaloniki, Greece

  • Harapan Baru, Mataram, Indonesia

We are excited about the opportunity to collaborate with more organizations to deliver impactful training sessions that empower educators and enhance the educational experience for students with diverse learning needs. We look forward to the possibility of working together to make a positive difference in education. 

Please contact us below for more information.