Integrating Water Play & Aquatic Therapy Principles into Early Intervention

Click here for Full Course Details Including Objectives

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Course Description:

This course will provide information on how water play can be used as a motivating way to address a variety of therapeutic goals across provider disciplines. The basic properties of water will be defined, and the therapeutic application of water play will be described. Examples of how to set up activities in the home environment that utilize water play will be discussed and include how such activities help to target a variety of IFSP goals.

Target Audience:

PT, OT, Speech Therapists, Developmental Therapists and Service Coordinators looking to learn about how to incorporate water play into their home environment treatment repertoire.

Location:

Course will take place at Easterseals DuPage & Fox Valley (830 S. Addison Ave. Villa Park, IL, 60181).

About the Instructors:

Laura Basi, MPT, PCS

Laura is a Physical Therapist at Easterseals DuPage and Fox Valley. She received her Masters of Physical Therapy from Saint Louis University and has 19 years of pediatric experience. Laura earned her Pediatric Clinical Specialist certification from the APTA in 2023 and was trained in International Schroth 3D Scoliosis Therapy in 2022. Laura has been a credentialed EI provider throughout her career and has provided Aquatic Physical Therapy at local pools for over 15 years. Laura has extensive experience treating children with a variety of developmental challenges from birth to 18 years of age. Her continuing education background includes training in aquatics, respiratory function, gait training, postural control, and family centered care. She provides ongoing mentoring to graduate students and new therapists.

Jenna Georgacakis-Nurre, DPT, PCS

Jenna is a Pediatric Physical Therapist and has been a part of the Easter Seals DuPage & Fox Valley team for 11 years. She received her Doctorate of Physical Therapy from Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science and is now an adjunct faculty member there, primarily organizing pediatric patient clinics, giving lectures and

leading/assisting with labs for the pediatric PT course. Jenna earned her Pediatric Clinical Specialist certification from the APTA in 2023. She is an Early Intervention Provider for the state of Illinois. Jenna has worked with infants, children and adolescents with various diagnoses in a number of settings including home, clinic, and community sites such as pools throughout her entire career. She has received significant continuing education and experience in the areas of aquatics, infant treatment, respiratory function, gait training, and facilitating interactions with families.

Financial Disclosures:

Laura Basi and Jenna Georgacakis-Nurre has the following financial relationship to disclose: she recieves a fee for speaking from Easterseals DuPage & Fox Valley.

Non-Financial Disclosures:

Laura Basi and Jenna Georgacakis has no relevant non-financial relationships to disclose.

Learning Objectives:

Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:

1. Define the properties of buoyancy, viscosity, hydrostatic pressure, turbulence, surface tension, and resistance to movement

2. Recognize types of impairments and functional limitations that can be addressed using water during a treatment session

3. Understand how to set up water-based activities within a home treatment session or for home programming using a bathtub, water table, backyard and/or community pool

4. Recognize when a child may benefit from more formal aquatic therapy

Wednesday, January 14, 2026

Check-In: 11:45-12:00pm

Course: 12:00-1:15pm

Continuing Education Credits:

Continuing education credits have been applied for through the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation for 1.0 hours IL Early Intervention Credits.

Lodging: A special rate at The Hyatt Place Lombard is available if you mention that you are taking a course at Easterseals.

2340 South Fountain Square Drive in Lombard, IL P:630.932.6501

Special Accommodations: Please notify us of any special accommodations you may have by contacting us at 630.261.6191.

To sign up and receive all course information and future courses from Easterseals, please click here to sign-up.

Also check out other Workshops in Villa Park.