Topic: Autism in Children and Adults: What Should Physical Therapists Do? 

Speaker: Maureen Rinehimer, PT, PhD, MS, MHS

Course description:
This course describes Autism through the lifespan and the involvement of people with Autism utilizing Physical Therapy. It provides what is known and what needs to be further understood about Physical Therapy and Autism.

More About the Speaker:
Maureen Rinehimer proudly serves as an Assistant Professor in the Physical Therapy Department at Misericordia University. She currently teaches / co teaches the following courses: Pediatrics, Movement Science 2, Neuromuscular 2 and 3, ICE 2 and Alternative, and Complementary Physical Therapy. She is a board member of the Autism Program at Misericordia, that services the community. 

She is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania (SAMP), Drexel University, Temple University, and recent PhD recipient from Seton Hall University. She holds certifications in: Early Intervention, Newborn Individualized Developmental Care and Assessment Program (NIDCAP), Lee Silverman’s Voice. Treatment BIG (LSVT BIG), and Kineseotape. She presented posters at PPTA Annual conference, several CSMs, and 2 World Physiotherapy Congresses. Maureen experienced life and professional enrichment on service trips to Guatemala, Jamaica and Guyana.

Working as a pediatric physical therapist for over 40 years, she enjoys spending more than 300 hours per year treating children at Misericordia University’s (MU) pro bono clinic. Maureen also continues to see children in Early Intervention in local counties. She recently resigned from her 18 years in the NICU, but continues to have a great interest with this population as well as children with developmental disabilities such as cerebral palsy and autism. She was awarded in 2019 the Rose Allen Tucker Award from Maternal and Child Health Association of Northeastern PA. Maureen is actively involved with her church parish council, Social concerns committee, and religious education.

Approved for .75 general and .25 evaluative contact hours