APTA Academy of Pediatric Physical Therapy

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APTA Academy of Pediatric Physical Therapy

Mission: Bringing people together to advance excellence in pediatric physical therapy.

The Academy of Pediatric Physical Therapy of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA Pediatrics) promotes the highest quality of life for all children, people with developmental disabilities, and their families. The Academy represents pediatric physical therapy and promotes its members as practitioners of choice for children (birth to 21 years) with or at risk for movement dysfunction. APTA Pediatrics also serves as a collective voice to further the role of pediatric physical therapists and physical therapist assistants. Our specialty section is home to almost 6,000 members who work tirelessly to enhance the abilities and lives of the children and families we work alongside of each day. The children we serve range in age from pre-term infants to teenagers and even those with developmental disabilities who are entering adulthood. These clients can receive physical therapy services in a variety of settings, including the home, school, daycare, hospital, outpatient centers, and rehabilitation hospitals. APTA Pediatrics is committed to furthering our knowledge to better serve the children in our communities, and places a great deal of importance on continuing education. The Academy hosts a variety of continuing education courses, including the Academy of Pediatric Physical Therapy Annual Conference (APPTAC), which brings together pediatric therapists from across the country and around the globe to network, share ideas, and advance our area of practice. The field of pediatrics is growing rapidly with advances in health care and in our knowledge of childhood development. APTA Pediatrics invites you to join us for exciting adventures in teaching, learning, and exploring through play, and to make a difference to the children we serve!

09/26/2025

Register for the 2025 APTA Pediatrics Annual Conference Pre-Conference Session PCS Examination Prep: Collaborative Practice of Clinical Reasoning Skills.

Join us on Thursday, October 30th from 1:00pm–5:00pm for an interactive workshop designed for physical therapists preparing for the Pediatrics Certified Specialist exam.

This half-day course will review the PCS exam process, provide practical study resources, and feature team-based activities including case analysis, self-assessment, and study plan development. This session is meant for those eligible for the PCS exam or recertification in 2026 or considering the exam in 2027.

Interested in attending? Add this pre-conference to your Annual Conference registration: https://www.edgereg.net/er/Registration/StepRegInfo.jsp?ActivityID=43523&StepNumber=1&v=NzQxYTY3MTEtOWM0NC00YTllLTgxZGQtY2U1YzM4M2ZiNTVk

09/25/2025

We’re grateful to Rifton for joining us as a Gold Level Sponsor of the APTA Pediatrics Annual Conference. Your partnership plays a vital role in bringing our community together and supporting the future of pediatric physical therapy. Thank you!

09/17/2025

We are excited to share some of the conference sessions that will be included in our 2025 Annual Conference. If you haven't signed up yet, there is still time. Visit our website to learn more: https://aptapediatricsac2025.eventscribe.net/

This session titled: :"Competency Based Education and Pediatric “Learner” Milestones: The What, the Why, and the How" explores the questions: What is an educational milestone? Why is it important to understand how it fits within the competency-based education (CBE) framework? How can we use milestones in competency-based pediatric physical therapy education?

Learning Objectives include:

• Identify the purpose and use of pediatric milestones in competency-based education.

• Discuss a novel framework to create pediatric milestones for pediatric competencies specific to the pediatric domains of competence.

• Create a pediatric milestone for a given pediatric domain of competence and associated pediatric competencies across the learner continuum.

Find this session and many more at our 2025 APTA Pediatrics Annual Conference. Join us and see why this conference is the can't miss event of the year.

09/10/2025

Registration is OPEN for CSM 2026! Join us February 12–14 in Anaheim, CA, for the APTA Combined Sections Meeting—the biggest physical therapy event of the year.

What’s new? Don’t miss our Preconference session:
Guided By Growth: Age and Diagnosis-Based Manual Therapy and Joint Mobilization in Pediatric Physical Therapy. This year’s event is packed with learning, networking, and inspiration you won’t want to miss.

Secure your spot today and lock in the best registration rate!
https://csm.apta.org/

09/08/2025

Happy 2025!

Today, we celebrate the transformative power of physical therapy for ALL ages! As pediatric physical therapists, we know that early intervention and movement play a critical role in a child’s development. Whether it's helping a baby reach their milestones or guiding a teenager’s recovery from injury, our work makes a lasting impact on the future of our patients.

We remain committed to advancing the role of physical therapy in pediatric care, ensuring that every child has the opportunity to move, grow, and thrive.

08/29/2025

We are thrilled to announce Dr. Jill Heathcock, PT, MPT, PhD, as the next Editor in Chief of Pediatric Physical Therapy — effective January 1, 2026.

Dr. Heathcock is a nationally recognized leader in pediatric PT, currently serving as Professor and Director of the PhD Program at The Ohio State University and leading groundbreaking research in early motor development at the PEARL Lab. We are excited for her evidence-driven vision to guide the journal's continued growth and global impact.

We would also like to extend a heartfelt thank you to Dr. Linda Fetters for her decade of transformative leadership. Her dedication has elevated the journal to new heights.

Please join us in celebrating both Dr. Heathcock and Dr. Fetters!

08/14/2025

Please join us for a journal club meeting on 8/28/25 at 7:30pm EST to discuss the journal article: Influence of Modified Instructions on Locomotion Subtest Scores Using the Peabody Developmental Motor Scales, Second Edition.

The current study assessed whether changes in verbal and visual cues used to clarify requirements of the task would result in significant score differences on the Locomotion subtest of the Peabody Developmental Motor Scales, Second Edition (PDMS-2), in children aged 2.5 to 5 years.

Register: https://learning.pediatricapta.org/products/journal-club-meeting-modified-instructions-on-the-pdms-2 -product_tab_overview

08/11/2025

The Practice Fair is a live, interactive event in the Exhibit Hall where presenters share creative ideas that are making a difference in real-world pediatric physical therapy. One presentation will be honored with the Practice Fair Innovation Award.

Submit your creative activity, strategy, adaptation, or program today!

Application deadline: 8/15/25
Annual Conference location and dates: Colorado Springs, CO | Oct 31–Nov 2

Apply now: https://www.cognitoforms.com/APTAPediatrics/PracticeFair2025

08/06/2025

Changes are occurring to services, support, and resources available to the children and families we serve. The Mighty Networks platform is a place for discussion to better support therapists as they are navigating the changes. This is a space where all participants feel heard, valued, and safe to express their views.

Join Mighty Networks here: https://apta-pediatrics.mn.co/

08/01/2025

Join us for the upcoming School SIG webinar on September 16th, 2025: Working with Children with Medical Complexity

Both the IDEA and current evidence emphasize the need for a team approach when educating students with disabilities; this is especially important when supporting students with complex learning needs (often identified under the eligibility of Multiple Disabilities). We will discuss the rationale for a collaborative approach during the creation and implementation of an IEP, suggest concrete steps for moving toward a more collaborative practice, and discuss the benefits and challenges of working closely within a school-based team.

Register for this webinar here: https://learning.pediatricapta.org/products/school-sig-working-with-children-with-medical-complexity-9162025 -product_tab_overview

07/31/2025

If you're a pediatric specialist or therapist who's completed a pediatric residency, this is your opportunity to gain advanced, hands-on training in the specialized world of neonatology. Ready to take the next step in your career?

Explore the full list of fellowships here: https://abptrfe.apta.org

07/29/2025

Are you interested in the Knowledge Broker Network? Apply to join our Fall 2025-Spring 2026 group by visiting: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf4a-I2kEll4RJT1-aeLVVlXOfegMsLAMg_CZOdAzuPlHi_vw/viewform?pli=1

Address

7780 Elmwood Avenue, Ste 130
Middleton, WI
53562

Website

http://www.pediatricapta.org/

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