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Digital Seminar

Understanding the “Busy Body” Profile

$69.99 Standard

High-energy, sensory-seeking, and inattentive behaviors can disrupt learning – but they also hold the key to understanding how children’s brains and bodies process the world. In this session, Dr. Cara Koscinski unpacks the neurobiology of learning, highlights disruptors you can control, and provides a clear framework for addressing sensory processing and executive functioning challenges. You’ll gain insight into common diagnoses and non-diagnosed presentations in schools, explore the impact of inequities and socioeconomic factors, and leave with practical strategies to help close the achievement gap and create a more equitable learning environment for all students.

Here's What You'll Learn

Framing the “Busy Body” Profile

  • High-energy, sensory-seeking, and inattentive behaviors
  • Impact on learning, participation, and classroom flow
  • Limitations of the research and potential risks

The Neurobiology of Learning

  • Sensory processing and executive functioning
  • Disruptors you can control in the classroom environment
  • Link brain/body processing to behavior and attention

Diagnoses and Presentation in Schools

  • Common diagnoses connected to the “busy body” profile
  • Non-diagnosed presentations that still affect performance
  • Recognizing overlap across profiles

Inequities and the Achievement Gap

  • Socioeconomic influences on learning and participation
  • Analyze how inequities contribute to opportunity gaps
  • The role of occupational therapy in fostering equity

Strategies and Takeaways

  • Practical tools for addressing sensory, executive function, and attention needs
  • Approaches to support both diagnosed and undiagnosed students
  • Wrap-up and reflection

Experiential Activity: Find the disruptors (Hint – it’s not the kids!)

Everything You're Getting

  • More than 1 hour of video content
  • Up to 1.25 CE credits
  • Certificate of completion
  • Handouts and resources

Meet Your Experts

Cara Koscinski, OTD, MOT, OTR/L, CAS

Toggle speaker biography

Dr. Cara Koscinski is an occupational therapist with over 25 years of experience. She is a Certified Autism Specialist and the founder of The Executive Function Institute, where she translates years of research into practical tools to support children, families, and professionals. Cara developed the Executive Function Express Program; a transformative model built on a child’s unique strengths to support executive function. The approach combines sensory regulation, movement, body awareness, and interoception as the foundation for planning, organization, time management, and metacognition.

An engaging speaker, she presents nationally on executive function, interoception, behavior, and self-regulation. Cara has authored seven books for caregivers and therapists, taught graduate OT courses, and continues to mentor doctoral students. She also founded The OTP Hivemind Mentoring Circle, creating a space for mentorship, collaboration, and growth among clinicians. Cara leads the largest pediatric OT Facebook group with more than 52,000 members worldwide. As the mother of an autistic adult son, she brings both professional expertise and personal insight to her work.


Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Cara Koscinski maintains a private practice and is the founder of Occupational Therapy Hivemind Mentoring Circle and Executive Function Institute. She receives compensation as a presenter and royalties as a published author. Cara Koscinski receives a speaking honorarium and recording royalties from PESI, Inc. She has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Cara Koscinski has two sons who are autistic and have sensory regulation deficits. She is a volunteer mentor with the Texas Women's University and the University of Florida.

More taught by Cara Koscinski, OTD, MOT, OTR/L, CAS

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Media Type:
Digital Seminar
Product Code:
POS065721
Duration:
1 hour, 16 minutes
Copyright:
Mar 06, 2026
Closed Captions:
Available
Format:
Audio and Video

ADA Needs

We would be happy to accommodate your ADA needs; please call our Customer Service Department for more information at 1-800-844-8260.

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