Georgia/South Carolina Chapter Meeting March 6, 2026 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM | Live, In Person 
Shepherd Center/Marcus Center for Advanced Rehabilitation, 2060 Peachtree Rd. NW, Atlanta, GA 30309

Deadline to register: February 27, 2025 5 PM ET

6 ADED Contact Hours | Members $60 / Non-Members $120

Schedule (subject to change)
8:00am - 9:00am - Tori Fallgren Wheelchair Issues in Relation to Driver Rehabilitation
9:00am - 10:00am - Matt Abisamra Checklist for low tech vehicle fittings
10:00am - 12:00pm - Dr. Cronin Part 1 Vestibular Presentation
12:00pm - 1:00pm - Lunch; Business Meeting; Sponsor Presentation - Sure Grip
1:00pm - 3:00pm - Dr. Cronin Part 2 Vestibular Presentation
3:00pm - 4:00pm - Tour of Shepherd Centers New Facility, Driving Program and Simulator
4:00pm - End of class, room clean up by board.  

Wheelchair Issues in Relation to Driver Rehabilitation. Presenter: Victoria Fallgren, PT, DPT, NCS, ATP

Introduction: This course will review evaluation information regarding wheelchair transportation considerations, manual and power wheelchair considerations and features to improve access and postural supports to consider in the vehicle. 

Learning Objectives:

1. Participants will be able to list three questions to ask to ensure the wheelchair vehicle compatibility.
2. Participants will be able to describe some of the compatibility issues when discussing wheelchair devices, driving and transportation.
3. To describe wheelchair components that can be used to improve function and access in the vehicle.  
4. Describe wheelchair components that can be used to improve positioning for dependent vehicle transportation.  
5. Identify adjustments to the wheelchair/ seating system which may adversely affect the wheelchair user. 

Presenter Bio: Victoria Fallgren, PT, DPT, NCS, ATP has worked in the Wheelchair Seating and Mobility Clinic at Shepherd Center since 2019. She has experience treating clients with neurological diagnoses with complex seating needs to optimize posture, function, and comfort. Tori is skilled in working with clients with alternative wheelchair driving needs. Tori is a member of the Clinician Task Force and has advocated for seating legislation through Congressional Fly-In days with RESNA. She has presented annually for Kennesaw State University Prosthetics and Orthotics and Shepherd Center medical residents. 

Checklist for Low Tech Vehicle Fittings. Presenter: Matt Abisamra, OTR/L, CDRS

Introduction: This course is designed to go over a basic checklist for a CDRS for low tech vehicle fittings where hand controls, automatic lockdowns or left foot accelerators are installed in clients’ vehicles.

Learning Objectives:

1. Participants will be able to identify 3 typical installation considerations for hand control placement/installation at vehicle fittings.
2. Participants will be able to list 3 things to look for with a left foot accelerator placement at a vehicle fitting. 
3. Participants will identify two important considerations for setting the automatic lockdown placement. 
4. Participants will identify two types of non OEM mirrors and verbalize how to set them for client’s best visibility. 
5. Participants will list five tasks for the on road drive for the typical adult/licensed driver fitting 

Presenters Bio: Matt Abisamra, OTR/L, CDRS, has practiced in the field of Driver Rehabilitation at the Shepherd Center in Atlanta since 2006 where he currently is the driving program supervisor.  He is skilled in training, evaluation, and vehicle fittings for all types of disabilities. He served as the Secretary for the SC/GA ADED Chapter in 2006 and as the chapter’s president from 2010-2012. He has been the AOTA network chairperson for driving for the physical disabilities special interest section. Matt has presented multiples times on disabled driving at the national level for  AOTA, NMEDA and ADED conferences. 

The Effects of the Vestibular System on Driving. Presenter: Gaye Woodring Cronin, O.T.D., O.T.R.

Introduction: The vestibular system (VS) and its central nervous system connections combined with its output reflexes can have significant effects on driving skills such as driving checking the speedometer, position in space sense of staying in a lane, turning the head to check traffic, turning the automobile right or left, stopping appropriately, reaction times, tolerancing visual motion and stability of the gaze for all driving tasks. This course will review the peripheral and central VS, the vestibular ocular reflex and vestibulo spinal reflex functions, present and give an opportunity to practice practical assessments for evaluating VS function and dysfunction, emphasize the importance of a functional VS for teen, adult and older drivers, provide simple treatment techniques to improve and enhance VS function and provide safety/ advice/environmental tips for driving with a vestibular dysfunction. 

Learning Objectives:

1. Recognize and develop basic exercise program for vestibular ocular and spinal reflexes
2. Understand the vestibular system and interaction with other central systems for reactions
3. Differentiate central and peripheral vertigo and nystagmus
4. Provide safety tips when driving with vestibular disorder  

Presenter Bio: Dr. Gaye W. Cronin is a master clinician specializing in vestibular rehabilitation, neuromuscular facial re-education and balance retraining having treated more than 35,000 patients suffering from vestibular, facial paralysis or balance disorders. She received her Bachelor of Science and Masters degrees from the Medical College of Georgia, and her Doctorate from the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences. She has years of clinical experience in various physical rehabilitation, education and administrative settings including the Medical College of Georgia and Emory University Clinic and Facial Nerve Center.

Thank you to the meeting sponsor:

Attendance at the entire event is required to earn contact hours, no partial hours are awarded. Registration confirmation and payment receipts are e-mailed to the attendee. All cancellations for live-virtual events must be made in writing to the ADED Executive Office by 2/6/2026; a 20% handling fee will be charged. Refunds will not be issued after this date or for “no-shows.” Partial refunds will not be granted. ADED reserves the right to modify content, timetable, change speakers, or cancel events due to unforeseen/unavoidable circumstances at any time. If ADED cancels an event, a full refund will be provided to registrants. ADED does not offer refunds because of technological issues, should the ADED experience a platform outage, attendees will be provided an appropriate credit.  All complaints relative to the content, instructor, and registration procedures are to be directed to the ADED executive office: 200 1st Ave NW #505 Hickory NC 28601 or via email eLearning@aded.net   

ADED's Education Code of Conduct applies to this and all ADED education.