Accessibility in Athletic Training Package
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Register
- Non-member - $50
- Member - $25
- Student - $25
- Certified Student - $25
- Retired - $25
Recorded as part of the Accessibility Track from NATA 2025 in Orlando, FL.
In the evolving landscape of sports medicine, providing high-quality care means more than just treating an injury. It means ensuring every patient and colleague feels seen, supported, and accommodated. This course package equips athletic trainers (ATs) with the critical tools to identify systemic barriers, advocate for patients with disabilities, and tailor clinical approaches for neurodivergent populations. From auditing your own professional environment to refining specialized patient communication, these courses bridge the gap between standard practice and true inclusivity.
Why Take This Package?
Audit Your Environment: Move beyond "compliance" to create spaces where all individuals, regardless of ability, feel respected and empowered.
Enhance Patient Outcomes: Understand the psychological and physical shift from able-bodied to disabled and learn how to be a more effective advocate during recovery.
Support Neurodiversity: With ASD diagnoses on the rise, learn to adapt your clinical "toolbox" to meet the unique socialization and sensory needs of neurodivergent athletes.
Courses Included:
| Title | CEU Value |
| The Ableism Audit: What Can You Do? | 1.0 |
| The Role of Athletic Trainers in Accessibility Support | 1.0 |
| A Clinicians Approach to Helping Athletes With Autism | 1.0 |
Course Expiration:
This premium course offering must be completed within 12 months from the purchase date.
For full details, refer to the Expiration Date Policy on our FAQ page.
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The Ableism Audit, developed by the National Athletic Trainers' Association in collaboration with the DEIA Council, provides a valuable framework for athletic trainers to evaluate the inclusivity of their professional environments. This audit process took inventory of the accessibility services that are currently provided to members and guests engaging in NATA events as well identified areas where services could be improved. This audit highlights key areas where ableism, or the discrimination and prejudice against individuals with disabilities, can unintentionally permeate workplaces, meetings and events. Using this tool a framework, athletic trainers can critically assess how accessible and welcoming their spaces are, ensuring that all individuals, regardless of ability, feel included and respected. The presentation will guide attendees through the audit process, identifying common barriers that individuals with disabilities may face in that wide range of athletic training settings.
Abstract:
The Ableism Audit, developed by the National Athletic Trainers' Association in collaboration with the DEIA Council, provides a valuable framework for athletic trainers to evaluate the inclusivity of their professional environments. This audit process took inventory of the accessibility services that are currently provided to members and guests engaging in NATA events as well identified areas where services could be improved. This audit highlights key areas where ableism, or the discrimination and prejudice against individuals with disabilities, can unintentionally permeate workplaces, meetings and events. Using this tool a framework, athletic trainers can critically assess how accessible and welcoming their spaces are, ensuring that all individuals, regardless of ability, feel included and respected. The presentation will guide attendees through the audit process, identifying common barriers that individuals with disabilities may face in that wide range of athletic training settings.Learning Objectives:
- Identify current barriers for individuals with disabilities in their setting.
- Explain what an ableism audit entails.
- Evaluate how accessible and welcoming their current athletic training settings are.
- Develop an audit process for their respective athletic training settings.
Level:
AdvancedDomain(s):
Domain 5: Health Care Administration and Professional ResponsibilityOrthopedic Domain(s):
Domain 3: Professional PracticeKeywords:
Accessibility; Disability; BarriersCEUs:
1.0 Category ACourse Expiration:
This premium course offering must be completed within 12 months from the purchase date.
For full details, refer to the Expiration Date Policy on our FAQ page.Trevor M. Bates, DHSc, AT
Dr. Bates holds a Bachelor of Science in Athletic Training from Millikin University, a Master of Science in Kinesiology from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and a Doctorate in Health Sciences from AT Still University of Health Sciences. His most recent tenure in academia includes serving as President of Mercy College in Ohio, President of Wilmington College, as Vice President of Academic Affairs and Dean of Faculty at Mercy College of Ohio, and as Founding Associate Dean of Health Sciences at Heidelberg University. Outside of higher education, Dr. Bates served as Executive Vice President of Strategy and Innovation for True Empowering LLC.
In addition to his professional achievements, Dr. Bates is actively engaged in various volunteer appointments in healthcare and has been recognized with numerous awards and honors, including the 2024 Outstanding Educator Award from the Great Lakes Athletic Trainers’ Association and the 2022 Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign - College of Applied Health Sciences. Dr. Bates is also currently the National Athletic Trainers' Association's DEIA Council Chair.
Tamesha Logan, MBA, CAE
Tamesha Logan is an accomplished leader with over 17 years of experience driving impact across national and global nonprofit organizations. Known for her strategic mindset and collaborative leadership, she has played a pivotal role in shaping and advancing organizational strategy, aligning departments to mission-critical goals, and strengthening stakeholder engagement at every level.
A trusted partner to boards and executive leadership, Tamesha has led enterprise-wide strategic planning initiatives—facilitating the development of measurable outcomes, operational alignment, and enhanced volunteer engagement. Her efforts have contributed to increased market opportunity, expanded partnerships, and meaningful improvements in organizational performance.
Over the past decade, she has also elevated brand value across multiple sectors through innovative marketing and communications. Her leadership has expanded visibility, deepened audience engagement, and opened new revenue pathways through multimedia advertising and national awareness campaigns, while garnering the support of high-profile philanthropists including Kobe Bryant, Ken Griffey Jr., and Mark Cuban. She has also cultivated partnerships with leading charitable organizations such as the Shaquille O’Neal Foundation, underscoring her ability to connect vision to influence and impact.
Tamesha has led media strategies that resulted in billions of national impressions and coverage from top-tier outlets including ESPN’s Outside the Lines, Forbes, The New York Times, USA Today, HuffPost, and the Associated Press. These efforts not only increased public awareness but also spurred best practices and policy change in critical areas like sports safety.
“Integrity guides me, grace steadies me, and purpose drives me. That is my professional truth.” This philosophy has shaped every role Tamesha has held—and continues to guide her commitment to meaningful leadership and lasting impact.
She earned a Bachelor of Arts from Sam Houston State University, an MBA from Texas Southern University, and a certificate in Organizational Leadership from Harvard Business School Online. Tamesha is a 2024–2026 DELP Scholar and a Certified Association Executive (CAE) with the American Society of Association Executives. She is also a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. -
Accessibility in athletic training is crucial for supporting patients through temporary or permanent disabilities. Athletic trainers (ATs) play a pivotal role in helping patients navigate the transition from being able-bodied to managing a disability, even if temporary. Whether through guiding patients to appropriate medical resources, providing adaptive strategies for recovery, or creating accessible environments for rehabilitation, ATs ensure that every patient is empowered during their recovery journey. This presentation will explore the vital role ATs play in understanding the accessibility landscape and advocating for patient needs, ensuring an inclusive and supportive process from injury to recovery.
Abstract:
Accessibility in athletic training is crucial for supporting patients through temporary or permanent disabilities. Athletic trainers (ATs) play a pivotal role in helping patients navigate the transition from being able-bodied to managing a disability, even if temporary. Whether through guiding patients to appropriate medical resources, providing adaptive strategies for recovery, or creating accessible environments for rehabilitation, ATs ensure that every patient is empowered during their recovery journey. This presentation will explore the vital role ATs play in understanding the accessibility landscape and advocating for patient needs, ensuring an inclusive and supportive process from injury to recovery.Learning Objectives:
- Identify the types of support patients will need for their type of disability.
- Identify types of medical resources available for AT supporting patients with disabilities.
- Explain the differences and types of temporary or potential permanent disabilities.
- Evaluate the resources that may be available within their setting.
Level:
AdvancedDomain(s):
Domain 1: Risk Reduction Wellness and Health Literacy
Domain 2: Assessment Evaluation and Diagnosis
Domain 4: Therapeutic Intervention
Domain 5: Health Care Administration and Professional ResponsibilityOrthopedic Domain(s):
Domain 1: Medical Knowledge
Domain 2: Procedural Knowledge
Domain 3: Professional PracticeCEUs:
1.0 Category AKeywords:
Accessibility; Accommodation: American Disability ActCourse Expiration:
This premium course offering must be completed within 12 months from the purchase date.
For full details, refer to the Expiration Date Policy on our FAQ page.James Murdock, MEd, ATC
Jim Murdock has been a Certified Athletic Trainer for 45 years. He received his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of New Hampshire and his Master’s from the University of Virginia.
He has been fortunate to work in a variety of settings throughout his career. He has held positions at the NCAA Div 1, 2 and 3 levels with roles as Assistant, Associate and Head Athletic Trainer. While at the University of Vermont he was the Head Athletic Trainer and Assistant Director for the UVM Center for Health & Well Being.
His passion has always been education and he has been a clinical preceptor, at many academic institutions and was on the faculty at Norwich University where he served at Athletic Trainer Education Program Director and Chair of the Health and Human Performance department.
Jim has been involved in a number of volunteer organizations such as Little League Baseball, Pop Warner Football, The Boston Marathon, Vermont City Marathon, Garden State Games and New Jersey High School Association, Vermont Principals Association and the Special Olympics.
Jim has served on state, district and national committees for the National Athletic Trainers Association and has served as President of the Vermont Association of Athletic Trainers. Currently he is serving as a member of the World Wheelchair Rugby Medical Advisory committee and the USOPC Medical Standards Committee.
He currently is the Medical Coordinator for USA Wheelchair Rugby, a role he has had since 2004.
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Autism or autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a fast-growing and misunderstood diagnosis and affects 1/36 children and 1/45 adults in the US. ASD refers to a broad range of conditions but is typically characterized by socialization challenges and verbal and nonverbal speech difficulty. Athletes with ASD require differentiated support systems than typically-developing athletes (e.g., palpation alternatives). In this presentation, I will discuss how clinicians can identify athletes with ASD, the unique challenges athletes with ASD present to clinicians (e.g., overstimulation, avoidance behaviors, clinician mistrust), and strategies clinicians can use to optimize care of this unique population.
Abstract:
Autism or autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a fast-growing and misunderstood diagnosis and affects 1/36 children and 1/45 adults in the US. ASD refers to a broad range of conditions but is typically characterized by socialization challenges and verbal and nonverbal speech difficulty. Athletes with ASD require differentiated support systems than typically-developing athletes (e.g., palpation alternatives). In this presentation, I will discuss how clinicians can identify athletes with ASD, the unique challenges athletes with ASD present to clinicians (e.g., overstimulation, avoidance behaviors, clinician mistrust), and strategies clinicians can use to optimize care of this unique population.Learning Objectives:
- Recognize signs of autism in athletes.
- Describe the unique challenges clinicians report when working with athletes with ASD.
- Analyze a case study of an athlete with autism to create an appropriate response based on the situation presented.
Level:
EssentialDomain(s):
Domain 1: Risk Reduction Wellness and Health Literacy
Domain 4: Therapeutic InterventionOrthopedic Domain(s):
N/ACEUs:
1.0 Category AKeywords:
Verbal, nonverbal, mental healthCourse Expiration:
This premium course offering must be completed within 12 months from the purchase date.
For full details, refer to the Expiration Date Policy on our FAQ page.Jennifer Ahrens, PhD
Dr. Ahrens is currently the director of Texas State Autism Camp and working towards completion of her Board Certification as a Behavior Analyst. Through her work as the camp director, she pursues her research agenda of developing pre-swim rituals and promoting safe swim habits among children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) to reduce the rate of drowning. Children with ASD have an incidence of drowning at 160 times when compared to their typically developing peers. In addition, she serves as a fellow for service-learning and the program coordinator for Physical Education Teacher Education at Texas State University.
