APDA Northwest is proud to present a series of free virtual workshops designed to give you practical tools and techniques to help you improve your quality of life with PD.
Next Session
Understanding Balance & Falls in Parkinson’s
📅 Wednesdays in June – 3, 10, 17, 24
⏰ 2:30pm – 3:30pm Pacific Time
📍 On Zoom
This is a structured 4‑week series, not a drop‑in program. Each session builds on the one before it.
Session will be recorded and posted on the APDA Northwest YouTube channel
ABOUT
Living with Parkinson’s doesn’t mean giving up balance, safety, or confidence. This four‑week educational series focuses on helping people understand their balance, strengthen key skills, and move with greater ease and assurance in everyday life.
Participants will learn practical, evidence‑based strategies to improve balance, navigate real‑world challenges, and build confidence—both before and after a fall. The emphasis is on what you can do, not on limitation.
What we’ll work on (across the 4 weeks):
Session 1: Understanding Balance & Falls in Parkinson’s
Key topics
- How Parkinson’s affects balance (bradykinesia, rigidity, postural instability, sensory integration)
- Why falls happen in PD (freezing, dual tasking, turning, fatigue, medications)
- Common myths (“I just tripped,” “I’m clumsy now”)
- Red flags that increase fall risk
- Why exercise is protective (neuroplasticity, strength, reaction time)
Take-home: Falls are not inevitable, and balance can be trained.
Session 2: Training the Balance Systems (What to Practice & Why)
Key topics
- The 4 balance systems:
- Strength & power
- Sensory (vision, vestibular, proprioception)
- Anticipatory balance
- Reactive balance
- Why traditional “balance exercises” aren’t enough
- Evidence-based balance training for PD
- How intensity and challenge matter
- Demonstrations of scalable exercises
Take-home: Balance improves with the right kind of challenge—not by being careful.
Session 3: Falls Prevention in Daily Life (Real-World Strategies)
Key topics
- High-risk situations: turning, doorways, crowds, carrying objects, multitasking
- Freezing of gait and falls
- Cueing strategies (visual, auditory, cognitive)
- Home and community modifications that actually matter
- Footwear, assistive devices, and when they help vs hurt
- Medication timing and fatigue management
Take-home: Most falls are predictable—and therefore preventable.
Session 4: Recovering Confidence & Getting Up After a Fall
Goal: Address fear and resilience
Key topics
- Fear of falling and activity avoidance
- How confidence affects gait and balance
- Practicing safe falling and floor recovery
- When to call for help vs self-recovery
- Building a long-term balance plan
- Role of caregivers and support systems
Take-home: Confidence is a skill that can be trained.
FACILITATED BY
Nate Coomer, PT, DPT, NCS, Owner
Founder of The Parkinson’s Fitness Project
Nate is a Doctor of Physical Therapy who has been working with neurologic diagnoses as a physical therapist for over ten years. He received his certification as a Neurologic Specialist in 2010 by the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialities and has centered most of his work in the past four years to treating Parkinson’s, gaining certifications in LSVT BIG, and Parkinson’s Wellness Recovery (PWR!). He regularly participates in community events and educational opportunities for the PD community with APDA Northwest and the Northwest Parkinson’s Foundation. Outside of his career, you can usually find him running frantically after his two small children throughout the streets of Seattle.
Jennie Broder Allex, PT, DPT, NCS
Jennie is a Doctor of Physical Therapy who has been working with individuals with neurologic conditions for 15+ years. Originally from Wisconsin, she graduated from the University of Wisconsin, Madison in 2006. She has worked in a variety of physical therapy settings across the country including: Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco. She settled in Seattle with her husband and three children in 2022. Jennie has a passion for empowering individuals with Parkinson’s disease to improve the quality of their lives through education and exercise. She enjoys being an active member of the Parkinson’s community and staying up-to-date on the latest research. When she is not in the clinic, Jennie can be found with a cup of coffee in hand exploring Seattle with her family.
Current Session
📣 PD Voice Lab: Building the Ultimate Voice & Speech Home Practice Program
📅 Thursdays in April – 9, 16, 23, 30 & May 7
*NOTE: The session on April 16 is canceled.
A new makeup session will occur on Thursday, May 7.
⏰ 10:30am – 11:30am Pacific Time
📍 On Zoom
This is a structured 4‑week series, not a drop‑in program. Each session builds on the one before it.
Session will be recorded and posted on the APDA Northwest YouTube channel
ABOUT
Communication changes are common in Parkinson’s — but they don’t have to limit connection, confidence, or participation in daily life.
In this hands-on, highly interactive four-week workshop, Sarah Awde will guide participants in building their own personalized Parkinson’s voice and speech home practice program — step by step, together as a group.
Each session focuses on doing, not just learning. Participants will practice simple, evidence-informed exercises in real time, try out practical tools, and share experiences in a supportive environment. Every week builds on the last so that, by the end of the series, each person leaves with a realistic, motivating routine they can actually keep up with at home.
What we’ll work on (across the 4 weeks):
- The Power of the Breath — breath as the engine for strong, clear speech (including EMST)
- Let’s Get LOUD! — core voice exercises for louder, steadier communication
- SPEAK Clearly — strategies to be better understood in everyday conversations
- Fight Against Facial Masking — gentle exercises to boost expression and connection
Participants will also discuss how to stay motivated, consistent, and confident with their home practice long after the workshop ends.
FACILITATED BY
Sarah Awde, Masters of Clinical Science in Speech-Language Pathology
Get LOUD! Stay LOUD!
Sarah Awde is the Founder of Silver Speech Innovations, with a Master of Clinical Science in Speech-Language Pathology and 20 years of experience supporting adults with communication challenges related to neurological conditions.
Previous Series
Recordings can be found on the APDA Northwest YouTube Channel
Cognitive Fitness
People with Parkinson’s disease may experience cognitive changes. The importance of maintaining brain health and understanding modifiable factors that impact brain function is the key to cognitive fitness. Learning strategies to improve cognitive functioning in everyday life will be the focus of this seminar. This will be an interactive seminar with tasks and activities that will be assigned after each session and discussed the following week.
Topics Covered: Lifestyle Factors that Impact Brain Function, Executive Functioning, Mood and Brain Function, Cognitive Training
Facilitated By: Karen Torres, Psy.D.
Neuropsychologist
UW Medicine
Held May of 2025
Caregiving Considerations: Positioning and Transfers – a focus on mobility & safety
In this session we will focus on practical tools for the Care Partner. We welcome back Occupational Therapist, Heidi Huynh from Ascend Therapy Services who will share practical skills and tools that will help you safely assist a loved one a loved one in a variety of areas.
It is often something small that can make a big difference, and you will come away from this 4-week series having learned the small things that will help you to feel more confident, safe, and relaxed while caring for your loved one.
Facilitated By Heidi Huynh, OTR, CTRS
Occupational Therapist
Ascend Therapy Services
Held March of 2025
4 Weeks to PD-PRO: Optimizing Your Diet with Parkinson’s Disease
Description:
In this four-week course, you will learn about the PD-PRO diet and its connection improved quality of life with Parkinson’s disease, how to manage common Parkinson’s symptoms, transitioning to a plant-based diet, and the role of diet in reducing inflammation and supporting brain health. Acquire the knowledge and tools to integrate brain-protective foods into your daily meals, all while optimizing nutrition and flavor.
Facilitated by Kelly Morrow, MS, RDN, FAND
Registered Dietitian Nutritionist
Seattle Integrative Medicine
Held in Jan-Feb 2024
Hand On Helpful Caregiving
Description
Throughout these workshops you will learn how to help the one you care for help themselves, using a variety of techniques including adaptive tools, simple modifications to the environment, and adjusting positioning / using proper ergonomics. You will come away with the tools needed to put these techniques into action and the understanding of how big changes can result from even little adjustments. This will allow you and those you care for to work as a team throughout the day.
Facilitated By Heidi Huynh, OTR, CTRS
Occupational Therapist
Ascend Therapy Services
Held in March of 2024
Finessing Fine Motor Skills
Description
We use our hands and our fine motor skills throughout many tasks on a daily basis. During this workshop series you will not only learn about tools and techniques to maximize your fine motor skills at home, but also participate in exercises and activities as a group together. Work alongside each other as we strengthen, stretch, and coordinate these precise muscles to maximize independence and accuracy throughout daily activity.
Facilitated By Heidi Huynh, OTR, CTRS
Occupational Therapist
Ascend Therapy Services
Held in May of 2024
Beat the Freeze
Description
Freezing of gait can cause people with Parkinson’s Disease to feel stuck in their tracks. During this workshop series, we will discuss the complexities of why freezing occurs. You will learn practical tools that physical therapists utilize to help manage freezing episodes.
Facilitated by Dr. Jennie Allex & Dr. Nate Coomer
Physical Therapists
Parkinson’s Fitness Project
Held in August of 2024
SERIES #5
Power Up Your Voice
Description
Take control of your voice and fight back against the changes Parkinson’s can bring. In this 4-week series you’ll learn techniques and tools to keep your voice strong, clear, and confident. With expert guidance and practical exercises, you’ll gain the skills to maintain your vocal strength and communication abilities for the long haul. Don’t wait for changes – be proactive in preserving your voice!
Facilitated by Jessica Aubin, MS CCC-SLP
Speech-Language Pathologist
Aubin Speech & Language Center
Held in November 2024