Cathy Ripmaster, MSPT

Cathy Ripmaster, MSPT is a school-based physical therapist at Lincoln Developmental Center, a center-based school servicing students who have complex disabilities within Kent County, Michigan between the ages of five to 26 years. Cathy is a certified Mobility Opportunities Via Education (MOVE™) International Trainer since 2001. She has provided numerous MOVE Basic Provider’s trainings to empower other therapists and her colleagues to promote students’ movement throughout their school day.

• • • Children with Complex Disabilities (CCD)
    • Posture and Mobility for CCD
    • School-based Practice

MOVE Basic Providers Training – 2 day (in person – presenter): Palmdale Public Schools – Palmdale CA (August 2025); Detroit Public Schools – Detroit MI (May 2025); Kent Intermediate School District – Grand Rapids MI (June 2023); Freedom Acres – Ionia MI (November 2019); Seiter Center – Greenville MI (2007)

MOVE Basic Providers Training – 1-day (presenter): Lincoln Development Center – Grand Rapids, MI: either annually or biannually from 2002-present

Rifton Pacer Positioning in Depth Series (presenter): 1. Pacer Positioning in depth Series Introduction; 2. Arm Prompt Positioning – In Depth; 3. Chest Prompt Positioning – In Depth; 4. When the Chest Prompt is Too High; 5. The Rainbow Technique; 6. Multi-Positioning Saddle – In Depth; 7. Positioning the Child with Kyphosis in the Pacer (Rifton Educational Video Series/Youtube Videos): June 2022

Achieving Activity-Based Intervention for the Student with Multiple Disabilities (co presenter): District of Columbia Public Schools – Washington DC (virtual live webinar): April 2021

MOVING Forward – Review of MOVE Steps 1-3 (presenter): Lincoln Developmental Center- Grand Rapids, MI (virtual): November 2020

Breaking Bad: Eccentric Control from Walking to Talking (teacher assistant) – Mary Massery Course (virtual): August 2020

Respiratory Issues With Individuals With Scoliosis and Compromised Respiratory Systems: Nursing Inservice (presenter): Kent Intermediate School District – Grand Rapids, MI: January 2020

MOVE to Read (co-presenter): Michigan MOVE Clinic – Ottawa Area Center, Allendale, MI: 2019

Rifton TRAM and EPacer Demonstration (presenter): Michigan MOVE Clinic – Ottawa Area Center, Allendale, MI: 2019

Lifting Students Safely with Proper Body Mechanics – Staff training (presenter): Lincoln Developmental Center – Grand Rapids, MI: January 2001, February 2003, April 2004, November 2009, November 2010, September 2014, September 2019, August 2022