Home2025 Conference Sessions

Preliminary Conference Sessions

This year's conference offers a wide array of sessions designed to provide valuable insights and practical skills for occupational therapy practitioners at every career stage. The sessions are organized by tracks to help attendees easily navigate the offerings and find content relevant to their interests, from pediatrics and mental health to home modifications and emerging practice areas.

These sessions are designed to help you stay current with the latest trends, overcome common practice barriers, and enhance the efficacy of your evaluations and treatments. We are currently working to finalize the physical conference schedule, including specific times for each session.

Check out the sessions below, separated by tracks, to learn more about what's being offered at the conference.

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PEDS

The Sensory and Motor Benefits of a School Garden Program
Presenter: Gabrielle Gardner, PT, OTR/L
Description: This presentation helps occupational therapy practitioners advocate for and utilize school gardening programs as a therapeutic activity by breaking down the sensory and motor benefits of various gardening tasks.
Level: Introductory

A Developmental and Neuroscience Based Foundation for Child Educators
Presenter: Gabrielle Gardner, PT, OTR/L
Description: Attendees will learn a format for educating teachers from an OT perspective, offering a neuroscience-based approach to child development and providing practical examples of sensory and motor practices for classrooms.
Level: Introductory & Intermediate

The Developmental Benefits of a Great Playground
Presenter: Gabrielle Gardner
Description: This session explores how good playground design can enhance optimal motor and sensory development in children. Participants will learn how to use playground equipment to achieve therapeutic outcomes.
Level: Introductory & Intermediate

Snack Buddies: Supporting Snack Time, Nutrition, & Parent Connection
Presenter: Sarah Zimmerman, OTD, OTR/L
Description: This presentation details the "Snack Buddies" program, an interdisciplinary group for children with autism spectrum disorder designed to increase mealtime participation, social communication, and dietary variety.
Level: Introductory

Occupational Therapy in RTI/MTSS: Defining Roles, Overcoming Barriers, Driving Change
Presenter: Haven Herndon
Description: This session defines the scope of occupational therapy within Response to Intervention (RTI) and to Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) frameworks and provides tools and advocacy strategies to increase OT involvement.
Level: Intermediate

Just Breathe! Enhancing School-Based OT with Mindfulness
Presenter: Neha Chugh-Gupta
Description: This introductory session provides practical strategies for integrating mindfulness into pediatric occupational therapy sessions to enhance effectiveness and improve children's self-regulation and emotional well-being.

Level: Introductory

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Community / EM Practice / Mental Health Sessions

The Sensory and Motor Benefits of a School Garden Program

Presenter: Gabrielle Gardner, PT, OTR/L
Description: This presentation aims to help occupational therapy practitioners advocate for and use school gardening programs as a therapeutic activity. It does this by outlining the sensory and motor benefits of various gardening tasks.
Level: Introductory

A Developmental and Neuroscience Based Foundation for Child Educators

Presenter: Gabrielle Gardner, PT, OTR/L
Description: This presentation provides a format for OTs to educate teachers on a neuroscience-based approach to child development. It also includes practical examples of sensory and motor practices for classroom use.
Level: Introductory & Intermediate

The Developmental Benefits of a Great Playground

Presenter: Gabrielle Gardner
Description: This session explores how well-designed playgrounds can enhance children's optimal motor and sensory development. Participants will learn how to use playground equipment to achieve therapeutic results.
Level: Introductory & Intermediate

Snack Buddies: Supporting Snack Time, Nutrition, & Parent Connection

Presenter: Sarah Zimmerman, OTD, OTR/L
Description: This presentation details the "Snack Buddies" program. The program is an interdisciplinary group designed for children with autism spectrum disorder, with the goal of increasing mealtime participation, social communication, and dietary variety.
Level: Introductory

Occupational Therapy in RTI/MTSS: Defining Roles, Overcoming Barriers, Driving Change

Presenter: Haven Herndon
Description: This session defines the scope of occupational therapy within Response to Intervention (RTI) and Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) frameworks. It also provides tools and advocacy strategies to increase OT involvement.
Level: Intermediate

Just Breathe! Enhancing School-Based OT with Mindfulness

Presenter: Neha Chugh-Gupta
Description: This introductory session offers practical strategies for incorporating mindfulness into pediatric occupational therapy sessions. The aim is to enhance effectiveness and improve children's self-regulation and emotional well-being.
Level: Introductory

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Adult / Rehab

People and their Pets - A review of literature & discussion

Presenter: Christy Gorman, COTA/L
Description: This session will review the literature on the human-animal bond and discuss how occupational therapy practitioners can assist hospitalized patients who are anxious about their pets. The goal is to improve patient outcomes and morale.
Level: Introductory

Enhancing Acute Care: An Evaluation Protocol for Lower Extremity Amputees

Presenter: Laura Landon, Nicole Grames, Madison Niessen
Description: This presentation outlines the development of a standardized, evidence-based evaluation protocol for occupational therapists working with lower extremity amputees in acute care. It focuses on improving consistency and patient outcomes.
Level: Intermediate

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Education / Professional / Advocacy

Adapting Fieldwork for Success: Tips from the CI Perspective

Presenter: Claire Schueler, MSOT, OTR/L
Description: This session offers clinical instructors practical tips and interventions for adapting fieldwork experiences to better support students and track their progress in a meaningful way.
Level: Intermediate

Supporting Neurodivergent Students in Fieldwork

Presenter: Michelle Furman
Description: Based on a research study, this presentation provides fieldwork educators with knowledge and skills to support neurodivergent occupational therapy students. It identifies optimal teaching approaches and addresses common barriers.
Level: Intermediate

NBCOT® National Certification Exam: Information You Need to Know

Presenter: Cheryl Strickland
Description: An NBCOT Ambassador will share valuable information about the national OTR and COTA certification exams, including the application process, preparation strategies, and study tools.
Level: Introductory

Advocacy in Action: Protecting OT Practice in Missouri

Presenter: Lindsay Bright, OTD, OTR/L, Maria Lindbergh, MOT, OTR/L, ECHM, Claire Schueler, MSOT, OTR/L
Description: This session focuses on the importance of advocacy for occupational therapy in Missouri. It will cover key legislative issues and provide attendees with actionable strategies to engage in advocacy at individual and organizational levels.
Level: Introductory

Proof That You Are Right!: Effectiveness of virtual OT and adaptive equipment for improving health outcomes and how you can build a program in your community.

Presenter: Brandy Archie, OTD, OTR/L, CLIP
Description: This session highlights the outcomes of a program that used virtual OT assessments and adaptive equipment to help older adults age in place. It will show how OTs can use technology to reduce falls and healthcare costs.
Level: Intermediate & Advanced

Missouri's OT School-Based Practice Guidelines Updates

Presenter: Jacque Sample
Description: This presentation will inform school-based occupational therapy practitioners about the updated Missouri School-Based Practice Guidelines and how to use the new document to support the full scope of OT practice.
Level: Intermediate

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Posters

PEDS Posters

Exploring the experiences of caregivers of children in special education at schools: Needs, barriers, and strengths – A phenomenological study design

Presenter: Suja Angelin Chandrasekaran
Description: This poster presents the findings of a qualitative study that explored the needs, barriers, and strengths perceived by caregivers of children in special education in an urban school district.
Level: Intermediate

Occupational Therapists in Tiered Interventions in School Based Practice in Missouri

Presenter: Haven Herndon
Description: This poster highlights the current state of Response to Intervention (RTI) and Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) in Missouri schools and explains how occupational therapy practitioners can be involved in supporting students across these tiered systems.
Level: Introductory

Rehabilitation Posters

Small Gestures, Big Impact: Supporting Therapist Well-being

Presenter: Salsabeel Ahmad Bader
Description: This poster emphasizes the importance of therapist well-being for effective patient care. It showcases simple, creative activities that can be used to boost energy and promote a positive work culture.
Level: Introductory

Therapeutic Horticulture: Cultivating Health and Community Well-being through Interprofessional Collaborative Practice

Presenter: Peggy Beckley, PhD, EdD, OTD, OTR/L, FAOTA, Prajakta Khare-Ranade, EdD, RDN, LD, CDCES, FAND, Mary Falcetti, EdD, OTR/L, FAOTA
Description: This poster explores how therapeutic horticulture can be integrated into occupational therapy practice. It highlights the importance of interprofessional collaboration with horticultural therapists and registered dietitian nutritionists to promote health and community well-being.
Level: Introductory

Mental Health Posters

Promoting Healing Environment Through Renovating Courtyard in Inpatient Psychiatry Unit to Inspire Change through Horticulture OT Groups

Presenter: Caroline Lurie, Allison Sullivan, DOT, OTR/L, ECMH-E, Amy Mueller, OTR/L, CLT, CSRP
Description: This poster demonstrates the value of occupational therapy in an inpatient psychiatric setting by showcasing a grant-funded project to renovate a courtyard. The project created a safe outdoor space for patients to engage in meaningful occupations like horticulture.
Level: Introductory

Innovative practices to reduce stigma in pediatric mental health

Presenter: Tiffany Bolton
Description: This poster discusses the impact of stigma on accessing mental health services for children and offers innovative ways for OTs to reduce this stigma, particularly through social media platforms like podcasts.
Level: Introductory

Geriatrics Poster

Occupational Therapy's Role in Accessible Design for Aging in Place

Presenter: Ashley Roberts Dulany
Description: This poster defines the distinct value of occupational therapy in accessible home design for older adults who wish to age in place. It reviews existing literature and discusses future advancements for the OT's role in this area.
Level: Introductory