2026 Joint Conference Schedule

Explore each day of the 2026 Joint Conference schedule below! Click on Friday or Saturday’s schedule day to expand the day’s overview. Then click on the each track to view the details of the session, level, and speaker. You may also view a PDF of each day’s schedule by clicking the button below each day.
Schedule is subject to change
Friday Schedule
7:30 AM Registration
8:00 AM Welcome Room EC 19
8:15 – 9:15 AM
ADULTS TRACK Room EC005
Leading Differently: Strategies for Supporting and Empowering Employees with ADHD in the Workplace Level: Introductory/Intermediate with speaker Ashley Adams Room-EC005
MULTI / ACADEMIA TRACK Room EC004
Making Professional Reasoning Visible: How OT Faculty Recognize, Describe, and Assess Student Development Level: Intermediate, Advanced with speaker Justine Eckhoff Room – EC004
9:15 – 9:30 AM EXHIBITS / BREAK
9:30 – 10:30 AM
PEDS TRACK Room EC006
Engaging Occupational Therapists in Community-Based Asthma Care for Children and Families Level: Introductory with speaker Lindsay Spell Room – EC006
ADULTS TRACK Room EC005
Why “Independent” Patients Fail at Home: Functional Cognition and Chronic Disease Self-Management (VIRTUAL) Level: Intermediate with speaker Gordon Tsubira Room – EE05
MULTI / ACADEMIA TRACK Room EC004
Retrospective Analysis of Factors Influencing First-Time Board Certification Pass Rates and Subsequent Integration of Exam Prep Software in an OTD Curriculum Level: Intermediate with speaker Crystal Gateley Room – EC004
10:45 AM KEYNOTE with AOTA President – Arameh Anvarizadeh, OTD, OTR/L, FAOTA Room EC 19
12:00 PM LUNCH / POSTERS Room EC 19
1:30 – 2:30 PM
ADULTS TRACK Room EC005
Management of the Chronic Minimally Active Upper Extremity Post-Stroke Level: Intermediate with speakers Sue Sandahl; Monica Radcliffe Room – EC005
MULTI / ACADEMIA TRACK Room EC004
Operationalizing Occupational Justice in OT Education: Preparing Practitioners to be Justice-Oriented Level: Intermediate with speakers Julia Henderson-Kalb; Elizabeth Kramer; Cindy Villanueva
Room – EC004
2:30 – 3:30 PM
PEDS TRACK Room EC006
Cut Documentation Time in Half: Practical AI Tools for School-Based Ots Level: Introductory with speaker Kami Bible Room – EC006
MULTI / ACADEMIA TRACK Room EC004
The Development of Therapeutic Use of Self Using Improvisation Principles: A Hands-on Workshop Level: Introductory with speaker Margaret Bassi Room – EC004
3:30 – 4:00 PM EXHIBITS / BREAK
4:00 – 5:00 PM
PEDS TRACK Room EC006
A Way Forward: Understanding the Journey of Children with Mental and/or Behavioral Health Concerns Level: Intermediate with speakers Brittney Stevenson; Tiffany Bolton; Catherine Suchocki Room – EC006
MULTI / ACADEMIA TRACK Room EC004
Growing the OT Workforce in the Heartland: Collaborative Strategies for Rural and Emerging Practice Level: Intermediate with speaker Melissa Kimmerling Room – EC004
5:00 PM RECEPTION / ADVOCACY GATHERING Room EC 19
Join us for advocacy highlights from all 3 states:
Candice Mullendore, MS, OTR/L (Nebraska)
Ashley Adams, MOT, OTR/L (Iowa)
Lindsay Bright, OTD, OTR/L (Missouri)
Maria Lindbergh, MOT, OTR/L, ECHM (Missouri)
Saturday Schedule
8:00 AM COFFEE / POSTERS Room EC 19
8:00 – 10:00 AM Special 2-Hour Workshop (PEDS track)
The SWITCHED Adapted Toy Program: Using Occupation-Focused, Active Learning Experiences to Promote Critical Thinking Skills ($30 materials Fee ) Level: Introductory/Intermediate with facilitator Sarah Zimmerman Room – EC006
9:00 – 10:00 AM
ADULTS TRACK Room EC004
Detangle the Barriers: Supporting Textured Hair Through an OT Lens Level: Introductory/Intermediate with speaker Taylor Walker Room – EC004
MULTI / ACADEMIA TRACK Room EC005
Beyond the Pillbox: Introducing the OT-MAP for Functional Medication Adherence Level: Intermediate. Advanced with speakers Laura Landon; Bismah Syed Room – EC005
10:00 – 11:00 AM
PEDS TRACK Room EC006
Real-World Application of Occupational Performance Coaching in Pediatric OT Level: Intermediate with speakers Suja Chandrasekaran; Haven Herndon Room – EC006
ADULTS TRACK Room EC004
Beyond Baby Blues: The Occupational Intersection Between ADHD and Perinatal Mental Health Level: Introductory/Intermediate/Advanced with speaker Sophia Larson Room – EC004
MULTI / ACADEMIA TRACK Room EC005
Think Bigger Together: Community as Infrastructure for OT Intrapreneurship and Entrepreneurship Level: Advanced with speaker Brandy Archie Room – EC005
11:00 – 11:15 AM EXHIBITS / BREAK
11:15 AM – 12:15 PM
PEDS TRACK Room EC006
I-INSPIRE: Understanding Sensory Integration Practices in Iowa Level: Intermediate, Advanced with speakers Jordan Bell; Jennifer Petersen; Katie Funk Room – EC006
ADULTS TRACK Room EC004
SOS–Adult Fall Prevention Training™: A Whole-Person, OT-Driven Solution for Older Adult Fall Prevention at Home, in the Community, and at Work Level: Intermediate with speaker Gwendolyn R. Pearl Room – EC004
MULTI / ACADEMIA TRACK Room EC005
Emerging Occupational Therapy Programs for Community Mental Health Agencies Using a Novel Model of Funding Level: Intermediate with speakers Quinn Tyminski; Kailin Lust Room – EC005
12:15 PM EXHIBITS / BREAK
12:30 – 2:00 PM JOINT BUSINESS MEETING / TOWN HALL/LUNCH Business Meetings for Iowa Occupational Therapy Association, Nebraska Occupational Therapy Association, and Missouri Occupational Therapy Association Room EC 19
2:00 – 3:00 PM
PEDS TRACK Room EC006
“What Strategies Can We Try?”: Best Practices and Applications in Treatment of Executive Functioning Difficulties in Children and Adolescents Level: Intermediate with speakers Margaret Bassi; Jane Lavelle Room – EC006
ADULTS TRACK Room EC004
Beyond the Scale: Providing Bariatric Care Without Bias — Trauma-Informed, Occupation-Focused Care for Plus-Size and Bariatric Clients Level: Introductory with speaker Laura Raastad Room – EC004
MULTI / ACADEMIA TRACK Room EC004
NBCOT® National Certification Exam: Information You Need to Know Level: Introductory with speaker Nicole Kuhl Room – EC005
3:00 – 4:00 PM
PEDS TRACK Room EC006
Empowering Families: Occupational Therapy’s Role in Supporting the Mental Health of Children and Their Caregivers with speakers Jessica McHugh Conlin; Aimee Piller Room – EC006
ADULTS TRACK Room EC004
Somatic Attunement: Autism and Intersubjectivity: A Somatic Perspective Level: Introductory/Intermediate with speaker Michelle Coletti Room-EC004
MULTI / ACADEMIA TRACK Room EC005
Fascia-Informed OT Practice: Anatomy, Function, and New Possibilities with speaker Amy Mayer Room – EC005
4:00 – 5:00 PM
PEDS TRACK Room EC006
From Evaluation to Community Participation: A Video Case Study of Ayres Sensory Integration® in Pediatric Practice With Mentorship in Action Level: Intermediate with speaker Teresa Grueter; Jennifer Petersen Room – EC006
ADULTS TRACK Room EC004
Promoting Self-Determination Through Charting the LifeCourse: Practical Applications for Occupational Therapy Level: Introductory with speaker Marie Clark; Lauren Holmes Room – EC004
MULTI / ACADEMIA TRACK Room EC005
Occupational Futility: A Framework for Ethical Decision-Making in Occupational Therapy Level: Intermediate with speaker Donald Kallembach Room – EC005
5:00 PM CONCLUSION
