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Upcoming events

    • 20 Mar 2025
    • 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM
    • Zoom
    Register


    Date and Time: 3/20/2025 from 6:00-7:00 p.m.

    Chairperson(s): Lisa Boyajian Kyle Brennan


    Location:  Zoom - to be sent out day before the event


    Title: Advocacy and the OTA


    Speaker- Lisa Boyajian, Kylie Brennan

    Learning Objectives: 

    1. Participant will identify two benefits of advocating for OTAs
    2. Participants will identify two ways to advocate for OTAS
    3. Participants will identify one strategy that can be used in their professional careers to advocate for OTAs

    Bio/Focus

    Advocating for the role of Occupational Therapy Assistants (OTAs) is crucial in ensuring their professional recognition and the effective delivery of patient care. OTAs play a vital role in supporting occupational therapists, contributing significantly to client rehabilitation and overall care plans. As demand for rehabilitation services increases, the need for OTAs in diverse settings becomes more pronounced (AOTA, 2020). OTAs are essential in improving client outcomes, particularly in mental health and pediatric care (Smith & Johnson, 2021). However, challenges such as limited professional recognition and varying state regulations hinder their potential (Williams, 2019). Advocacy efforts focusing on enhancing education, certification standards, and legislative support for OTAs can address these challenges and help integrate them more fully into healthcare teams. Strengthening the visibility and impact of OTAs can improve not only their professional standing but also the quality and accessibility of occupational therapy services. The group will discuss strategies to employ in our professional work to advocate for OTAs including but limited to professional development, legislation, and public education. Advocating can impact the recognition of OTAs.


    **References**  

    AOTA. (2020). *The role of OT assistants in the changing healthcare environment*. American Journal of Occupational Therapy.  

    Smith, L., & Johnson, M. (2021). *OTAs in pediatric rehabilitation: Enhancing client outcomes*. Journal of Pediatric Occupational Therapy.  

    Williams, R. (2019). *Challenges facing occupational therapy assistants: A call for advocacy*. Occupational Therapy Journal.


    Registration will close on Wednesday, March 19, 2025, at 4:00 p.m.

    • 24 Mar 2025
    • 6:30 PM - 7:30 PM
    • Zoom
    Register

    Date and Time: March 24, 2025, 6:30-7:30 p.m.

    Chairperson: Laurie Cecchi, OT

    Location:  Zoom - to be sent out day before the event

    Title: Dementia:  Not a Normal Part of Aging

    Speaker: Laurie Cecchi, OT


    Learning Objectives: 


    1. Review Dementia and Causes of Dementia
    2. Review Symptoms of Dementia and Associated Behaviors
    3. Review Stages of Dementia and Interventions with a Focus on Stages 4-6

    Bio/Focus: 

    Laurie Cecchi, OT, OTR, CAPS (Certified Aging in Place Specialist), CDCS (Certified Dementia Care Specialist) is a highly respected dementia specialist with 35 years of experience in clinical practice. With a strong passion for improving the quality of life for individuals affected by dementia, Laurie has dedicated her career to advancing knowledge, care practices, and policy changes in this critical area. Laurie is currently a full time professor at Springfield Technical Community College in the Occupational Therapy Assistant program. Prior to her employment at STCC, she worked for more than a decade on the national clinical practice team for Genesis Rehab Services, serving as the Massachusetts dementia consultant for more than 20 facilities throughout the state. Laurie has been a featured speaker at both national and state conferences where she has shared insights on aging in place with individuals living with dementia, effective therapeutic approaches, and early identification.   



    References:

    https://www.alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/difference-between-dementia-and-alzheimer-s

    https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/lewy-body-dementia/symptoms-causes/syc-20352025

    https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/lewy-body-dementia/symptoms-causes/syc-20352025

    https://www.alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/10-steps

    https://www.alzheimers.gov/life-with-dementia/tips-caregivers

    https://www.alz.org/

    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6858232/

    https://dementiapathways.ie/_filecache/04a/ddd/98-painad.pdf

    https://www.alz.org/blog/alz/february_2012/caregivers_take_note_%E2%80%93_music_as_therapy

    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7116251/

    https://www.alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/what-is-dementia/types-of-dementia/dementia-with-lewy-bodies

    https://www.ucsfhealth.org/conditions/frontotemporal-dementia/symptoms#:~:text=With%20FTD%2C%20unusual%20or%20antisocial,muscle%20weakness%20or%20difficulty%20swallowing.

    https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/vascular-dementia/symptoms-causes/syc-20378793

    This event's registration will close on March 23, 2025, at 4:00 p.m.


    • 27 Mar 2025
    • 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM
    • Zoom
    Register

    Date and Time: Thursday March 27, 2025 - 6-7:30pm

    Chairperson(s): Emily Walker, OT, OTR, Allyson Lewis, OT, OTR, Rosa Colorado, OT, OTR

    Location:  Zoom - to be sent out day before the event

    Title: Goal Writing in Mental Health OT: Best Practices for Better Outcomes

    Speaker: Emily Walker, OT, OTR

    Learning Objectives: 
    By the end of the session, participants will:

    1. Understand the significance of client collaboration in developing treatment plans and setting meaningful occupational therapy goals.
    2. Explore effective techniques for creating SMART goals tailored to mental health OT practice.
    3. Demonstrate the ability to formulate SMART goals by applying key principles to case studies.

    Bio/Focus:

    The upcoming Mental Health SIG will focus on the art of goal writing in mental health occupational therapy practice. Crafting effective goals not only enhances client outcomes but also highlights the profession’s critical role in promoting mental health and well-being. This session will provide participants with the opportunity to reflect on their current goal-writing practices, explore evidence-based strategies for improvement, and apply these principles through interactive case studies.

    Emily Walker, OT, OTR, is a seasoned occupational therapist and senior clinical supervisor at a nonprofit agency serving children and youth in residential settings. She oversees multidisciplinary teams, including occupational therapists, to ensure residents receive high-quality care and achieve successful health and discharge outcomes.

    References:


    Connors, E. H., Douglas, S., Jensen-Doss, A., Landes, S. J., Lewis, C. C., McLeod, B. D., ... & Lyon, A. R. (2021). What gets measured gets done: How mental health agencies can leverage measurement-based care for better patient care, clinician supports, and organizational goals. Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research, 48, 250-265.

    Martin-Cook, K., Palmer, L., Thornton, L., Rush, A. J., Tamminga, C. A., & Ibrahim, H. M. (2021). Setting measurement-based care in motion: practical lessons in the implementation and integration of measurement-based care in psychiatry clinical practice. Neuropsychiatric disease and treatment, 1621-1631.

    Saito, Y., Tomori, K., Sawada, T., Takahashi, S., Nakatsuka, S., Sugawara, H., ... & Levack, W. (2021). Determining whether occupational therapy goals match between pairs of occupational therapists and their clients: a cross-sectional study. Disability and rehabilitation, 43(6), 828-833.

    Registration will be closed for this event at 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 26, 2025.

    • 10 Apr 2025
    • 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM
    • Zoom
    Register


Past Events

15 Mar 2025 2025 MAOT Spring Conference
27 Feb 2025 MH SIG - Multimedia & Digital Interventions to Promote Self Efficacy in Acute Care Settings
06 Feb 2025 New England Occupational Therapy Collaborative - Implicit Bias
28 Jan 2025 SPTP SIG - The School-Based Medicaid Program (SBMP)-Overview and Updates
23 Jan 2025 MH SIG - Occupational Therapist’s Role in Children and Adolescent Mental Health (A Capstone Project)
15 Jan 2025 MAOT Advocacy SIG
08 Jan 2025 Acute Care SIG
19 Nov 2024 MH SIG - Yoga for Occupational Therapy Practitioners: How Meditation, Breathwork, and Yoga Practices Can Support You and Your Persons’ Served
14 Nov 2024 Board Meeting - Annual Business Meeting
01 Nov 2024 MAOT/RIOTA 2024 Annual Conference
24 Oct 2024 MH SIG - The Family Sensory Environment: An Intervention Area for OTP’s in Family Therapy
21 Oct 2024 Advocacy SIG - AOTA Hill Day 2024: Highlights, Updates and More!
17 Oct 2024 SPTP SIG - Collaboration and Networking
26 Sep 2024 MH SIG - Gender Affirming Care and Occupational Therapy
18 Jul 2024 OTA SIG
27 Jun 2024 MH SIG - Psychodrama & OT: An Encounter
13 Jun 2024 Board Meeting
04 Jun 2024 Advocacy SIG - State Policy Across the Country: Compact, Mental Health and More!
30 May 2024 SPTP SIG
29 May 2024 MH SIG - Occupational Therapy in Congregate Care
15 May 2024 Acute Care SIG
17 Apr 2024 MH SIG - Collaborative Connection: A Model of Mentorship for Occupational Therapy Practitioners Practicing in Behavioral and Mental Health Settings
11 Apr 2024 Board Meeting
21 Mar 2024 MH SIG - Music Therapy and Occupational Therapy, How to Collaborate in a Mental Health Setting
20 Feb 2024 Advocacy SIG - OT Federal Legislative Priorities for 2024 with Andy Bopp
08 Feb 2024 Board Meeting
31 Jan 2024 Mental Health SIG - To Evaluate or not to Evaluate, that is the Question
22 Jan 2024 SPTP SIG: Neurodiversity Affirming Practice and Resources
06 Dec 2023 Acute Care SIG - Where is Rehab in Palliative Care?
16 Nov 2023 MH SIG - Functional Neurological Disorders
09 Nov 2023 MAOT Annual Business Meeting - Public
03 Nov 2023 MAOT/RIOTA 2023 Annual Conference
23 Oct 2023 SPTP SIG
18 Oct 2023 MH SIG - Community Re-Entry Support Services for Justice-Involved Persons
03 Oct 2023 Advocacy SIG
28 Sep 2023 Mental Health SIG Practice Chat
19 Jul 2023 Acute Care SIG
27 Jun 2023 Advocacy SIG
21 Jun 2023 Mental Health SIG - Occupational Therapy’s Role in Addressing the Mental Health Needs
12 Jun 2023 SPTP SIG
18 May 2023 Mental Health SIG
11 May 2023 MAOT Board Meeting
01 May 2023 Environmental Action: An Introductory Overview for Occupational Therapy Practitioners
27 Apr 2023 MAOT Licensure and Continuing Education Town Hall
13 Apr 2023 MAOT Advocacy Town Hall - Meet & Greet with MA Legislators and Lobbyists
12 Apr 2023 MAOT Advocacy Town Hall - SOTA Groups Unite: Let’s Advocate in Numbers!
11 Apr 2023 MAOT Advocacy Town Hall-Federal Advocacy 101: An Update from AOTA's Federal Affairs Team
10 Apr 2023 MAOT Advocacy Town Hall: An Intro to OT Legislation in Massachusetts
16 Mar 2023 Mental Health SIG - Working with Individuals with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
09 Mar 2023 MAOT Board Meeting
01 Mar 2023 Acute Care SIG
28 Feb 2023 School, Pediatric and Transition Planning SIG
15 Feb 2023 Mental Health SIG
07 Feb 2023 Compact Town Hall Meeting
31 Jan 2023 School, Pediatric and Transition Planning (SPTP) SIG
19 Jan 2023 Mental Health SIG
12 Jan 2023 MAOT Board Meeting
21 Dec 2022 Worcester Mental Health SIG
12 Dec 2022 School, Pediatric, and Transition Planning SIG Virtual Meeting
06 Dec 2022 MAOT Advocacy Group
17 Nov 2022 Metrowest Mental Health SIG
10 Nov 2022 MAOT Board Meeting
01 Nov 2022 Western Mass Mental Health SIG
28 Oct 2022 MAOT Annual Conference 2022
19 Oct 2022 Worcester Mental Health SIG
05 Oct 2022 MAOT Acute Care Special Interest Group
29 Sep 2022 Metrowest MH SIG meeting
21 Sep 2022 Virtual Mentoring for New OTPs and OT/OTA students
13 Sep 2022 MAOT Advocacy Group
06 Jul 2022 Acute Care Special Interest Group
22 Jun 2022 Worcester Mental Health SIG
14 Jun 2022 The AOTA 2022 Bylaws: What You Need to Know to Make an Informed Decision
31 May 2022 MAOT Advocacy Special Interest Group
19 May 2022 Mental Health Special Interest Group
17 May 2022 Virtual Mentoring for New OTPs and OT/OTA students
28 Apr 2022 MAOT Private Practice Town Hall
26 Apr 2022 MAOT Pediatric Practice and Transition Planning Special Interest Group Virtual Meeting
20 Apr 2022 Worcester Mental Health SIG Presentation
23 Mar 2022 Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
17 Mar 2022 Mental Health Special Interest Group
15 Mar 2022 Virtual Mentoring for New OTPs and OT/OTA students
02 Mar 2022 MAOT Acute Care Special Interest Group
28 Feb 2022 Pediatric Practice and Transition Planning Special Interest Group Virtual Meeting
16 Feb 2022 Worcester Mental Health SIG
08 Feb 2022 WMASS MH SIG
20 Jan 2022 Mental Health Special Interest Group
18 Jan 2022 Virtual Mentoring for New OTPs and OT/OTA students
15 Dec 2021 Worcester Mental Health SIG
01 Dec 2021 The Coma Recovery Scale (CRS-r) in Acute Care
17 Nov 2021 Mental Health Special Interest Group
16 Nov 2021 Virtual Mentoring for New OTPs and OT/OTA students
20 Oct 2021 Worcester Mental Health SIG
30 Sep 2021 The MetroWest and Worcester MH SIG
29 Sep 2021 Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (JEDI) for OT Practice and Education
20 Sep 2021 Acute Care Special Interest Group
14 Sep 2021 WMASS MH SIG
09 Sep 2021 MAOT Assistive Technology Special Interest Group
04 Aug 2021 MAOT Assistive Technology Special Interest Group
20 Jul 2021 Virtual Mentoring for New OTPs and OT/OTA students
17 Jun 2021 MAOT MetroWest Special Interest Group (SIG)
27 May 2021 MAOT Assistive Technology SIG
26 May 2021 Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (JEDI) in OT Education and Practice
19 May 2021 MAOT Worcester Mental Health SIG
18 May 2021 Virtual Mentoring for New OTPs and OT/OTA students
18 May 2021 WMASS MH SIG
12 May 2021 OT Acute Care Special Interest Group
10 May 2021 MAOT Pediatric and Transition Planning Special Interest Group
29 Apr 2021 The (MetroWest) Mental Health Special Interest Group
22 Apr 2021 Worcester Mental Health SIG
20 Apr 2021 WMASS MH SIG One Year Later: Personal Perspectives on the Pandemic
31 Mar 2021 Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion – A NEW MAOT SIG!
18 Mar 2021 Third Town Hall Meeting School Based Medicaid
18 Mar 2021 MetroWest MH SIG and the Worcester MH SIG
16 Mar 2021 Virtual Mentoring for New OTPs and OT/OTA students
09 Mar 2021 MAOT Western Massachusetts Mental Health Special Interest Group
02 Mar 2021 Second Town Hall Meeting School Based Medicaid
25 Feb 2021 Town Hall Meeting School Based Medicaid
18 Feb 2021 Mental Health Special interest Group
10 Feb 2021 MAOT Acute Care Special Interest Group
09 Feb 2021 Mental Health Special interest Group
02 Feb 2021 Embracing our identity in a changing climate - MAOT Annual Conference
28 Jan 2021 Pediatric Practice and Transition Planning Special Interest Group Virtual Meeting
25 Oct 2019 MAOT Annual Conference 2019
27 Apr 2019 MAOT Spring Conference 2019
26 Oct 2018 MAOT Annual Conference 2018
10 Nov 2017 MAOT Annual Conference 2017
11 Apr 2017 Central MA SIG
08 Apr 2017 MAOT Spring Conference
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