Massachusetts Association for Occupational Therapy upcoming events

Older Adult SIG- Establishing a Memory Café in a Local Senior Center: An Occupational Therapy Approach- May 12, 2026 (12 May 2026)

Tue, 12 May 2026 22:30:00 GMT

Date and Time: Tuesday, May 12th 6:30-7:30pm

Chairperson(s): Laurie Cecchi, OT

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

Title: Establishing a Memory Café in a Local Senior Center: An Occupational Therapy Approach

Speaker: Laurie Cecchi, OT

Learning Objectives: By the end of this presentation, participants will be able to:

1. Describe the role of occupational therapy in designing and facilitating a Memory Café program for individuals with dementia and their caregivers.

2. Identify key steps in establishing a Memory Café, including community needs assessment, program planning, and partnership development.

3. Develop strategies for implementing sustainable, occupation-based activities that promote engagement, social participation, and well-being.

Bio/Focus: Laurie Cecchi, OT, OTR, 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 20facilities 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. Laurie is currently the Chair of the Council on Aging in Agawam, Massachusetts and volunteers monthly in the following programs that she has established: Caregivers Connect, which meets monthly, a support group for caregivers of people living with dementia, Reading Room Book Club, established almost 2 years ago that meets the monthly, and leads the Cherished Memories Café one time per month, a memory café for people living with dementia and their caregivers.

References:

1. American Occupational Therapy Association. (2020). Occupational therapy practice framework: Domain and process (4th ed.).

2. Alzheimer’s Association. (2023). Dementia care practice recommendations.

3. Greenwood, N., & Smith, R. (2016). The experiences of people with dementia in Memory Cafés: A qualitative study. Aging & Mental Health,20(12), 1244–1251.

This event will be closed day before event. Please register by 4:00PM on 05/11/2026.

**New Certificate & Contact Hour Retrieval Policy**

MAOT issues certificates to eligible attendees following each event. It is the responsibility of the attendee to retain their certificate upon receipt. If you did not receive your certificate or have misplaced it, you may request a reissue by contacting MAOT at info@maot.org within 3 months of the event at no cost.

Requests submitted after three 3 months from the event date will incur a $10 processing fee per certificate.

Pediatric SIG - Anxiety-Informed Behavior Supports- May 20, 2026 (20 May 2026)

Wed, 20 May 2026 23:00:00 GMT

Date and Time: May 20, 2026, 7-8:30 pm

Chairpersons: Jocelynn B. Wallach, OT, MS, OTR, Esther Bertrand OT, MS, OTR

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

Title: Anxiety-Informed Behavior Supports

Learning Objectives: By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

1. Describe the relationship between anxiety and working memory.

2. Identify the three factors typically overlooked in behavior supports.

3. Describe why traditional breaks might not be effective for students with anxietyor trauma history.

4. Enumerate 1-2 strategies for reducing negative thinking toward writing.

Bio: Jessica Minahan, PhD, BCBA, is a licensed and board-certified behavior analyst, special educator, and best-selling author. With over 17 years of experience partnering with school systems globally, she is a recognized expert at the intersection of behavior, mental health, and learning. Dr. Minahan specializes in supporting students with trauma histories, anxiety-related challenges, and oppositional behaviors. An acclaimed international speaker and consultant, she is noted for translating complex mental health and behavioral concepts into actionable strategies for educational organizations. She is the author of The Behavior Code Companion (2014) and co-author of The Behavior Code (2012). Learn more at www.jessicaminahan.com.

References:

Frolek Clark, G., & Polichino, J. (2020). School Occupational Therapy: Staying Focused on Participation and Educational Performance. Journal of Occupational Therapy, Schools, & Early Intervention, 14(1), 19–26. https://doi.org/10.1080/19411243.2020.1776187

Minahan, J. (2014) The Behavior Code Companion Strategies, Tools, and Interventionsfor Supporting Students with Anxiety-Related or Oppositional Behaviors. HarvardEducation Press, Cambridge, MA

Minahan, J., & Rappaport, N, MD., (2013) The Behavior Code A Practical Guide toUnderstanding and Teaching the Most Challenging Students

This event will be closed day before event. Please register by 4:00PM on 05/19/2026.

Please keep this copy for your own records and keep with your certificate. MAOT is not responsible for maintaining records for contact hours.

MH SIG- Practice Meets Product: Occupational Therapy and Behavioral Health Solutions- May 27th (27 May 2026)

Wed, 27 May 2026 22:00:00 GMT

Date and Time: Wednesday May 27, 2026, from 6-7:30pm

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

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

Title: Practice Meets Product: Occupational Therapy and Behavioral Health Solutions

Speakers: Sarah Daghestani OT, OTR, and Laura Magee OT, OTD, OTR

Learning Objectives: By the end of this presentation, participants will be able to:

1. Identify gaps in traditional healthcare supply models that impact safety andtherapeutic outcomes in behavioral health settings.

2. Identify sociocultural trends in mental health care and the potential impacts foroccupational therapists.

3. Describe strategies for incorporating occupational therapy perspectives intoentrepreneurial and/or organizational initiatives within healthcare systems.

Bio/Focus: Sarah and Laura are Occupational Therapists working in inpatient psychiatry. Sarah graduated from Quinnipiac University (‘22) and Laura from MGH Institute of Health Professions (‘20). Laura’s graduate school research was published in Topics in Stroke Rehab in ‘23 and Sarah presented at AOTA in ‘22 on recidivism. Together, they’ve secured a grant covering over a year’s worth of funding for inclusive hair products for mental health patients at CHA. This endeavor inspired their creation of Psych Safe Supplies LLC, which now provides meaningful and appropriate products for behavioral health settings.

References:

1. Edwards, M. L., & Morris, N. P. (2024). How Inpatient Psychiatric Units Can Be Both Safe and Therapeutic. AMA Journal of Ethics, 26(3), E248–E256.https://doi.org/10.1001/amajethics.2024.248

2. Brown, C. K., Glei, D. A., Lee, C., & Weinstein, M. (2026). Leisure activities are associated with physical and mental health. Current Research in Behavioral Sciences, Article 100206. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.crbeha.2026.100206

3. Price, O. et al. (2024). De-escalating aggression in acute inpatient mental health settings: a behaviour change theory-informed, secondary qualitative analysis of staff and patient perspectives. BMC psychiatry, 24(1), 548.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-024-05920-y

4. Lopes, R. et al. (2025). Game On: Assessing the Therapeutic Benefits of Board Gamesin Schizophrenia Management. European Psychiatry, 68(S1), S1075–S1075.doi:10.1192/j.eurpsy.2025.2177