Kansas City to Host 10,000 Occupational Therapy Practitioners at Annual Conference and Expo

03/27/2023

Educational sessions will showcase occupational therapy’s prominent role in mental health, women’s health, diversity, equity and inclusion, Veteran health, and will host local high school students

Kansas City, MO, 03/27/2023… An estimated 10,000 occupational therapy clinicians, educators, students, exhibitors, and guests representing all 50 states, Puerto Rico and numerous countries around the world will gather in Kansas City April 20-23 to attend Inspire, this year’s American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA)’s Annual Conference & Expo.

Journalists will have access to leaders in the field of occupational therapy (OT) with expertise in a wide range of health concerns that affect all Americans, through providing innovative ways to help people participate in everyday activities (“occupations”) from birth to end of life.

Occupational therapists are especially trained in how to make a person’s life better. This video is an excellent overview of occupational therapy, highlighting a range of people who have benefitted from OT.

Experts will be made available through AOTA for media interviews prior to, and at the conference. Topics covered include, mental health, community health, assistive technology, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Veteran services, aging and a range of others.

Consumer points of interest:

The Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Committee of AOTA is welcoming 25 Kansas City middle and high school students who participate in AVID, a career-readiness program, who have expressed an interest in occupational therapy as a career.
The conference Keynote Speaker is John O'Leary, Author of The Power of One and bestselling books, On Fire and In Awe. He’s the host of the top-rated “Live Inspired” Podcast.
Sarah Thomas, OTR, Executive Strategist on Aging Innovation, is a globally acclaimed aging expert who helps leading brands, start-ups, and investors design age-inclusive products and spaces dedicated to transforming the aging experience.
Douglene Jackson, PhD, OTR/L, LMT, ATP, FAOTA, is an occupational therapist with more than 20 years of experience in the rehabilitation field, primarily with individuals with neurodevelopmental disabilities across the lifespan in schools, hospitals, clinics, and community-based settings.
Frederica O’Donnell, OTD, OTR/L, National Occupational Therapy Discipline Lead for VHA Rehabilitation and Prosthetic Services, will host local Veterans (Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Occupational Therapists and Certified Occupational Therapy Assistants (COTAs) provide state-of-the-art and evidence-based care to Veterans and servicemembers. Occupational Therapy provides services that promote health and wellness to Veterans who have, or are at risk for developing, an injury, illness, disease, or condition spanning physical, cognitive, sensory, and psychosocial issues.

The AOTA INSPIRE 2023 Expo Hall is the occupational therapy industry’s largest marketplace in the world. The Expo will feature new technologies relevant to all Americans or their loved ones who are seeking better ways to live.

Detailed information can be found on the AOTA INSPIRE microsite (AOTA INSPIRE | 2023 Annual Conference & Expo, including special events/key speakers.

About AOTA
Founded in 1917, the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) represents the professional interests and concerns of more than 213,000 occupational therapists, assistants, and students nationwide. The Association educates the public and advances the profession of occupational therapy by providing resources, setting professional and educational standards, and serving as an advocate to improve health care. Based in Bethesda, Md., AOTA’s major programs and activities are directed toward promoting the professional development of its members and assuring consumer access to quality services so patients can maximize their individual potential. For more information, go to www.aota.org.

To arrange for a pre-conference interview with any of our speakers, or to speak with a conference presenter or member of AOTA during the conference, contact Jennifer Rignani at 412-977-5795 or praota@aota.org