Children & Youth

The AOTA Specialty Conference: Children & Youth will take place in person in Seattle, WA, December 13-14, 2024, with pre-conference sessions on December 12. All conference sessions will be held at the Sheraton Grand Seattle.

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Early rates end on November 18 at 11:59 pm ET
Full: $355 member/$585 nonmember

Regular rates start on November 19
Full: $390 member/$620 nonmember

Daily Rates
Friday: $235 member/$350 nonmember
Saturday: $235 member/$350 nonmember

Pre-conference Rates
Pre-conference #1: $75 member/$100 nonmember
Pre-conference #2: $75 member/$100 nonmember

Cancellation/Refund Policy
If you need to cancel your conference registration, notify AOTA by email at conference@aota.org. A 15% processing fee will be applied to all cancellation requests made through November 18, 2024. Refunds will not be issued for cancellations after November 18, 2024, or for “no-shows.” Substitutions are accepted with written notice. Send questions regarding this policy to conference@aota.org or call AOTA at 301-652-2682.

View the program guide

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Pre-conference Session #1: Self-regulation in an Anxious World: Developing an Intervention to Promote Mental Health for Adolescents

• Thursday, December 12 | 12:00 pm-2:00 pm
• Rates: $75 member/$100 nonmember
• Earn 2 contact hours

Workshop Synopsis: This session will provide practitioners with the tools to implement an effective mental health program in their setting to promote self-regulation from an emotional, cognitive, and sensory standpoint with a focus on managing and preventing anxiety.

Speakers: Jessica McHugh Conlin, PhD, OTR/L, BCP, Pn1, Healthy 360°, Sergeant Bluff, IA; Aimee Piller, PhD, OTR/L, BCP, FAOTA, Piller Child Development, LLC, Phoenix, AZ

Pre-conference Session #2: Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) for Improved Occupational Performance and Participation of Adolescents at Home and School

• Thursday, December 12 | 3:00 pm-5:00 pm
• Rates: $75 member/$100 nonmember
• Earn 2 contact hours

Workshop Synopsis: Explore the incorporation of DBT into traditional occupational therapy models in school-based and telehealth settings for improved educational participation and overall mental health of neurodivergent adolescents.

Speaker: Julia Colman, OTD, OTR/L, BCP, Northern Arizona University, Phoenix, AZ

View the program guide

December 13, 2024

8:00 am - 8:45 am

Keynote

See full description below.

9:00 am - 10:00 am

Concurrent 101 | Using Data-Driven Decision Making (DDDM) to Inform Strengths and Intervention Planning for Children With Diverse Needs

Annie Baltazar, OTD, OTR/L, playSense, Torrance, CA; Kelly Auld-Wright, OTD, OTR/L, Keck Graduate Institute (KGI), Torrance, CA

Participants will learn how DDDM supports professional reasoning to illuminate the relationship between a client's reported strengths and data collected in a comprehensive assessment.

Concurrent 102 | Implementing a Sensory-Friendly Adaptive Aquatics Program for Children with Intellectual and/or Developmental Disabilities

Michelle Kennedy, Western New England University, Springfield, MA

Caregivers of children with disabilities participated in a sensory-friendly adaptive aquatics program. Pre- and post-surveys were used to understand how effective the program is in improving safety awareness and basic swimming skills.

10:15 am - 11:15 am

Concurrent 103 | It’s a Sign: Considerations for Working with Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children

Brigid Bendig, Pioneer Therapy with The Valens Group, Chicago, IL; Evguenia Popova, PhD, OTR/L, Rush University, Chicago, IL

This presentation discusses occupational therapy considerations for working with deaf and hard of hearing (D/HH) children. A case study will be used to illustrate occupation-based evaluation and intervention approaches.

Concurrent 104 | Goal Setting to Lay the Sensory Regulation Foundation for Autistic Children: A Top-Down, Strengths-Based, and Neurodiversity-Affirming Approach

Jessalyn Dickerson, MSOT, OTR/L, BCP, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH

Interactive session on collaborative goal-setting with autistic children/families for meaningful participation using GAS & DDDM process. Emphasizes regulation as a foundation and aligns with most recent practice guidelines for autistic people.

11:30 am - 12:30 pm

Concurrent 105 | School Mental Health Advocacy: Opening Doors to Meet the Needs of ALL Students

Sarah Greene, OTD, OTR/L, St. Catherine University, St. Paul, MN

Occupational therapy practitioners play an important role in school mental health. Through ESSA, utilizing MTSS, practitioners should feel empowered to advocate, address barriers, and open doors to address the needs of ALL students through our unique role in mental health promotion initiatives.

Concurrent 106 | Understanding and Supporting Personality Styles Through a Sensory Emotional Lens

Michele Parkins, MS, OTR, IMH-E; AnnMarie Murphy, OTD, OT/L, CIMI-2, both of Great Kids Place, Rockaway, NJ

Understanding personality styles, with sensation and emotion in mind, can guide us in our treatment planning and interactions with children in a way that strengthens our relationships and enhances engagement and regulation within daily occupations.

1:45 pm - 2:45 pm

Concurrent 107 | Maximizing Occupational Therapy's Impact for Early Learners: Building Educator Capacity Through Coaching and Collaboration

Moira Bushell, OTD, MEd, OTR/L, BCP, Exceptional Learners Collaborative, Vernon Hills, IL; Allison Brown

With increasing workloads, occupational therapy practitioners must utilize existing resources in new ways to support all learners. Using an occupational therapy lens, student support capacity was enhanced through collaboration and coaching between practitioners and educators.

Concurrent 108 | Well-Siblings: The Unseen Needs of Siblings of Children With High Support Needs

Sophia Lovell, MA, OTR/L, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA

Well-siblings, the siblings of children with high support needs, require more recognition and support to their lived experiences. Occupational therapy practitioners are uniquely positioned to support the well-sibling, as well as utilize them to strengthen the care we provide.

3:00 pm - 4:00 pm

Concurrent 109 | Just Breathe! Enhancing School-Based Occupational Therapy With Mindfulness

Neha Chugh-Gupta, OTD, New Franklin Elementary, Columbia, MO

This presentation offers participants a comprehensive understanding of mindfulness, including its scope, benefits, challenges, and practical ideas to use within school-based occupational therapy.

Concurrent 110 | Assessment and Intervention Within the Pediatric Rehabilitation Continuum: Application to Acute Neurological Insult, A Single Case Study

Clara Altemus, OTR/L, BCP, PMH-C, Randall Children's Hospital, Portland, OR; Mary Sroka

This short course will apply evidence from adult neurorehabilitation to the population of pediatric acute neurological insult. Participants will explore assessments and interventions across the rehabilitation continuum to enhance long term outcomes.

4:15 pm - 5:15 pm

Poster Session

Full details will be available in the program guide.

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View the program guide

December 14, 2024

8:00 am - 9:00 am

Concurrent 201 | Implementing School-Based Therapy Services at a Systems Level

Patricia Laverdure, OTD, OTR/L, BCP, FAOTA, Old Dominion University, Richmond, VA; Yvonne Swinth, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA, University of Puget Sound, Tacoma, WA

School-based practitioners will explore ways to provide population or system-level services and establish tools that promote deliberative decision making, de-implementation of ineffective processes, change readiness, and goal prioritization.

Concurrent 202 | The Vital Impact of Occupational Therapy on Infants and Toddlers

Jill Tonneman, OTR/L, BCP, Nationwide Childrens Hospital, Columbus, OH

This course will highlight the crucial role occupational therapy plays in transdisciplinary early intervention. This will look at the specific skill sets of occupational therapy in early detection clinic and how they are a valuable part of the transdisciplinary team.

9:15 am - 10:15 am

Poster Session

Full details will be available in the program guide.

10:30 am - 11:30 am

Concurrent 203 | Transition Planning and Mental Health for Rising Fifth Grade Students: An Occupational Therapy Approach

Stephen Pitts, DrOT, OTR/L, Nova Southeastern University, Davie, FL

A transition program for rising sixth graders supports self-efficacy, mental health, and independence through academic workshops, peer support groups, and mindfulness practices to ease the transition from elementary to middle school.

Concurrent 204 | Food Talk: The Power of Words in Pediatric Therapy

Alison Ulie; Alyssa Van Vossen, both of The TEAM Approach, Houston, TX

This presentation outlines the importance of considering and understanding the role that occupational therapists play when addressing food and eating around impressionable youth through discussing the significance of mindful language when working with this population.

1:00 pm - 2:00 pm

Concurrent 205 | ABCs of Education Policy: Opportunities and Impacts on School System Practice

Moira Bushell, OTD, MEd, OTR/L, BCP, Exceptional Learners Collaborative, Vernon Hills, IL

With a better understanding of laws and regulations that apply to education, occupational therapy practitioners can have a greater role in key conversations about their students. The impact of ESSA, IDEA, ADA and education case law on occupational therapy practice will be discussed.

Concurrent 206 | The Power of Connection: Sensory and Affective Interventions

Amy Lewis, OTR/L; Heather Spann, MSR, OTR/L, both of Powerfully You LLC, Charleston, SC

Let's go beyond 'Is it sensory or is it behavior?' by examining the dual coding of sensory integrative and affective processing. We will explore connection strategies and the neuroscience that underlies why they are effective and necessary.

2:15 pm - 3:15 pm

Concurrent 207 | Building A Collaborative Assistive Technology Team to Facilitate Success Beyond the Therapy Session

Michelle Hillenbrand, OTR/L; April Perry, MA, CCC-SLP, ATP, both of Henderson County Schools, Henderson, KY

Incorporating assistive technology into a child's education is best achieved through a multidisciplinary team approach to empower and equip the student and caregivers with the tools needed to access their environment, learn, and grow.

Concurrent 208 | To Be Announced

3:30 pm - 4:15 pm

Closing

See full description below.

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Hotel reservation deadline: November 21, 2024

Hotel Hotel

Sheraton Grand Seattle

1400 6th Ave

Seattle, WA 98101

Hotel Room Rates

$175 single or double occupancy

Check-in: 3:00 p.m.

Check-out: 12:00 p.m.

Room reservations may be made online. To secure a guestroom via direct call-in, dial 888-627-7056. To receive a sleeping room at our discounted group rates, identify yourself with AOTA 2024 Specialty Conference Children & Youth.

Parking

Valet Parking: $65 per day (only available to guests staying at the hotel)

Off-site Parking: US Bank Centre Parking Garage, 1420 5th Ave, Seattle, WA 98101 (0.1 Miles)

Airport & Travel Information

Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA)

Distance from Hotel: 14 miles

Ground Transportation Options

Taxi

Ridesharing: Uber/Lyft

SoundTransit Link Light Rail