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VOTA Annual Conference
October 10-11, 2026
William & Mary
Raymond A. Mason School of Business
(Alan B. Miller Hall)
101 Ukrop Way
Williamsburg, VA 23185
Why attend conference?
The VOTA Annual Conference provides opportunities for occupational therapy practitioners to earn continuing education credits while participating in a wide range of sessions designed for introductory, intermediate, and advanced learning levels. Come network with colleagues, exchange ideas, and connect with exhibitors during VOTA's largest annual event. Sessions are presented on diverse topics to support professional growth and to highlight current trends and innovations within the field. This year, we are hosting the conference in historic Williamsburg at William & Mary's Raymond A. Mason School of Business. Between sessions, attendees can explore Colonial Williamsburg, browse local shops, visit museums, and enjoy the area's many locally owned restaurants. Join us this year to see for yourself why so many attendees return year after year.
WHAT DO PAST ATTENDEES HAVE TO SAY?
"Great content that was timely for my practice."
"LOVED the location, the lunch, the poster sessions, and the presentations!! The gift basket raffle was so fun!!"
"There was a great variety of information presented . I appreciated that there were several presentations by COTAs- and great to see some of them moving into leadership positions! I also appreciated meeting OTs new to me, even after attending many VOTA conferences over the past 25 + years!"
Conference Schedule at a Glance
Saturday
| Time | Event | CE |
|---|---|---|
| 7:30 – 8:30 | Check-in, network, and enjoy breakfast | |
| 8:15 – 9:45 | Welcome and Keynote Address | 1.5 |
| 9:50 – 10:50 | Poster Session A | 1 |
| 10:50 – 12:20 | Session A | 1.5 |
| 12:30 – 1:45 | Lunch, awards ceremony, and VOTA updates | 1 |
| 1:50 – 2:20 | Session B | .75 |
| 2:30 – 4:00 | Session C | 1.5 |
| 4:10 – 4:50 | Session D | .75 |
| 5:00 – 6:00 | Poster Session B | 1 |
| 6:00 – 7:00 | Raffle and Networking | |
| Total CE – Saturday | 9 | |
Sunday
| Time | Event | CE |
|---|---|---|
| 8:00 | Breakfast | |
| 8:30 – 9:30 | Scope of Practice Updates and Advocacy Listening Session | 1 |
| 9:30 – 11:00 | Session E | 1.5 |
| 11:10 – 11:50 | Session F | .75 |
| 12:00 – 1:00 | Virginia Black OT Caucus Meeting | |
| Total CE – Sunday | 3.25 | |
Total Conference CE: 12.25
Saturday’s Schedule
Check-in, network, and enjoy breakfast: 7:30 – 8:30
Welcome and Keynote Address: 8:15 – 9:45
Poster Session A: 9:50 – 10:50 (Enjoy the poster session; after the first 30 minutes, we’ll host knitting time and dancing.)
- Critically Appraised Paper: Canine-Assisted Intervention Effects on the Well-Being of Health Science Graduate Students: A Randomized Controlled Trial
- Easing the Transition to Middle School: An Occupation-Focused Guide for Autistic Students
- Finding Future Colleagues: The Promote OT Challenge
- Foster Care Through a Caregiver’s Lens: Integrating Occupational Therapy for Better Outcomes
- From Understanding to Advocacy: Clarifying Hippotherapy and Therapeutic Riding
- Impact of Noise-Canceling Devices on Classroom Engagement in Elementary-aged Children (5-11) with ADHD/ASD
- Intermittent vs. Continuous Treatment of Flexion Contractures of the Proximal
- Piloting a Structured Internship Framework for Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities in a Community Setting
- Postpartum Perspectives: Exploring Barriers to Pelvic Floor Therapy and Engagement in Meaningful Occupations
- Occupational Therapy’s Role in Supporting LGBTQIA+ Adolescents
Session A: 10:50 – 12:20 (90 minutes)
- Belonging, Meaning, and Motivation: The Triad of Transformational Teaching
- Engage, Empower, Experience: Supporting Wellness and Participation in Everyday Occupations Throughout the Menopause Transition
- Facilitating through Occupation: OT Approaches to Forensic Education & Psychosocial Rehabilitation
- Nurturing Health and Well-being with the Art and Science of Qigong and Tai Chi
Session B: 1:50 – 2:20 (40 minutes)
- Advancing Occupational Therapy Through Volunteer Leadership: Pathways to Professional Growth and Community Impact
- Integrating OT into Primary Care
- SOTA Brainstorming & Collaboration (Student Track)
- Working Outside the Box: Non-traditional Roles for Occupational Therapy Innovators
Session C: 2:30 – 4:00 (90 minutes)
- Assistive Technology – Providing Access for Supporting Participation in Daily Activities
- Common Strands: Knitting, OT, and Project Knitwell
- How Do We Get Off on the Right Foot
- Mastering the Mallet: An Evidence-based Approach to Evaluation, Treatment, and Custom Orthosis Fabrication
Session D: 4:10 – 4:50 (40 minutes)
- If Occupational Therapy Disappeared Tomorrow…
- Planning for Purpose: Community-based Programming to Support Occupational Engagement in the Work-to-Retirement Transition
- Ready, Set, Fieldwork: Uncovering the Hidden Predictors of Success and How to Position Yourself for Excellence (Student Track)
- Using Self-Efficacy Tools to Determine Effectiveness of a New Orientation Program for Hospital-Based Occupational and Physical Therapists
Poster Session B: 5:00 – 6:00 (Enjoy the poster session; after the first 30 minutes, we’ll host knitting time and dancing.)
- Critical Appraisal: Online Occupational Therapy Group Training for Mothers of Children with Feeding Problems: A Randomized Controlled Trial
- Enhancing Dressing Independence Following Chronic Stroke and Erb’s Palsy: A Case Report
- Exploring Dance Styles and Their Impact on Motor and Non-Motor Symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease
- How to Transition to a Supervisory Role in School-based OT
- Informing Best Practices for Implementing Global Virtual Partnerships in Occupational Therapy Education: Fostering Cultural Humility and Sustainable Global Engagement
- Occupational Therapy in Acute Postpartum Care
- The Role of Risky Play in Pediatric Occupational Therapy to Safely Support Childhood Development, Confidence, and Participation
- A Self-advocacy Toolkit for Autistic Adults in the Emergency Department: Creating Safety in Unpredictability
- T.I.C. T.O.C. – Trauma-Informed Care in the Occupational Contexts
- Perimenopause and Occupational Therapy Engagement: A Qualitative Inquiry
Sunday’s Schedule
Scope of Practice Updates and Advocacy Listening Session: 8:30 – 9:30
Session E: 9:30 – 11:00 (90 minutes)
- Addressing Toileting with Pediatric Patients with Developmental Disabilities
- Creating a Personalized EPB Toolkit to Address Challenges Implementing Evidence into Your Practice
- Elevate Your Voice: Building Confidence in Occupational Therapy Advocacy and Policy Engagement
Session F: 11:10 – 11:50 (40 minutes)
- Good Vibrations Put into Motion: Is it Time to Use Vibration for Improved Function?
- NBCOT® National Certification Exam: Information You Need to Know (Student Track)
- Promoting Your Mental Well-being to Prevent Compassion Fatigue
Virginia Black OT Caucus Meeting: 12:00 – 1:00
VOTA is excited to announce our Keynote Speaker, Dr. Cristina Reyes Smith!
Dr. Cristina Reyes Smith is the current Vice President (2024 to present) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) and serves on the Board of Directors. She also serves as a Non-Voting Member on the Board of Trustees of the American Occupational Therapy Foundation (AOTF). She previously served in several national leadership roles including as a Director on the AOTA Board of Directors (2020 to 2023) and Editorial Board of the Journal of Occupational Therapy Education (JOTE) (2020 to 2024). She was the Founder and Business Development Coordinator (2012 to 2020) for Vida Bella Services, LLC, a pediatric agency providing early intervention and outpatient occupational therapy and physical therapy services with a focus on access to quality care with the local and surrounding rural communities.
Dr. Smith is an Associate Professor in the College of Health Professions (CHP) Division Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) program at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC). She teaches courses on Leadership & Management, advises student organizations, and mentors doctoral capstone project students in the Entry-Level and Post-Professional OTD programs there. Her accomplishments include publications and presentations across the U.S. and internationally. She has served as the Chair of the CHP Faculty Assembly (2023 to 2024), Chair of the MUSC Faculty Senate Institutional Advancement Committee (2021 to 2023), and Co-Director of the HRSA-MUSC Occupational Therapy Scholarship program (2020 to 2025).
Dr. Smith is a graduate of the Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) program at Thomas Jefferson University and the Masters in Occupational Therapy program at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC). Through these programs she completed additional coursework in Disabilities Studies, Global Health, and Graduate Teaching in the 21st Century. She was a participant of the 2021 MUSC Emerging Leaders Program, the 2012 AOTA Emerging Leaders Program, and the 2005-2006 MUSC Presidential Scholars Program as a Student Scholar. She has 20 years of experience in the field and has expertise in community health promotion, program development, and leadership development with a focus on access to care.
- NBCOT
- AMN Healthcare
- St. Catherine University
- National Black Occupational Therapy Caucus
- St. Mary's Home
- Continuum Therapy Partners
- Allied Instructional Services LLC
- Virginia Down Syndrome Association
- Alzheimer's Association
Thank you to our sponsors!
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