Occupational Therapy & Disability Studies Network
News & Events
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AOTA Inspire 2026 Presentations
We will be at AOTA Inspire presenting our work. Come find us and learn more about how we integrate disability studies into our research and teaching - we look forward to connecting!
Thursday, April 23, 2026
8-9am [Short course] Becoming lifelong students of autism: How social media can inform OT practice (Jenna Heffron)
4-6pm [Poster 2-602] Confronting ableism in OT: Practitioner perspectives & recommendations (Laura Vanpuymbrouck)
Friday, April 24, 2026
3-5pm [Poster 5-906] Perceived barriers to universal design in public spaces: A scoping review to guide collaboration between OT & architecture (Laura Vanpuymbrouck)
3-5pm [Poster 5-117] Empowering potential: Building inclusive technical standards in OT education (Danbi Lee)
Saturday, April 25, 2026
9-11am [Poster 6-609] Toward an intersectional framework of accessibility: A preliminary critical conceptual literature review (Jenna Heffron)
9-11am [Poster 6-128] Cases that count: Crafting inclusive case studies in OT education (Danbi Lee)
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Website Launch Event
The website has been years in the making and we are so excited to launch it into the world! Please join us to learn about the website, the Education modules, and key resources!
When: Monday, September 8 at 12 pm ET/9 am PT
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The Network featured in the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab INside the OUTcomes Podcast
Learn about the OT&DS Network and this website on INside the OUTcomes: A Rehabilitation Research Podcast from the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab.
Episode 30: The Occupational Therapy & Disability Studies Network
https://www.sralab.org/research/labs/cror/projects/inside-outcomes-rehabilitation-research-podcast
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AOTA Inspire Poster 2-122: Building Disability Cultural Humility in OT Education
April 3, 2025. 3-5pm (EST)
The presentation will discuss the importance of strenghtening disability cultural humility and introduce three modules developed to support OT educators to integrate critical disability perspectives into their curriculum.
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Webinar: OT Supporting Inclusive Design within Architecture
March 31, 2025
Elise A’Hearn, an OTD student at Rush University, discussed the role of occupational therapy in supporting and promoting inclusive design through collaboration with architects during the design process and raise awareness about inclusive design within the fields of occupational therapy and architecture.
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AOTA Inspire Conversations That Matter: Including Anti-Ableism in OT Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Initiatives
April 20, 2023. 5:00-5:50pm
Although there is growing discourse within the field about disability as a cultural and political identity, it is often left out of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. This conversation will discuss strategies to address this issue. We'll be in KCC Hall E, Lounge 4 in the Kansas City Convention Center.
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Fall Online Conversation- Towards Intersectional Anti-Ableism in Occupational Therapy
October 19, 2022
An open conversation about the intersectionality of disability in justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion (JEDI) initiatives within the field of occupational therapy.
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WFOT Congress
August 30, 2022
Our poster entitled "Author Reflections on the 2005 American Journal of Occupational Therapy Disability Studies Special Issue. You can view it virtually or some network members will be in person.
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Spring 2022 Online Conversation: AJOT Disability Studies Special Issue Series
April 26, 2022. 8-9am (PT)
We're very excited to talk with Janet Njelesani, Gail Teachman, and Ibrahim Richard Bangura about their work, 'The Strength to Leave': Women With Disabilities Navigating Violent Relationships and Occupational Identities.