MiOTA Fall Conference 2026

Welcome to MiOTA’s Fall Conference 2026!

You will be able to validate your attendance (Check-In to sessions) using your personal schedule.

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9:45am CDT

Barriers Caused by Violence in Women and the Role of Occupational Therapy

Friday October 2, 2026 9:45am - 10:45am CDT

Violence is a rising issue in the world today and negatively impacts many women’s lives in various ways. Domestic violence (DV) and intimate partner violence (IPV) are two main ways that women are impacted by violence. DV is defined as an act of violence that occurs within the home and can involve parents and children, family members, or roommates, whereas IPV only takes place in romantically involved relationships and individuals may or may not live in the same household (Walker-Descartes et al., 2021). DV and IPV have been found to create barriers for women and men all over the globe. As the prevalence of DV and IPV cases rises, it is important for occupational therapists to consider their role in supporting and screening for women with a history of being a victim of DV or IPV. There is an evident gap in OT involvement in DV and IPV cases, but there is undoubtedly a need for OT in these women's recovery. OT can help women who have experienced DV and IPV gain back their independence, confidence, and sense of self, information about services should be shared within communities. This poster will focus on the impact of DV and IPV in women, the barriers they are obligated to face because of this exposure, and the role of Occupational Therapy (OT) in these cases.

Walker-Descartes, I., Mineo, M., Condado, L. V., & Agrawal, N. (2021). Domestic violence and
its effects on women, children, and families. The Pediatric Clinics of North America, 68(2),
455–464. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pcl.2020.12.011
Stubbs, A., & Szoeke, C. (2022). The effect of intimate partner violence on the physical health
and health-related behaviors of women: A systematic review of the literature. Trauma,
Violence & Abuse, 23(4), 1157–1172. https://doi.org/10.1177/1524838020985541
Javaherian-Dysinger, H., Dalida, E., Maclang, C., Cho, E., Simbolon, H., & Santiago, M. (2021).
Intimate partner violence and OT: A systematic review. The American Journal of
Occupational Therapy, 75(Supplement_2), 7512520380-7512520380p1.
https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2021.75S2-PO380
Helfrich, C. A., & Rivera, Y. (2006). Employment skills and domestic violence survivors: A
shelter-based intervention. Occupational Therapy in Mental Health, 22(1), 33–48.
https://doi.org/10.1300/J004v22n01_03
Ballan, M. S., & Freyer, M. (2020). Occupational deprivation among female survivors of intimate
partner violence who have physical disabilities. The American Journal of Occupational
Therapy, 74(4), 7404345010-7404345010p7. https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2020.038398

Speakers

Kim Ganzevoort

Faculty, Western Michigan University

Kim Ganzevoort is faculty and program coordinator at Western Michigan University. She is an Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) and has been practicing in adult rehabilitation for 18 years, primarily in inpatient rehab and long-term acute care. Kim also has experience in mental health... Read More →

Khyra Hickey

Student, Western Michigan University

Khyra Hickey is an Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) student at Western Michigan University. She is interested in the mental health setting and working with adult and older adult populations. Khyra looks forward to helping others through her career as an OTA gaining independence... Read More →

Friday October 2, 2026 9:45am - 10:45am CDT
Rhine (50) POSTERS

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9:45am CDT

Moving on from Key Milestones: Potential Roles of OT in Collegiate Athlete Retirement

Friday October 2, 2026 9:45am - 10:45am CDT

Rhine (50) POSTERS

Athletics are an integral part of life for many individuals from childhood through young adulthood. Furthermore, the transition out of competitive sport mirrors a major life change extending beyond physical performance. Athletic retirement is often accompanied by challenges to mental health and life satisfaction as a result of identity shifts, changes in daily routines, and a journey to finding a new source of social belonging.
Whether preparation precedes it or not, adapting to life after sports can be complex, requiring individuals to redefine their sense of purpose and find new meaningful occupations outside of sport. Thus, understanding the challenges within this transition is essential for identifying how supportive professions, such as occupational therapy (OT), can support overall well-being as athletes navigate life beyond sports.
Therefore, this study, explores how individuals adjust to life after completing their collegiate athletic careers. The purpose of this study is to better understand how current and former athletes cope (or intend to cope) with this transition while providing occupational therapy student-led support to promote successful adaptation to life after sport. Participants are invited to complete 1 of 2 10-15 minute online surveys asking about their experiences (1) after leaving collegiate athletics or (2) their anticipated feelings about leaving collegiate athletics. The survey includes a mix of fill-in short answers and select-one options measured on a Likert scale. In addition, participants are invited to voluntarily take part in up to six, 45-60 minute, once per week focus groups over a six-week time frame, involving up to three research participants and up to three investigators per group. During these groups, participants have an opportunity to talk more deeply about their personal experiences and/or anticipated experiences with athletic retirement and may receive occupational therapy-related content to foster adaptation. The information gathered is used to identify common experiences and potential roles for occupational therapists in supporting this transition. This study is currently in progess with results pending. Findings from this study will help to inform future programs and resources designed to support this population.

Bopp, T., Stellefson, M., Stewart, M., Zhang, L., Apperson, A., & Odio, M. (2021). Wellness in transitions out of college sports participation: Experiences of former NCAA division I student-athletes. Journal for the Study of Sports and Athletes in Education, 18(1), 43–66. https://doi.org/10.1080/19357397.2021.1989273

Eagers, J., Franklin, R. C., Broome, K., & Yau, M. K. (2019). The experiences of work: Retirees’ perspectives and the relationship to the role of occupational therapy in the work-to-retirement transition process. WORK: A Journal of Prevention, Assessment & Rehabilitation, 64(2), 341-354. https://doi.org/10.3233/WOR-192996 (Original

Speakers

Mackenzie Amalia

Occupational Therapy Student, Eastern Michigan University

Mackenzie is a professional year 2 occupational therapy student at Eastern Michigan University. Mackenzie is a retired collegiate basketball athlete who's research interests include supporting the mental health aspects of individuals retiring from collegiate and professional sports... Read More →

Kaylynn Christoffers

Occupational Therapy Student, Eastern Michigan University

Kaylynn Christoffers is a professional year 2 occupational therapy student at Eastern Michigan University. Kaylynn is a retired athlete who's research interests include supporting the mental health aspects of individuals retiring from collegiate and professional sports in order to... Read More →

Olivia Emert

Occupational Therapy Student, Eastern Michigan University

Olivia is a professional year 2 occupational therapy student at Eastern Michigan University. Olivia's research interests include supporting the mental health aspects of individuals retiring from collegiate and professional sports in order to foster a productive change in occupational... Read More →

Friday October 2, 2026 9:45am - 10:45am CDT
Rhine (50) POSTERS

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9:45am CDT

Service Learning Projects at a Therapeutic Health Camp

Friday October 2, 2026 9:45am - 10:45am CDT

Rhine (50) POSTERS

Participants will learn about service-learning projects that Clinical Doctorate Occupational Therapy students completed at a Therapeutic Health Camp. These projects allowed camp therapists additional opportunities to evaluate and treat campers with disabilities. These projects not only significantly benefited the therapists working at the camp but they enhanced students learning by immersing in the daily routines of children with disabilities, challenging them to promote functional participation.

Speakers

Donna Case

intermittent lecturer, University of Michigan - Flint - Occupational Therapy department

I am an intermittent lecturer at the University of Michigan - Flint Occupational Therapy department. I retired after 30+ years working at Cooke School - Northville. My interests is in technology and human interface and individuals with disabilities.

Marra Robert, OTD, OTRL

Capstone Coordinator, Clinical Assistant Professor, University of Michigan - Flint

Dr. Robert is the Doctoral Capstone Coordinator and Clinical Assistant Professor in the Occupational Therapy Department at the University of Michigan-Flint. She is a national board-certified occupational therapist and licensed practitioner in the state of Michigan. Her clinical... Read More →

Friday October 2, 2026 9:45am - 10:45am CDT
Rhine (50) POSTERS

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9:45am CDT

Using Virtual Reality to Prepare Students for Difficult Conversations in Healthcare

Friday October 2, 2026 9:45am - 10:45am CDT

Rhine (50) POSTERS

The poster will display the results from a pilot study completed with occupational therapy and social work students using virtual simulation to practice assessing a veteran client for suicidal ideation and intent. The aim of the study was to assess if students would report increased confidence and perceived competence as a result of the training, and to compare the experience using immersive (headset) versus non-immersive (PC or mobile device). Additionally, the researchers completed a qualitative analysis of an interdisciplinary discussion board completed by participants post-simulation. The Surgeon General’s 2022 report Addressing Health Worker Burnout called on academic institutions to “...better prepare students and trainees for coping with morally and psychologically distressing situations…” (p. 46).Kirby et al. (2020) surveyed 134 pediatric occupational therapists about their experiences with suicide in practice, and 95% reported they may interact with suicidal youth, but only 21% felt confident they could recognize the signs of suicidal ideation. This research is innovative in its integration of virtual reality with voice recognition and asynchronous discussion to create a unique educational experience. While simulation-based learning is not new, the use of virtual avatars that can express emotions and respond to voice commands is not well-established in the literature. Immersive virtual reality has become a more common instructional tool for skill-based physician and nursing education but is only emerging as an educational tool for soft skill development in allied occupational therapy education.

References:
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (2022). Addressing health worker burnout: The U.S. Surgeon General’s advisory on building a thriving health workforce [PDF]. https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/health-worker-wellbeing-advisory.pdf
Kirby, A.V., Terrill, A.L., Schwartz, A., Henderson, J., Whitaker, B.N., & Kramer, J. (2020). Occupational therapy practitioners' knowledge, comfort, and competence regarding youth suicide. Occupational Therapy Journal of Research: Occupation, Participation and Health, 40(4), 270-276. DOI" 10.1177/1539449220908577

Speakers

Angie Smith

Clinical Assistant Professor and Academic Fieldwork Coordinator, University of Michigan-Flint

Angela Smith is a Clinical Assistant Professor and Academic Fieldwork Coordinator for the Occupational Therapy Doctoral Program at the University of Michigan-Flint. Her work focuses on innovative approaches to preparing students for clinical practice, including virtual reality training... Read More →

Friday October 2, 2026 9:45am - 10:45am CDT
Rhine (50) POSTERS

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1:00pm CDT

Educational Outcomes of a Pain Neuroscience Education Module in Entry-Level Occupational Therapy Education: Group-Level Changes in Pain Knowledge, Attitudes, Beliefs, and Self-Efficacy

Friday October 2, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm CDT

Rhine (50) POSTERS

Abstract
Objective:
To examine the effect of a Pain Neuroscience Education/Pain Science Education educational
module on occupational therapy graduate students’ pain-related knowledge, attitudes,
professional beliefs, self-efficacy, and clinical reasoning about pain.
Design:
This study uses a single-group mixed-methods pre/post educational design with a quantitative
emphasis. Aggregate group-level comparisons will be used to examine changes in student
responses before and after the educational module. Qualitative reflection data will be used to
further explore students’ perceived learning and application of pain science concepts to
occupational therapy practice.
Participants:
Participants will include approximately 35 occupational therapy graduate students enrolled in the
educational module.
Intervention:
All participants will complete a Pain Neuroscience Education/Pain Science Education module
delivered across three two-hour instructional sessions. The module is designed to support
students’ understanding of contemporary pain science, promote evidence-informed clinical
reasoning, and strengthen the integration of pain neuroscience concepts into occupational therapy
evaluation and intervention planning.
Main Outcome Measures:
Four outcome measures will be used. Three measures will be administered before and after the
educational module: the Revised Pain Neurophysiology Questionnaire to assess knowledge of
pain; an adapted Occupational Therapy Pain Neuroscience Education Professional Self-Identity
Questionnaire to assess OT-related beliefs and professional identity; and an adapted Student-
Rated Self-Efficacy of Evidence-Based Clinical Skills measure to assess student self-efficacy. A
structured post-module reflection will be used to examine students’ perceived learning, clinical
reasoning, and anticipated application of pain science concepts in future occupational therapy
practice.
Results:
Data collection and analysis are ongoing. Quantitative data will be analyzed using aggregate
pre/post group comparisons to examine changes in pain knowledge, OT-related beliefs,
professional identity, and self-efficacy following the educational module. Qualitative reflection
responses will be analyzed to identify themes related to student learning, perceived relevance to
occupational therapy practice, and application of PNE/PSE concepts to clinical reasoning.
Conclusion:
This study will provide preliminary evidence regarding the role of structured pain neuroscience
and pain science education in occupational therapy graduate education. Findings may inform
how pain-related content is taught within OT curricula and how educational modules can support
students’ development of evidence-informed reasoning, professional identity, and confidence inaddressing pain as part of occupation-based practice.

References
Bareiss, S. K., Nare, L., & McBee, K. (2019). Evaluation of pain knowledge and attitudes and
beliefs from a pre-licensure physical therapy curriculum and a stand-alone pain elective. BMC
Medical Education, 19, Article 375.
Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in
Psychology, 3(2), 77–101. https://doi.org/10.1191/1478088706qp063oa
Catley, M. J., O’Connell, N. E., & Moseley, G. L. (2013). How good is the Neurophysiology of
Pain Questionnaire? A Rasch analysis of psychometric properties. The Journal of Pain, 14(8),
818–827. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpain.2013.02.008
Colleary, G., O’Sullivan, K., Griffin, D., Ryan, C. G., & Martin, D. J. (2017). Effect of pain
neurophysiology education on physiotherapy students’ understanding of chronic pain, clinical
recommendations and attitudes towards people with chronic pain: A randomised controlled trial.
Physiotherapy, 103(4), 423–429. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physio.2017.01.006
Crossley, J., & Vivekananda-Schmidt, P. (2009). The development and evaluation of a
Professional Self Identity Questionnaire to measure evolving professional self-identity in health
and social care students. Medical Teacher, 31(12), e603–e607.
https://doi.org/10.3109/01421590903193547
Haruta, J., Maeno, T., Takayashiki, A., Goto, R., Ozone, S., & Maeno, T. (2021). Validation of
the professional self-identity questionnaire for medical students during clinical practice in Japan.
International Journal of Medical Education, 12, 160–165.
https://doi.org/10.5116/ijme.610d.104b
Guan, Z. (2026). Nociception versus pain. Pain Management Education at UCSF.
https://pain.ucsf.edu/understanding-pain-pain-basics/nociception-versus-pain
Kendroud, S., Fitzgerald, L. A., Murray, I. V., & Hanna, A. (2022). Physiology, nociceptive
pathways. In StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470255/
Louw, A., Sluka, K. A., Nijs, J., Courtney, C. A., & Zimney, K. (2021). Revisiting the provision
of pain neuroscience education: An adjunct intervention for patients but a primary focus of
clinician education. Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy, 51(2), 57–59.
https://doi.org/10.2519/jospt.2021.9804
Lucas, J. W., & Sohi, I. (2024). Chronic pain and high-impact chronic pain in U.S. adults, 2023
(NCHS Data Brief No. 518). National Center for Health Statistics.
Maguire, N., Chesterton, P., & Ryan, C. (2019). The effect of pain neuroscience education on
sports therapy and rehabilitation students’ knowledge, attitudes, and clinical recommendations
toward athletes with chronic pain. Journal of Sport Rehabilitation, 28(5), 438–443.
https://doi.org/10.1123/jsr.2017-0212
Mankelow, J., Ryan, C. G., Taylor, P., & Martin, D. J. (2020). The effect of pain neurophysiology
education on healthcare students’ knowledge, attitudes and behaviours towards pain: A
mixed-methods randomised controlled trial. Musculoskeletal Science and Practice, 50, Article
102249. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.msksp.2020.102249
Pan, C., Jarrett, J. B., & Sawyer, K. (2025). Utilizing transformative learning theory to enhance
professional identity formation. Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, 28, 14605.
https://doi.org/10.3389/jpps.2025.14605
Sandelowski, M. (2000). Whatever happened to qualitative description? Research in Nursing &
Health, 23(4), 334–340.
https://doi.org/10.1002/1098-240X(200008)23:4<334::AID-NUR9>3.0.CO;2-G
Saracoglu, I., Aksoy, C. C., Afsar, E., & Arik, M. I. (2021). Does pain neuroscience education
improve pain knowledge, beliefs and attitudes in undergraduate physiotherapy students?
Physiotherapy Research International, 26(2), e1898. https://doi.org/10.1002/pri.1898
Schifferdecker, K. E., & Reed, V. A. (2009). Using mixed methods research in medical
education: Basic guidelines for researchers. Medical Education, 43(7), 637–644.

Speakers

Luke Baran

Occupational Therapy Student, Grand Valley State University

Luke Baran is a second-year student in Grand Valley State University's MSOT program. He serves as the secretary for the Pi Theta Epsilon – Delta Theta Chapter and is a member of SOTA. He is interested in working with pediatrics or older adults and providing compassionate care to... Read More →

Lori DeMott

Assistant Professor in the Occupational Therapy Program, Grand Valley State University

Lori DeMott, OTD, OTRL, CHT, is an Assistant Professor on the Clinical Tenure Track in the Department of Occupational Science and Therapy at Grand Valley State University (GVSU). With over six years of academic experience, she has been instrumental in developing and delivering the... Read More →

Kayla DeVries

Occupational Therapy Student, Grand Valley State University

Kayla DeVries is a second year student in Grand Valley State University’s Occupational Therapy Program. She is President of the Delta Theta Chapter of Pi Theta Epsilon, a member of GVSU’s Student Occupational Therapy Association (SOTA), and a member of the Coalition of Occupational... Read More →

Emma Gutierrez

Occupational Therapy Student, Grand Valley State University

Emma Gutierrez is a second year student at Grand Valley State University's Occupational Therapy program. She is an active member of the Delta Theta Chapter of Pi Theta Epsilon, her program's Student Occupational Therapy Association (SOTA), AOTA, and MiOTA. Emma is interested in working... Read More →

Chloe LaForest

Occupational Therapy Student, Grand Valley State University

Chloe LaForest is a student in the Occupational Science and Therapy program at Grand Valley State University. She is interested in pursuing a career as an early intervention or inpatient rehabilitation occupational therapist. She is a member of the Student Occupational Therapy Association... Read More →

Sarah Webster

Occupational Therapy Student, Grand Valley State University

Sarah Webster is a second year student in the Occupational Therapy and Science Program at Grand Valley State University. Sarah is the Treasurer for the Delta Theta Chapter of Pi Theta Epsilon and a member of the Student Occupational Therapy Association. She is also an active member... Read More →

Friday October 2, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm CDT
Rhine (50) POSTERS

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1:00pm CDT

Exploring the Assistive Technology Professional Certification

Friday October 2, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm CDT

Rhine (50) POSTERS

The Assistive Technology Professional (ATP) certification, administered through the Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America (RESNA), is intended to measure competency in providing assistive technology (AT) services. The ATP exam is a 180 multiple-choice questionnaire intended to assess an individual's knowledge across different domains essential for AT service delivery (RESNA, n.d.). The certification is a core component of AT provision throughout the United States, especially for seating and wheeled mobility equipment (CMS, 2025). However, surveys in the past have demonstrated that those with ATP certifications feel inadequately prepared to properly deliver ATP services or lack the necessary resources to fill in those educational gaps (Arthanat et al., 2017). Lee et al. (2024) found that among the providers with the certification, there are inconsistencies in knowledge and training, suggesting variability in educational preparation. Yet, research has shown a relationship between more complex wheelchair provision and the involvement of ATP-certified individuals (Schein et al., 2021), which supports that the ATP is valuable in a client receiving a more appropriate AT device. Therefore, this survey seeks to further understand the education and professional background of the ATP related to their ethical decision-making and perceived value of the ATP certification. This study aims to close this gap through a multiple-choice survey covering these three domains sent out to providers with a current ATP license through RESNA.

Arthanat, S., Elsaesser, L. J., & Bauer, S. (2017). A survey of assistive technology service providers in the USA. Disability and rehabilitation. Assistive technology, 12(8), 789–800. https://doi.org/10.1080/17483107.2016.1265015
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (2025, October 1, 2025). Power Mobility Devices LCD [L33789]. Retrieved from https://www.cms.gov/medicare-coverage-database/view/lcd.aspx?lcdid=33789
Lee, C. D., Peterson, S., Joseph, J., McKernan, G., Cooper, R., Koontz, A. M., Dicianno, B. E., & Cooper, R. A. (2024). Discovering Provider Awareness of Mobility Assistive Technologies and Clinical Guidelines-A Comparative Analysis With Consumer Responses. American journal of physical medicine & rehabilitation, 103(10), 911–917. https://doi.org/10.1097/PHM.0000000000002484
RESNA (n.d.). ATP Exam Eligibility Guidelines. Retrieved from: https://www.resna.org/Certification/Assistive-Technology-Professional-ATP/ATP-Exam-Eligibility
Schein, R. M., Yang, A., McKernan, G. P., Mesoros, M., Pramana, G., Schmeler, M. R., & Dicianno, B. E. (2021). Effect of the Assistive Technology Professional on the Provision of Mobility Assistive Equipment. Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation, 102(10), 1895–1901. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apmr.2021.03.024

Speakers

Jaelyn Amhdar

Student, Western Michigan University

Jaelyn Amhdar is an occupational therapy doctoral student at Western Michigan University. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Exercise Science from Goshen College, with minors in Psychology and Disability Studies.

Corinn Dykes

Student, Western Michigan University

Corinn Dykes is an occupational therapy doctoral student at Western Michigan University. She graduated from Michigan State University with a B.S. in Human Development and Family Studies with a minor in Behavioral Management.

Yun Shin Huang

Student, Western Michigan University

Yun Shin, Huang, OTS is an occupational therapy doctoral student at Western Michigan University. She has an M.S. in Public Health from Taipei Medical University, Taiwan.

Cara Masselink

Associate Professor, Western Michigan University

Cara Masselink, PhD, OTRL, ATP, HPCS is an Associate Professor at Western Michigan University in the Occupational Therapy department. She has a Ph.D. in Interdisciplinary Health Sciences and in both research and clinical practice, focuses on advocating for assistive technology and... Read More →

Friday October 2, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm CDT
Rhine (50) POSTERS

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1:00pm CDT

Occupational Performance Issues in Male and Female High Schoolers Following a Concussion

Friday October 2, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm CDT

Rhine (50) POSTERS

This study examined the experiences of two high school students recovering from a concussion to identify key challenges they faced when returning to school and whether gender influenced recovery.

Speakers

Carla Floyd-Slabaugh, Dr.O.T., OTRL, CBIS

Associate Professor & OST Traditional Program Coordinator, Grand Valley State University Occupational Science and Therapy Program

Dr. Floyd-Slabaugh earned a bachelors in science degree as an occupational therapist from Northeast Louisiana University in 1991 and advanced to a clinical doctorate of occupational therapy from Chatham University in 2016. Dr. Floyd-Slabaugh’s 25+ years of clinical experience includes... Read More →

Lincoln Grwinski

Recent Occupational Therapy student with anticipated graduation in August 2026., Grand Valley State University