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

NBCOT® National Certification Exam: Information You Need to Know

LIMITED

Saturday October 3, 2026 9:45am - 10:45am CDT

Bach (88)

Limited Capacity seats available

Abstract: During this session, an NBCOT Ambassador will share valuable information about preparing and applying for the national OTR and COTA certification exams. Specific topics include exclusive details about the exams, study tool resources, test day information, data regarding exam questions, and advice from other students and recent certificants. This presentation will allow you to be better informed about the various aspects of the national certification exam experience.

Objectives:
Learning Objectives

Understand the national certification examination application process
Learn about exam preparation strategies and the NBCOT Aspire® Study Tools and StudyPack™
Increase awareness of NBCOT and the importance of continuing competency

Synopsis:
Connect with NBCOT and hear about the best approaches to achieve your goal for Occupational Therapy Certification.

Bibliography:

Practice Analysis of the Occupational Therapist Registered OTR®, NBCOT, 2022
Practice Analysis of the Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant COTA®, NBCOT, 2022

Method of Presentation:
PowerPoint

Outline

Connect with NBCOT

Mission
Social media
MyNBCOT account

Exam application

Eligibility
Certification Exam Handbook
NBCOT Code of Conduct
Transcript
Scoring Calendar
Pearson VUE

Preparation

Study plans
Self-assessment
Exam Content Outline
NBCOT StudyPack
Know before you go
Testing data

Biographical Sketch:
Provide a brief bio (may choose to include a description of your role as an NBCOT Ambassador).

Presenter:
Name: Be sure to indicate you are submitting as an NBCOT Ambassador

Time: 60 minutes

Level: Students

Additional information if needed:

Connect with the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT®) to learn about the best approaches to achieve your goal for initial Occupational Therapy Certification and ways to engage with NBCOT, complete the exam application process, and prepare for the exam. During this presentation, attendees will be informed of NBCOT and ways to connect with the organization through social media and a MyNBCOT account to get information about NBCOT certificatio

Speakers

Krista M Hagarty, OTRL

Clinical Specialist for Michigan, Ovation Rehabilitation Services

Krista Hagarty, OTR/L, serves as the NBCOT Ambassador for Michigan and is a Clinical Specialist in the skilled nursing setting. She is passionate about supporting occupational therapy practitioners through education, mentorship, and promoting best practices in clinical care. Krista... Read More →

Saturday October 3, 2026 9:45am - 10:45am CDT
Bach (88)

1 hour session

11:00am CDT

More Common Than We Think: The Hidden Impact of Binocular Vision Dysfunction in University Students

LIMITED

Saturday October 3, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm CDT

Bach (88)

Limited Capacity seats available

Binocular Vision Dysfunction (BVD) is an often-overlooked visual condition in which the eyes fail to align properly along either the horizontal or vertical axes, contributing to symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, blurred vision, reading difficulties, anxiety, and challenges with attention and concentration. While commonly screened in childhood, BVD may remain undiagnosed in adults, particularly among university students where symptoms are frequently attributed to stress, ADHD, learning disabilities, or mental health concerns.
This session will present survey findings from university students highlighting the functional impact of BVD on academic participation, ADLS, work performance, and instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) and presence of co-morbid diagnoses such as anxiety, and ADHD. Participants will examine the relationship between visual dysfunction and occupational performance, identify common signs and symptoms associated with BVD, and explore the implications for educational success and psychosocial well-being.
By the end of the session, participants will be able to:

Identify common symptoms and functional impacts associated with BVD
Describe how BVD may influence ADLs, IADLs, academic performance, occupational participation, and psychosocial functioning.
Discuss the importance of awareness, screening, referral, and interdisciplinary intervention approaches for adults with suspected BVD.

Rosner, M. S., Feinberg, D. L., Doble, J. E., & Rosner, A. J. (2016). Treatment of vertical heterophoria ameliorates persistent post-concussive symptoms: A retrospective analysis utilizing a multi-faceted assessment battery. Brain Injury, 30(3), 311–317. https://doi.org/10.3109/02699052.2015.1113564
Feinberg, D. L., Rosner, M. S., & Rosner, A. J. (2020). Validation of the Binocular Vision Dysfunction Questionnaire (BVDQ). Otology & Neurotology, 42(1), e66–e74. https://doi.org/10.1097/mao.0000000000002874
García-Muñoz, Á., Carbonell-Bonete, S., Cantó-Cerdán, M., & Cacho-Martínez, P. (2016). Accommodative and binocular dysfunctions: prevalence in a randomised sample of university students. Clinical and Experimental Optometry, 99(4), 313–321. https://doi.org/10.1111/cxo.12376
Jusyte, A., Zaretskaya, N., Höhnle, N. M., Bartels, A., & Schönenberg, M. (2018). Binocular rivalry transitions predict inattention symptom severity in adult ADHD. European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience

Speakers

Afnan Mansour

Masters of Occupational Therapy student, Eastern Michigan University

Afnan Mansour is a second-year Occupational Therapy student at Eastern Michigan University. She has been working alongside Dr. Renuka Roche to research the prevalence of binocular vision dysfunction among college students and its impact on daily functioning and academic participation... Read More →

Dr. Renuka ‘Ray’ Roche

Program Director and Associate Professor, Eastern Michigan University

Dr. Renuka Roche is the Program Director of and Associate Professor in the Occupational Therapy Program at Eastern Michigan University. Her research focuses on Occupation-centered improvement of performance with the eventual goal of developing intervention methods and best practice... Read More →

Alon Samuel

Combined Occupational Therapy Student, Eastern Michigan University

Alon Samuel is a second-year Occupational Therapy student at Eastern Michigan University. He is fulfilling research requirements for graduation by presenting the Binocular Vision Dysfunction research led by EMU faculty member Dr. Renuka Roche and Dr. Mark Rosner of the Vision Specialist... Read More →

Mark Rosner

Chief Operating Officer, Vision Specialists of Michigan

Dr. Mark Rosner is the COO of Vision Specialists of Michigan, a clinic dedicated to the practice of NeuroVisual Medicine, a new optometry specialty focusing on binocular vision / eye misalignment since 2000. He specializes in analyzing and publishing studies in binocular vision... Read More →

Saturday October 3, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm CDT
Bach (88)

1 hour session

1:00pm CDT

Cultural Responsiveness in Occupational Therapy: A Dynamic Process to Enhance Client-Centered Practice

LIMITED

Saturday October 3, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm CDT

Bach (88)

Limited Capacity seats available

During this interactive presentation, participants will review common phrases related to Accessibility, Belonging, Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Justice and discuss the impact of these core operational, ethical, and strategic principles on OT practice. Participants will be asked to reflect on their own personal intersectional identity and how it informs their therapeutic use of self. By the end of the session, participants will have increased awareness of resources that can help clinicians adapt to the unique care needs of diverse populations.
Objectives
1. Review common terminology, historical context, populations impacted, and the core concepts of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Accessibility, Belonging, and Justice
2. Define what culturally responsive care looks like within the OT profession
3. Discuss challenges and opportunities for implementing concepts of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Accessibility, Belonging, and Justice within OT practice across the lifespan

Speakers

Bethany Burge, MS, OTRL, BCG, CNP, CAPS

OTRL, CNP, CAPS

Bethany Burge is a community-based Occupational Therapist specializing in interventions that facilitate wellness, whole-person care, and healthy aging-in-place. Over the last 13 years, Bethany has developed expertise and experience in evidence-based health promotion, falls prevention... Read More →

Saturday October 3, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm CDT
Bach (88)

1 hour session