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• Advocacy SIG

  • When
    02 Dec 2025
  •  
    7:00 PM - 8:00 PM
  • Location
    Zoom

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  Date and Time: Tuesday, December 2^nd, 2025, 7-8 PM

  Chairperson(s): Mary O’Donnell & Sarah McKinnon

  Location:  Zoom - to be sent out day before the event

  Title: One Big Beautiful Bill Act- Implications for Occupational Therapy

  Learning Objectives: 

  1. Describe the key provisions and goals of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act related to heath care.
  2. Analyze how the legislation links to occupational therapy’s role in promoting participation, access and delivery of care.
  3. Identify advocacy strategies occupational therapy practitioners can use to support or implement components of the Act within clinical, community, and policy contexts.

  Bio/Focus: Dr. Sarah McKinnon, OT, OTD, MCPR, MPA, FAOTA, FNAP will describe the key provisions within the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and implications for occupational therapy practice. Participants will identify strategies to promote and advocate for occupational therapy practice and access for clients.

  References:

  1. AOTA. (2025). Congress passes final version of the One Big Beautiful Bill: impact on occupational therapy practitioners and students. Retrieved online https://www.aota.org/advocacy/advocacy-news/2025/senate-passes-new-version-of-the-one-big-beautiful-bill-act-impact-on-occupational-therapy-practitioners-and-students
  2. Congress.gov. (2025). H.R.1 - One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Retrieved online https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/1/text
  3. KFF. org. (2025). Health provisions in the 2025 federal budget reconciliation law. Retrieved online https://www.kff.org/medicaid/health-provisions-in-the-2025-federal-budget-reconciliation-law/

  This event will be closed day before event. Please register by 4:00 p.m. on December 1, 2025.

  
  

  Please keep this copy for your own records and keep with your certificate.  MAOT is not responsible for maintaining records for contact hours.

  
  

  
  

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• Pediatric SIG - Developing Meaningful and Measurable IEP Goals

  • When
    21 Jan 2026
  •  
    7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
  • Location
    Zoom

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  Chairpersons: Jocelynn B. Wallach, OT, MS, OTR, Esther Bertrand OT, MS, OTR

  Date: January 21, 2026, 7-8:30 pm

  Location:  Zoom - to be sent out the day before the event

  Title: Developing Meaningful and Measurable IEP Goals

  Speaker: Jan Hollenbeck, OT, OTD, OTR, FAOTA

  Learning Objectives:

  By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

  1. Identify the essential components of a well-written IEP goal that aligns with IDEA requirements and supports student participation in school-based occupations.
  2. Apply strategies to develop IEP goals that are both meaningful (linked to student needs and educational outcomes) and measurable (including clear criteria for progress monitoring).
  3. Analyze examples of occupational therapy goals to determine alignment with the student’s present levels of performance, educational relevance, and data collection methods.

  Bio:

  Dr. Jan Hollenbeck, OT, OTD, OTR, FAOTA, is an occupational therapist and special education administrator with over 35 years of experience in public schools. As co-founder of the Partnership for Advancement of School Service-Providers (PASS), she provides practical professional development, consultation, and mentoring to enhance collaboration, staff retention, and student success. She has worked with more than 50 Massachusetts school districts, taught MA DESE-funded institutes (2007–2019), and presented widely at local, state, and national conferences. A published author and co-author of Guidelines for Provision of Occupational Therapy in Massachusetts Schools, Dr. Hollenbeck also serves as MAOT Liaison to MA DESE and Co-Facilitator of AOTA’s State Leaders in School Practice Community of Practice. She is an AOTA Fellow recognized for her leadership, innovation, and advocacy. 

  References:

  American Occupational Therapy Association, American Physical Therapy Association, & American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. (2022). Joint statement on interprofessional collaborative goals in school-based practice. https://www.asha.org/siteassets/ipp/joint-statement-on-interprofessional-collaborativegoals-in-school-based-practice-2022.pdf

  Wynarczuk, K. D., Chiarello, L. A., Fisher, K., Effgem. S. K., Palisano, R. J., & Gracely, E. J. (2020). Development of student goals in school-based practice: Physical therapists’ experiences and perceptions. Disability and Rehabilitation, 42(25), 3591-3605. https://doi.org/10.1080/09638288.2019.1602673

  Frolek Clark, G., & Polichino, J. (2020). School Occupational Therapy: Staying Focused on Participation and Educational Performance. Journal of Occupational Therapy, Schools, & Early Intervention, 14(1), 19–26. https://doi.org/10.1080/19411243.2020.1776187

  
  

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