American Occupational Therapy Foundation

03/25/2026

A scoping review by Alhaizan et al. (2025) reveals that despite strong evidence that cultural competence and meaningful engagement are essential for well-being, no studies specifically address migrant Elders in residential aged care. Language barriers, family dynamics, religious beliefs, and experiences of create compounding challenges that current care models are not equipped to address.

Read the full article at OTJR: https://ow.ly/jqB950Ypnj8

03/24/2026

As the countdown to begins, check out our latest State of the Science Symposium Speaker Spotlight featuring AOTF's Immediate Past Board Chair MJ Mulcahey, PhD, OTR/L, FASIA, CLCP! ➡️ Swipe to learn more about the Jefferson College of Rehabilitation Sciences - Thomas Jefferson University professor's exceptional commitment to advancing evidence-based practice in OT.

Join Dr. Mulcahey and other leading research experts at the State of the Science Symposium on April 24!

🎟️ Add to your American Occupational Therapy Association - AOTA INSPIRE Conference & Expo registration: https://inspire.aota.org/about/registration/

Already registered? It's not too late to add! Click the link for more information on updating your registration.

03/24/2026

The countdown begins! With one month left to go until , hear from this year's Breakfast With a Scholar speaker Dr. Kevin B. Johnson on how artificial intelligence can "observe, adapt, and coach, but only if occupational therapists are the ones shaping how it's studied and used."

Add Breakfast with a Scholar to your American Occupational Therapy Association - AOTA INSPIRE Conference and Expo registration today to unlock the power of AI in your occupational therapy practice: https://inspire.aota.org/about/registration/

Already registered? It's not too late to add! Click the link for more information on updating your registration.

03/23/2026

⏰DEADLINE TODAY: Save on your American Occupational Therapy Association - AOTA INSPIRE Conference & Expo registration! Advance pricing ends at midnight tonight.

Don't forget to add our two signature events to your registration! ➡️Swipe to explore.

🎟️Secure your spot today: https://inspire.aota.org/about/registration/

Already registered? It's not too late to add, check out the link for more information on how to update your registration.

03/20/2026

New research by Kossi et al. (2025) examines upper limb assessment after . Self-reported and clinician-observed ABILHAND scores show good concordance (ICC = .77) in individuals with chronic stroke, although these individuals consistently underestimate their own manual ability. While self-report is a valuable screening tool in busy clinical settings, performance-based assessment remains the gold standard for in-depth evaluation.

Read the full article at OTJR: https://ow.ly/8kBS50YpeXA.

03/20/2026

Congratulations to the University of Missouri Occupational Therapy Department's Timothy S. Marks, PhD, MSOT, OTR/L, the 2026 mentee recipient of our Dr. Carolyn Baum Cognitive Function in Daily Life Mentor Award!

This award provides a $10,000 stipend to support collaboration between a mid to senior-level occupational therapy researcher and their mentee to advance a research study focused on cognition's role in enabling daily function.

Marks will work alongside his mentor, UW-Madison Occupational Therapy Program's Dorothy Farrar Edwards, PhD, on their project "​Cognitive Strategy Training to Improve Occupational Performance via Telehealth in Adults with Subjective Cognitive Decline: A Feasibility Study."

Learn more: https://www.aotf.org/Grants/Dr-Carolyn-Baum-Cognitive-Function-in-Daily-Life-Mentor-Award

03/19/2026

The American Occupational Therapy Foundation (AOTF) joins the occupational therapy community in mourning the loss of Bette Bonder, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA, who passed away on March 11, 2026, at the age of 77. Bonder was a distinguished professor and occupational therapy researcher whose contributions shaped the field of occupational therapy and inspired generations of practitioners.

Throughout her career, Bonder played a pivotal role in preventing occupational dysfunction for older adults and promoting cultural competency training to reduce health disparities. She published extensively in these research areas, co-authoring more than 45 papers and chapters and writing three textbooks with multiple editions.

As a research leader and advocate, she achieved numerous accolades, including being named as one of the American Occupational Therapy Association’s (AOTA) 100 Most Influential People for her contributions to the profession and as a Distinguished Alumna of Washington University School of Occupational Therapy.

From 1998-2000, Bonder served as editor of "OTJR: The Occupational Therapy Journal of Research", a leading occupational therapy research journal dedicated to advancing scientific inquiry in the profession. As Timothy Wolf, current OTJR editor-in-chief said, "Bette [Bonder] was an extremely engaged scholar with the journal for many years. She has been on the review board and consistently completed the most reviews for us every year."

In addition to her involvement with OTJR, Bonder dedicated her time and passion to volunteer leadership positions on both AOTF’s Scientific Advisory Council and two terms on the Board of Trustees (2007-2010) (2016-2018). As the inaugural 2017 Planning Grant Collective on Mental Health planning committee chair, Bonder was integral to shaping the foundation and structure of this event that continues to unite interdisciplinary experts biennially to discuss pressing research topics.

Beyond her professional achievements, Bonder will be remembered for her commitment to giving back, particularly through supporting the needs of disadvantaged communities and increasing access to health care and health professional education for underrepresented groups.

The AOTF extends our deepest condolences to Bonder’s family, colleagues, and all who were touched by her remarkable life and work.

For more information, please refer to the official obituary published by Dignity Memorial:

Celebrate the life of Bette Bonder, leave a kind word or memory and get funeral service information care of Berkowitz-Kumin-Bookatz Memorial Chapel.

03/19/2026

Gearing up to attend our State of the Science Symposium in Anaheim next month? Learn more about the experts who will be taking the stage to discuss the connection between coaching evidence and occupational therapy practice at .

This week's State of the Science speaker we're spotlighting is Lauren Little, PhD, OTR, FAOTA, from Rush University College of Health Sciences! ➡️ Swipe to learn more!

Add our State of the Science and Breakfast with Scholar programs to your AOTA INSPIRE registration by Mar. 23 to secure advanced pricing.

🎟️ Secure your spot today: https://inspire.aota.org/about/registration/

03/18/2026

"AI can process information, but occupational therapists process its meaning. The magic will happen when the two work together." Hear more from Kevin Johnson, MD, MS, our speaker for this year's Breakfast with a Scholar: "Augmented Care: Reimagining Occupational Therapy in the AI Age."

📅 Friday, April 24 | ⏰ 7:00 - 9:00 AM PT | 📍Anaheim, CA
🎟️ Add to your AOTA Inspire Conference & Expo registration today!
🌟 Secure your spot - advanced registration ends March 23: https://inspire.aota.org/about/registration/

03/13/2026

❓ Did you know that March is Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month?

Research by AOTF board member Beth Pfeiffer et al. (2025) highlights a critical gap in transition services for young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Using an inclusive environmental scan methodology that engaged people with lived experience at every stage, the authors identified independent living skills, person-centered approaches, and post-secondary experiences as the top community-driven priorities for transition services, with peer support emerging as a key capacity-builder across all three domains.

Read the full article at OTJR:

03/12/2026

What do you need to know about the connection between coaching and occupational therapy? ➡️ Swipe to discover.

Join a panel of leading coaching experts and walk away with practical strategies on how to integrate coaching into your OT practice at AOTF's 2026 State of the Science Symposium.

📅 Friday, April 24 | ⏰ 3:00 - 5:30 PM PT | 📍Anaheim, CA
🎟️ Add to your AOTA Inspire Conference & Expo registration today!
🌟 Secure your spot - advanced registration ends March 23: https://inspire.aota.org/about/registration/