12/09/2025
A Letter to the Profession About the OTAC 2026 and 2027 Annual Conferences
Dear Occupational Therapy Practitioners and Students in California,
The OTAC Board, our Executive Director, and I want to share an important update about the future of our OTAC Annual Conference. After thoughtful review and careful consideration of both fiscal responsibility and member needs, the Board has decided to host the 2026 and 2027 Annual Conferences in Pasadena at the Hilton Pasadena. In 2026 we will celebrate OTAC’s 50th Anniversary, and in 2027 we will celebrate the 110th anniversary of occupational therapy.
Historically, we have rotated conference locations between Northern and Southern California to promote equitable access. While this remains important, the financial realities we face—rising post-COVID costs for hotels and related expenses—have made identifying an affordable, sustainable northern option increasingly challenging. To ensure the long-term stability of the association, we must make decisions that minimize risk and support our financial health.
The Pasadena Hilton has offered us a favorable two-year financial package that we cannot overlook. With registration and exhibitor participation essential to our budget, this agreement allows us to continue delivering a high-quality educational experience while keeping financial risks low.
We want to be transparent: this was not an easy decision. We know how important regional representation is, and we did not depart from our preferred rotation lightly. But strong financial footing is essential.
We remain committed to ensuring accessible, high-quality education in all regions. We are working with colleagues in Northern California to organize an in-person symposium in Spring 2026, ideally with space provided to OTAC “in kind,” allowing us to offer an additional educational event in the north without added financial burden. Our goal is to reinstate the Western Regional OT Spring Symposium in the near future, in collaboration with neighboring states.
Over the past year, we hosted more than 50 Special Topic Forums and Symposia. With the launch of the Education Passport, members now receive at least one free PDU each month —many of which are recorded and available online to ensure that geography is never a barrier to learning.
None of this—our conference, programs, advocacy, or community—would be possible without you. We are profoundly grateful to our members and for the trust, commitment, and passion you bring to the profession. Your support sustains this association.
Every choice we make has one goal: to ensure that OTAC continues to thrive, to serve, and to uplift the occupational therapy community throughout California. Thank you for your continued support and dedication.
With Gratitude,
Samia H. Rafeedie, OTD, OTR/L, BCPR, CBIS, FAOTA
President, Occupational Therapy Association of California
