AOTA Conference: A Look Into the Student Experience

May 5, 2026
by Guest Author

Community Getting Involved Living in LA

The annual AOTA (American Occupational Therapy Association) conference took place in Anaheim, California on April 23-25. Keep reading for some student experiences at the conference!

Megha Gala

Walking into my first AOTA Inspire Conference, I thought I was coming to learn techniques. I didn’t expect to leave questioning and expanding what it truly means to practice occupational therapy.

One moment that stayed with me was during “Parkinson’s Treatment Strategies Across All Stages.” The speaker didn’t just talk about motor symptoms, she spoke about preserving self. How a simple cue or adaptive strategy can mean the difference between dependence and dignity. It reframed Parkinson’s for me not as decline, but as a continuum where OT holds space for identity. In contrast, “A Holistic Approach in Acute Care Oncology” felt quietly powerful. Amid monitors and medical urgency, OT was positioned as the profession that asks, what still matters to this person today? That question lingered with me long after the session ended.

I also found myself unexpectedly inspired by “Alternative Exercise in Parks for Stroke Rehabilitation.” It challenged the walls we place around therapy reminding me that recovery can happen in sunlight, in community, in movement that feels like life again. And then, seeing innovations in VR and hand rehabilitation robotics it felt like watching the future unfold in real time.

But the moment that truly grounded me was seeing a USC Chan professor on that stage. Confident, impactful, shaping the narrative of our profession. I felt an overwhelming sense of pride. This is where I’m being trained. This wasn’t just a conference. It was a shift from learning OT, to belonging to it.

Sri Raagavi Devi Kumaravel

Attending the AOTA Conference as a USC Chan student was an inspiring and meaningful experience. As an international student, receiving the Berro Award gave me the opportunity to attend my first occupational therapy conference in the United States, and I am deeply grateful for that support.

One of the most impactful sessions I attended explored inclusive travel using Disneyland as a case study. Since the conference took place in Anaheim, the experience felt especially immersive — we could even see the Disneyland Ferris wheel from the conference room. Seeing Disneyland presented as a “microcosm,” both inclusive and exclusionary, changed the way I think about accessibility beyond healthcare settings and into everyday community experiences. I was especially intrigued to learn that travel is not simply leisure, but can also support autonomy, self-esteem, identity exploration, and personal achievement.

I also attended sessions on school-based practice using the CO-OP approach, sleep health interventions, and school engagement in children with cerebral palsy, which strengthened my clinical reasoning and reinforced concepts related to my evidence-based project.

The conference reminded me how occupational therapy can shape communities, participation, and meaningful life experiences beyond clinical settings.

Dana Nguyen

Attending the AOTA Conference as a recipient of the Michelle Berro Scholarship was both an inspiring and affirming experience. Surrounded by passionate occupational therapy practitioners, students, and leaders from across the country, I felt a strong sense of belonging within the OT community. Each session I attended expanded my understanding of evidence-based practice, advocacy, and the evolving role of occupational therapy in diverse settings. Sessions expanding from Artificial Intelligence for Low Vision to OT in Adult End-of-Life Care challenged me to think more holistically about client-centered care. Beyond sessions, exploring technologies such as virtual reality and robot-assisted devices brought neurorehabilitation concepts to life. I also connected with OT students nationwide and participated in NBCOT activities, where I gained both knowledge and confidence. Additionally, hearing directly from clinicians who are making meaningful changes in their communities reinforced my commitment to becoming a practitioner who not only supports clients but also advocates for systemic change. I am incredibly grateful for the Michelle Berro Scholarship, which made this opportunity possible. This experience has strengthened my passion for occupational therapy and motivated me to continue learning, leading, and contributing to the profession.

Marie Nicole Carmela Sombillo

It was my first time attending the AOTA Conference, and I knew I had to make the most of it. Even though I was the only one from my cohort and didn’t have a constant companion throughout the three-day event, I set a clear intention: to immerse myself fully. I carefully organized my schedule to attend as many sessions as possible, listened intently to each speaker (J.M. Martinez’s keynote address even made me teary-eyed), explored poster presentations, and made sure to ask questions. I also took every opportunity to connect with exhibitors and fellow attendees.

As a pedagogy resident, most of the sessions I attended focused on transitioning to academia and understanding the foundations of being an educator. From this experience, I came away with five key takeaways: the more you know, the more you realize what you don’t know; networking builds connections and opens opportunities; showing up daily makes a difference; inspiration can be found in the everyday grind; and most importantly, you must pave your own way and pursue what sparks you.

Overall, the conference was an eye-opening and insightful experience, and one I look forward to attending again!

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