Indiana Occupational Therapy Association upcoming events

Restoring Recovery (Thursday, May 07, 2026)

Thu, 07 May 2026 22:30:00 GMT

Brief Overview
This course reviews the persistent functional impact of chronic ischemic stroke and the neuroplasticity principles required to drive meaningful upper-extremity recovery. Learners will explore why traditional rehabilitation often fails to deliver sufficient repetitions for cortical change and how Paired Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS) enhances the effectiveness of task-specific practice. The session integrates current evidence, FDA-approved indications, treatment design principles, and real-world clinical implementation strategies for Vivistim® Paired VNS™ Therapy.

Learning Objectives
After completing this course, participants will be able to:
- Explain the role of neuroplasticity and high-repetition, task-specific practice in upper-limb motor recovery after chronic ischemic stroke.
- Describe the mechanism of action, FDA-approved indication, and clinical evidence supporting Paired VNS Therapy.
- Apply core VNS therapy principles (active movement, salience, task specificity, and repetition) to treatment planning and patient selection in clinical practice.

Presenters

Amanda Saylor OTR/L, CNS, CBIS

Amanda Saylor is an occupational therapist specialized in neurological rehab; she is a certified brain injury specialist and a certified neurological specialist. Amanda previously worked as the Lead Occupational Therapist for AdventHealth's outpatient neurological clinics across central Florida, where she led the development of their Vivistim program.Amanda personally worked with over 25 Vivistim patients during her time with AdventHealth and with this experience she delivered numerous CEUcourses on best practices for pairing therapy with Vivistim. In 2025, Amanda joined the MicroTransponder team in professional education, continuing her passion for training clinicians and advancing outcomes for individuals living with chronic stroke.

Sarah Blair, OTR/L

Sarah Blair is an experienced occupational therapist specialized with subject matter expertise spanning neurological, infant, and burn rehabilitation. Sarah previously worked at Riley Hospital for Children for five years, and has also held roles in private outpatient and early intervention settings, building a well-rounded foundation across the spectrum of pediatric care. Fascinated by neurorecovery and neuroplasticity, Sarah joined the MicroTransponder team in December 2025 as the Indiana Therapy Development Specialist, bringing her passion for connecting clinicians and families with innovative treatment options for those searching for continued recovery.

Children and Youth SIS Networking & Mentoring Session (Monday, May 18, 2026)

Mon, 18 May 2026 23:30:00 GMT

Children and Youth SIS

Networking & Mentoring Session

CYSIS Virtual Event

May 18, 2025 from 7:30-8:30 pm EST

Cost: Free to IOTA members, $10 for non-members

IOTA CEUs = 1

This event will provide time for networking and mentoring with other pediatric OT practitioners. Breakout rooms will be created for school-based practice, early intervention, and hospital/clinic based practice so that practitioners may have discussions with peers who share their practice area. Discussion questions will be provided and responses will be collected. The CYSIS co-chairs are interested to learn how IOTA can best serve Indiana occupational therapy practitioners serving children and youth.

At the end of this presentation participants will be able to:

Describe the current strengths and areas for growth for OT for children and youth in Indiana.
Identify at least one strategy for improving or enhancing OT practice for children and youth in Indiana.

A zoom link will be shared with those that register. If you have any questions about this event, contact cysis@inota.com

MHSIS Journal Club April- Anxiety & Daily Life (Tuesday, May 19, 2026)

Tue, 19 May 2026 23:00:00 GMT

IOTA MHSIS Journal Club Announcement

May Journal Club: Characteristics of Occupational Therapy Interventions for Community-Dwelling Adults With Anxiety: Protocol for a Scoping Review

The Indiana Occupational Therapy Association – Mental Health Special Interest Section (IOTA MHSIS) invites you to join our May Journal Club as we explore occupational therapy’s role in supporting community-dwelling adults experiencing anxiety. This session will focus on emerging evidence, intervention characteristics, and implications for practice across settings.

Date: May 19, 2026
⏰ Time: 7:00 PM (ET)
Format: Virtual Journal Club Discussion

Featured Article:
Characteristics of Occupational Therapy Interventions for Community-Dwelling Adults With Anxiety: Protocol for a Scoping Review
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10018378/

What We’ll Discuss

Key characteristics and categories of OT interventions for anxiety
How occupational engagement supports mental health and participation
The role of sensory-informed and occupation-based approaches
Gaps in current literature and implications for future research
Translation of findings into real-world clinical and community practice
Strategies for supporting clients with anxiety across diverse settings

Who Should Attend

OT practitioners
OT and OTA students
Educators
Emerging professionals
Anyone interested in strengthening their understanding of mental health and sensory-informed OT practice

Join us for a supportive, engaging conversation and connect with colleagues who are passionate about advancing mental health occupational therapy in Indiana.

1 Free CEU for members
$10 for non-members

Children and Youth SIS Networking & Mentoring Session (Monday, June 15, 2026)

Mon, 15 Jun 2026 23:30:00 GMT

Children and Youth SIS

Networking & Mentoring Session

CYSIS Virtual Event

June 15, 2025 from 7:30-8:30 pm EST

Cost: Free to IOTA members, $10 for non-members

IOTA CEUs = 1

At the end of this presentation participants will be able to:

Describe the current strengths and areas for growth for OT for children and youth in Indiana.
Identify at least one strategy for improving or enhancing OT practice for children and youth in Indiana.

A zoom link will be shared with those that register. If you have any questions about this event, contact cysis@inota.com

Children and Youth SIS Networking & Mentoring Session (Monday, August 17, 2026)

Mon, 17 Aug 2026 23:30:00 GMT

Children and Youth SIS

Networking & Mentoring Session

CYSIS Virtual Event

August 17, 2025 from 7:30-8:30 pm EST

Cost: Free to IOTA members, $10 for non-members

IOTA CEUs = 1

At the end of this presentation participants will be able to:

Describe the current strengths and areas for growth for OT for children and youth in Indiana.
Identify at least one strategy for improving or enhancing OT practice for children and youth in Indiana.

A zoom link will be shared with those that register. If you have any questions about this event, contact cysis@inota.com

Children and Youth SIS Networking & Mentoring Session (Monday, September 14, 2026)

Mon, 14 Sep 2026 23:30:00 GMT

Children and Youth SIS

Networking & Mentoring Session

CYSIS Virtual Event

September 14, 2025 from 7:30-8:30 pm EST

Cost: Free to IOTA members, $10 for non-members

IOTA CEUs = 1

At the end of this presentation participants will be able to:

Describe the current strengths and areas for growth for OT for children and youth in Indiana.
Identify at least one strategy for improving or enhancing OT practice for children and youth in Indiana.

A zoom link will be shared with those that register. If you have any questions about this event, contact cysis@inota.com

Children and Youth SIS Networking & Mentoring Session (Monday, December 07, 2026)

Tue, 08 Dec 2026 00:30:00 GMT

Children and Youth SIS

Networking & Mentoring Session

CYSIS Virtual Event

December 7, 2025 from 7:30-8:30 pm EST

Cost: Free to IOTA members, $10 for non-members

IOTA CEUs = 1

At the end of this presentation participants will be able to:

Describe the current strengths and areas for growth for OT for children and youth in Indiana.
Identify at least one strategy for improving or enhancing OT practice for children and youth in Indiana.

A zoom link will be shared with those that register. If you have any questions about this event, contact cysis@inota.com