Rhode Island Occupational Therapy Association upcoming events

Collaborative work in the public schools...How are we doing? (17 Nov 2026)

Tue, 17 Nov 2026 23:00:00 GMT

Facilitated by: Lise Faulise, Kim Gilbert, & Kim Saccucci

Join us for a dynamic, interactive session focused on collaboration and practical strategy. This meeting will be an open discussion facilitated by our leaders, designed for everyone to share ideas and problem-solve together.

Come ready to collaborate, reflect on your current caseload, and brainstorm actionable solutions with your peers.

Learning Objectives:

1. (Interdisciplinary Collaboration): Participants will design 3 movement-based enhancements to integrate into existing social-emotional regulation strategies currently utilized by other school-based service providers.

2. (Caseload & Workload Management): Participants will articulate a structured decision-making framework for balancing and allocating time across IEP direct services, consults, 504 accommodations, and Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) requests.

3 (Professional Resilience & Support): Participants will identify 3 readily available systemic or professional support resources to mitigate burnout and address the challenges of increasing student severity and workload demands in the school setting.

Annual Business Meeting (18 Nov 2026)

Wed, 18 Nov 2026 23:30:00 GMT

Wednesday November 18, 2026

6:30-8:00pm

New England Institute of Technology, Room S 330
1 New England Tech Blvd, East Greenwich RI

Join us as we discuss the organization’s goals, both local and national updates, and welcome guest speaker Akshay Talwar for an inspiring presentation “Values Are the Foundation of Leadership”

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

Akshay Talwar's book, Diamonds of Humanity: Moments That Reveal What Matters Most, began as a legacy for his grandchildren. Its short stories grew out of a lifetime of experiences with family, immigration, caregiving, work, kindness and the people he has met along the way. In this program, those stories become the starting point for a conversation about values and leadership.

The central idea is simple: values are the foundation of leadership. Values become visible in the choices we make. Other people see those choices and sometimes follow them. Leadership can therefore come from anyone, with or without a title.

Talwar will share stories and selected readings from Diamonds of Humanity, including experiences from childhood in India, his arrival in the United States at age 20, and more than three decades in senior care. Some stories are serious and reflective. Others are lighter immigrant stories about learning American language, customs and expectations. The readings will allow the audience to experience some of these moments as they appear in the book and use them as a starting point for reflection and discussion.

For occupational therapy professionals, the discussion will focus on everyday human interactions. Dignity, compassion, listening, cultural awareness and individual choice are expressed in small moments with patients, residents, families and coworkers. Those moments can affect how a person experiences care and how colleagues learn from one another.

The program will be story-driven and conversational, combining Talwar's leadership talk with selected readings from Diamonds of Humanity, reflection, audience discussion and questions.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

1. Describe how personal values can become visible leadership behaviors, regardless of title or formal authority.

2. Identify opportunities in occupational therapy practice to express dignity, compassion, cultural awareness and respect for individual choice.

3. Discuss how personal experience, cultural background and assumptions can influence interactions with patients, residents, families and colleagues.

4. Recognize how ordinary professional behaviors can influence coworkers and the experience of people receiving care.

SPEAKER BIOGRAPHY

Akshay K. Talwar, LNHA, is the owner and CEO of the Briarcliffe Campus in Johnston, Rhode Island, and the licensed administrator of Briarcliffe Manor Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation. He has spent more than three decades in senior care. Under his leadership, Briarcliffe Manor has maintained the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Five-Star overall rating for 16 consecutive years.

Born in Calcutta, India, Talwar came to the United States in 1969 at the age of 20. His career has taken him through accounting, law, teaching and healthcare administration. He is a lawyer and CPA, a former college instructor, and a licensed nursing home administrator.

He is the author of Diamonds of Humanity: Moments That Reveal What Matters Most, a collection of personal stories about kindness, gratitude, immigration, caregiving, family, leadership and the small human moments that reveal what matters most. The RIOTA program draws directly from these stories and will include selected readings from the book.

Virtual Tour of Easter Seals Assistive Technology Regional Center (7 Dec 2026)

Mon, 07 Dec 2026 23:30:00 GMT

RIOTA Adult Physical Disability SIG Presents

Join us for a virtual tour of the Easter Seals Assistive Technology Regional Center! Focused on Assistive Technology Across the Lifespan

Easter seals Massachusetts, runs two lending libraries of assistive technology (AT) that are funded by the federal AT act. With device demonstrations offered at two locations, Worcester and Boston and in the community with the mobile ATRC van.

The centers maintain an extensive collection of equipment, software, and toys, ranging from low-tech to high-tech solutions. Thousands of devices support clients of all ages, from adaptive toys for young children to tools for adults, across communication, education, hearing and vision impairment, and daily living.

The ATRC also offers webinars, trainings, community events, adaptive toy giveaways, and other programs designed to increase access to assistive technology.

Join us on Zoom for a virtual tour of the Boston lending library and learn how Easter Seals' AT programs and resources can support you as a clinician and benefit your clients.

The tour will be hosted by Sarah Parker, M.S.Ed, Assistive Technology Regional Center program manager for Easterseals MA. Sarah is passionate about expanding access to assistive technology (AT) and helping people identify solutions that meet their needs. Through trainings and demonstrations, she explores a wide range of AT tools and accessibility features that support participation and independence in work, school, hobbies, and everyday life.

After this tour, you will be able to:

Describe the types of AT available through the ATRC lending library and how the devices can support client goals.
Explain how clinicians and clients can borrow devices for a trial period, including how to search the inventory and request devices.
Identify next steps for clients to find and obtain the right device, including Easterseals' Alternative Finance Program and other funding referral options.

Occupational Therapy and Artificial Intelligence Ethical Considerations in Practice (14 Jan 2027)

Thu, 14 Jan 2027 23:30:00 GMT

The Future of Occupational Therapy is Here—Are You Ready?

Artificial intelligence is rapidly changing healthcare, and occupational therapy is no exception. Join the New England Occupational Therapy Collaborative for an engaging webinar exploring the ethical opportunities and challenges of integrating AI into OT practice. Free for CONNOTA, MEOTA, MAOT, NHOTA, RIOTA, and VOTA members!

Occupational Therapy & Artificial Intelligence Ethical Considerations in Practice

Presenter: Pooja A. Patel, DrOT, OTR/L, BCG Founder & Educator, The OT Algorithm

Whether you're new to AI or already incorporating it into your workflow, this session will provide valuable insights to help you navigate this rapidly evolving landscape.

Don't miss this opportunity to learn from a leader in AI and occupational therapy!