2026 AKOTA Spring Conference
Saturday & Sunday, March 21-22, 800am-430pm
EARN UP TO 14 CEUs
Meet Our Distinguished Speaker!
Katy Kerris, OT, CHT, NDT
AKOTA SPRING CONFERENCE 2026 PRESENTER
Katy has been an occupational therapist since 1989, primarily helping adults with neuromotor dysfunction gain functional independence. She is a Certified Hand Therapist who addresses impairments of the upper limb from both neurologic and orthopedic perspectives. She is also an NDT Adult Occupational Therapy instructor and has instructed or assisted teaching over 20 courses, nationally and internationally.
ASSOCIATE PRESENTERS: Destiny Lee, OT, Lesley Lyman, SLP, Tamara Moore, OT, and Ali Simpson, OT
~Problem Solving to Improve Function~
This course will delve into a variety of subjects in the rehab world to give therapists strategies to increase function in their patients. Learning methods include didactic information, but also hands on strategies applicable to many types of patients, as well as group problem solving to apply techniques taught in the course. Open to all occupational therapy, physical therapy, and speech language pathology practitioners!
Learning Objectives:
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- Participants will understand and apply the ICF in assessment
- Participants will practice orthopedic assessment skills for the upper limb
- Participants will maximize success in treatment by using handling, activity and the set up to improve function
- Participants will apply anatomy and kinesiology of the shoulder girdle to the common problems of subluxation and shoulder pain to improve functional task performance
- Participants will apply anatomy and kinesiology of normal breathing through hands on treatment strategies
- Participants will learn cognitive strategies to improve safety and function in patients
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Lodging Deal: Springhill Suites by Marriott, downtown Anchorage $189/night
Rooms must be booked by FEBRUARY 27 using the link below:
CLICK HERE TO BOOK ROOM BEFORE FEB 27
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Conference Location: UAA Beatrice McDonald Hall Room 116, 3211 Providence Drive, Anchorage AK 99508
Directions and Parking Information: Park in the West Parking lot (refer to UAA campus map), located between Lake Otis Parkway and Providence Beatrice MacDonald Hall is building #5 on the map, the conference location is on the first floor room 116, signage will be posted!
Beatrice McDonald Hall, Room 116 3211 Providence Drive, Anchorage AK
SCHEDULE
Saturday, March 21, 8:00-4:30
8:00—10:00 Maximizing Outcomes: Assessment (lecture and video analysis)
–using the ICF to assess function and impairments
–orthopedic evaluation for the upper limb
10:00—10:15 Break
10:15–1200 Setting Up a Patient for Immediate Success: Treatment
–Typical movement lab and movement analysis for the limbs and the trunk
–Introduction of the treatment triangle
12:00—1:00 Closed and Modified Chain in the Upper Limb
–brief powerpoint—picture analysis; treatment continuum
–break out sessions for problem solving
1:00—2:30 Lunch and AKOTA meeting
2:30—4:30 Cognition to Improve Function in Patients
Sunday, March 22, 8:00-4:30
8:00—10:00 Distal Upper Extremity
–anatomy and kinesiology of the distal upper extremity as it relates to function
–video analysis
10:00—10:15 Break
10:15—12:15 Proximal Upper Extremity
–anatomy and kinesiology of the proximal limb
–understanding and treating pain in the proximal limb
–understanding and treating subluxation
12:15—1:00 Lunch
1:00—4:00 We All Need to Breathe (Tamara Moore, OT; Lesley Lyman, ST)
–anatomy and kinesiology of breathing
–hands on strategies to facilitate breathing with patients
4:00—4:30 Harnessing Neuroplasticity for Recovery
–develop common sense neuroplasticity strategies to your patient group
