MEOTA upcoming events

Dawnland: Virtual Film Screening and Panel Discussion (30 Sep 2026)

Wed, 30 Sep 2026 23:00:00 GMT

Objectives:

Describe how the legacy of residential boarding schools and child welfare practices have affected health, education, and occupational outcomes for Native American children and adults.

Identify how the occupational therapy code of ethics supports practices of cultural safety and truth and reconciliation to promote occupational justice for Native American clients.

Reflect on how this history and lived experiences should influence ethical practice and advocacy both for individual occupational therapy practitioners and for the profession as a whole.

Speaker(s) and Credentials:

Esther Anne, MSW (Passamaquoddy)
Maggie Conners, OTD, OTR/L (St. Regis Mohawk Tribe)
Mary Kolb, DMA, Chief Warrant Officer (ret.) (Nez Perce/Lumbee Tribe)
Sarah Grinder, PhD, OTR/L (Nez Perce/Lumbee Tribe)

Film Synopsis

For most of the 20th century, government agents systematically forced Native children from their homes and placed them with white families. Many children suffered devastating emotional harm by adults who shamed and demeaned them, and tried to erase their culture. In Maine the fallout was unbearable. Dawnland tells the story of the Maine Wabanaki-State Child Welfare Truth and Reconciliation Commission, the first in the U.S. to address Native issues. For over two years, Native and non-Native commissioners traveled across Maine to hear testimony and bear witness to the dramatic impact of the state’s child welfare practices on Wabanaki families. Dawnland takes viewers to Wabanaki communities and inside the truth commission as it grapples with the meaning of truth, reconciliation, racial healing, tribal autonomy, and child welfare system reform. VIEW TRAILER HERE

Speaker Panel

In a panel following the film, hear from Native voices about how this history and legacy impacts children and adults who might be supported by occupational therapy practitioners in education and health care settings today. Learn more about how ethical occupational therapy practice entails truth-telling, challenging systemic and colonial injustices, enacting cultural safety, and supporting reconciliation.

Speaker Bios:

Esther Anne, MSW (Passamaquoddy): Originally from Sipayik, Esther lives on Indian Island in Maine where she enjoys dabbling in many forms of art, growing food and flowers, cheffin' it up, and hugging trees with her granddaughter. She has been making people uncomfortable for decades, sharing both difficult and easy knowledge about Wabanaki and colonialism. Esther was one of the founders of a before-its-time activist group called IRATE - Indigenous Resistance Against Tribal Extinction that brought attention to issues like appropriation of Native spirituality and rights of Native college students. At the Catherine Cutler Research Institute at the University of Southern Maine, she works on projects that engage and benefit tribal communities including facilitating the Maine tribal-state Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) workgroup and creating child welfare resources with the Capacity Building Center for Tribes. She had a primary role in the creation and establishment of the Maine Wabanaki-State Child Welfare Truth and Reconciliation Commission and Wabanaki REACH.

Maggie Conners, OTD, OTR/L (St. Regis Mohawk Tribe): Maggie Conners (she/her) is Kanien'kehá:ka; a member of the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe. She is the granddaughter of a boarding school survivor. She is an occupational therapist who has been working in acute care, ICUs, nursing homes, pediatrics, and mental health facilities for the last 7 years. In 2025 she started an OT department in her tribe's health center and has spent the last year fighting alongside other aunties for justice for Mohawk children in special education who were subject to illegal seclusion and unauthorized timeout practices. Dr. Conners is the chair of OTNA and has provided training to OT practitioners at the local, state and national level regarding cultural safety for Indigenous clients. She is the Vice Chair of the Intertribal Disability Advocacy Council and co-authored the group's 2024 report on the lives of Indigenous Relatives with Disabilities which was presented to the National Council on Disabilities. She recently completed the 2025-2026 NCOA National Falls Prevention Fellowship Program.

Mary Kolb, DMA, Chief Warrant Officer (ret.), (Nez Perce/Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina): Dr. Kolb is an enrolled member of the Nez Perce tribe and holds a doctorate of musical arts from Michigan State University. She recently retired from the military as a Chief Warrant Officer 2, where she worked in personnel security. She served two tours overseas in combat areas and earned the Meritorious Service Medal and an Army Commendation Medal. She currently works for the Indian Health Service as a personnel security specialist, where she helps to ensure that all IHS employees are hired in accordance with Public Law 101-630, the Indian Child Protection and Family Violence Prevention Act.

Sarah Grinder, PhD, OTR/L (Nez Perce/Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina): Dr. Grinder is an enrolled member in the Nez Perce tribe. She is an assistant professor of occupational therapy at the University of Southern Maine and the founding program director for USM’s occupational therapy assistant baccalaureate program. She also works as an occupational therapist in early intervention. She is a 2025-2027 AOTA RISE Pathway Program scholar working on promoting awareness, inclusion, and support for Native American students in occupational therapy. She serves on the Indigenous Health, Education, and Resources Taskforce (IHEART), a collaborative developed in partnership with the Association of American Indian Physicians, American Indian Higher Education Consortium, Association of Native American Medical Students, Association of American Medical Colleges, and the Indian Health Service, to develop culturally safe pathways for Native students to enter and thrive in healthcare fields.

1.5 CEU available for attendance upon completion of evaluation.

Virtual attendance Tips/ Accessibility Note

Save the Date - MEOTA's Fall Conference (17 Oct 2026)

Sat, 17 Oct 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Save the date!

MEOTA Fall Vendors 2026 (17 Oct 2026)

Sat, 17 Oct 2026 11:30:00 GMT

The Maine Occupational Therapy Association (MEOTA) is proud to host our Annual Fall Conference on October 17, 2026, at the University of Southern Maine in Lewiston/ Auburn, Maine. We invite your business to join us in supporting this dynamic and impactful event as a valued sponsor or exhibitor.

This one-day conference will bring together 100-150 occupational therapy professionals and students from across the state, representing diverse areas of practice including pediatrics, rehabilitation (TBI, stroke, orthopedics), home health, long-term care, and mental health. The event will feature engaging guest speakers, hands-on sessions, and a curated vendor showcase, making it an ideal opportunity to connect with clinicians passionate about improving lives through occupational therapy.

We are currently seeking sponsors and exhibitors whose services, products, or missions align with our field. Exhibitors will enjoy high visibility throughout the day, with dedicated time built into the schedule for attendees to engage directly with vendors. Attached is our agenda, which features a powerhouse keynote speaker and a packed line-up. We hope you will join us!

Exhibitor Details:

Vendor Table (approx. 5 feet) with access to electrical outlets, if requested
Lunch included with exhibitor fee
Set-up time: 7:30 AM on the day of the conference
Shipping Samples:

Allison Dellosso

205 Mighty Street
Gorham, ME 04038

Cancellation Policy:

Cancellations made within 14 days of the conference are non-refundable.

Your support helps us advance professional development for occupational therapists in Maine and highlights your commitment to wellness and community care. We would be delighted to have your organization represented at this event.

Thank you for considering this opportunity to partner with MEOTA and celebrate the vital work of occupational therapy professionals across our state.

MEOTA Fall Conference 2026 (17 Oct 2026)

Sat, 17 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMT

Earn up to 6.5 CEUs — and yes, you can rack up maximum CEU by watching multiple concurrent session recordings after the event! CEU are awarded after completion of a brief evaluation and attendance affirmation.

Questions? maineotassociation@gmail.com

Pro tip: Your MEOTA membership gets you the member rate for NHOTA, VOTA, CTOTA, and MAOT/RIOT conferences too. Double (or quintuple!) the learning, same great perks.

*agenda subject to change

Here is the "most needed" food list from Gather to Grow:

Pasta
Rice
Sugar
Tuna
Diced Tomatoes
Tomato Sauce
Corn
Green Beans
Peanut Butter

*They are open to all non-perishables, but these are their most desired items.*

MHSIS: Interoception and OT Practice (4 Nov 2026)

Wed, 04 Nov 2026 23:30:00 GMT

Interoception and OT Practice: Come share effective strategies! Join us for an hour of learning and discussion around how OTP practitioners from mental health settings and all practice settings are using interventions that include helping clients read their own body signals more clearly. Interoception skills begin in early development, but humans need to practice these skills throughout our lifetimes. How are OTP's increasing client capacity to identify and apply their body signals for better regulation and occupational performance for all ages?

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!