Society of Alberta Occupational Therapists

Society of Alberta Occupational Therapists The Society of Alberta Occupational Therapists (SAOT) provides membership services and promotes occup

SAOT is a voluntary, non-regulatory body that provides networking and education opportunities for its members as well as advocating for occupational therapy to government, insurers, and the public.

🏠 Create Safer, More Accessible HomesHow can we turn a home assessment into practical recommendations that truly support...
09/12/2026

🏠 Create Safer, More Accessible Homes

How can we turn a home assessment into practical recommendations that truly support safety, independence, and quality of life?

Join us for this 1.5-day practical workshop designed to strengthen your skills in assessing home environments and developing effective, client-centred recommendations for adults and older adults with physical or cognitive challenges.

📅 October 28, 2026 | 8:30 AM–12:00 PM
📅 October 29, 2026 | 8:30 AM–4:00 PM
💻 Live Online

💡 You’ll learn how to:
🏠 Conduct structured, room-by-room home assessments
🔎 Identify environmental barriers and match them with appropriate modifications and equipment
🤝 Collaborate effectively with funders, vendors, and contractors
🧠 Prioritize recommendations using sound clinical reasoning

Whether you’re new to home modifications or looking to strengthen your existing practice, you’ll leave with practical tools you can apply right away.

🎓 Instructor: Margot McWhirter, OT | Gerontology Specialist, Inclusive Aging

👉 Build your confidence in home modification practice—register today!
🔗 https://saot.ca/event/home-modifications-creating-accessible-inclusive-housing-4/

🐴 What happens when the practitioner becomes the client?In the latest episode of Growing OT, host Claire O’Byrne sits do...
09/10/2026

🐴 What happens when the practitioner becomes the client?

In the latest episode of Growing OT, host Claire O’Byrne sits down with Alexandra Dunn, a trauma-informed integrative counsellor, life coach, reflexologist, and equine facilitator with 25 years of experience.

Alex shares her deeply personal journey through workplace trauma, functional freeze, and recovery—and what it was like to move from being the practitioner “sitting near the door” to navigating workers’ compensation and rehabilitation systems as a client.

✨ In this powerful conversation, Alex explores:
🌿 The role of occupational therapy in her recovery
🐴 The co-regulatory power of animals and equine-facilitated therapy
💛 The profound impact of feeling truly seen
🧠 Holding space without trying to “fix”
🌱 Letting go of rigid agendas and embracing self-compassion

🎧 This is a conversation you won’t want to miss.
Listen to the latest episode of Growing OT and hear Alex’s powerful story of trauma, recovery, and what healthcare professionals can learn from being on the other side of care.

👉 Listen now wherever you get your podcasts!
🔗 https://youtu.be/iWBswYNjxKw?si=S10qENsnDdkBETHB

🌿 Rethinking Assessment Through an Indigenous LensWhat happens when the assessment tools we rely on don’t reflect the li...
09/08/2026

🌿 Rethinking Assessment Through an Indigenous Lens

What happens when the assessment tools we rely on don’t reflect the lived experiences, values, and worldviews of the people we serve?

Join us for this FREE live online webinar for SAOT, OSOT and BCOT members and explore how standardized assessment tools can be misaligned with Indigenous worldviews—and what culturally safer assessment can look like in Alberta.

📅 September 17, 2026
🕛 12:00–1:00 PM MT
💻 Live on Zoom
⚠️ No recording will be available

✨ You’ll learn to:
✔ Recognize limitations of standardized assessment tools
✔ Explore how Indigenous worldviews can inform culturally safer assessment
✔ Apply practical strategies for more equitable OT practice

🎓 Presented by Lauren Remple
Founder & Principal Consultant, Sequoia Collaboration and Consulting, and a proud citizen of Alexander First Nation in Treaty 6 territory. Lauren is Cree and of mixed European ancestry and brings 16+ years of experience in Indigenous engagement, equity, diversity and inclusion, and human resources.

🔗 Register today: https://saot.ca/event/assessment-tools-and-the-misalignment-with-indigenous-worldviews/

🧠💙 Support Connection. Foster Growth. Transform Your Practice.DIR®-Informed Therapy for Neurodivergent Individuals & The...
09/06/2026

🧠💙 Support Connection. Foster Growth. Transform Your Practice.

DIR®-Informed Therapy for Neurodivergent Individuals & Their Caregivers

📅 November 13 & 20, 2026
🕘 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM (each day)
💻 Live Online via Zoom
💸 Eligible for the 2026 Member Credit Discount

Move beyond behaviour-based approaches and discover how the DIR® model helps you understand the why behind a person's actions while building meaningful relationships that support lifelong development.

Over two engaging days, you'll explore practical, relationship-based strategies that promote regulation, communication, participation, and functional outcomes for neurodivergent individuals across clinical, educational, and community settings.

✨ In this workshop, you'll explore:
🧩 How co-regulation creates the foundation for learning and engagement
💙 The 5 C's: Comfort, Competence, Confidence, Control & Communication
😊 Using affect to strengthen connection and enhance therapeutic outcomes
🌱 Applying a DIR® lens to sensory processing, motor development, praxis, and communication
📋 Incorporating the FEAS framework into assessment and intervention
🎥 Learning through real-world case examples and video demonstrations

👥 Ideal for occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, physiotherapists, therapy assistants, educators, and other professionals supporting neurodivergent individuals and their caregivers.

🎓 Presented by:
Rosemary White
Zoe White

🔗 Register today:
https://saot.ca/event/dir-informed-therapy-for-neurodivergent-individuals-their-caregivers/

🧠 What if behaviour isn't the problem—but the clue?Join internationally recognized presenters Kelly Mahler and Chloe Rot...
08/29/2026

🧠 What if behaviour isn't the problem—but the clue?

Join internationally recognized presenters Kelly Mahler and Chloe Rothschild for a two-day workshop that explores behaviour through a neuro-affirming, relationship-centred lens.

📅 October 15–16, 2026
🕘 9:00 AM–12:00 PM (MT) each day
💻 Live Online

Move beyond traditional behaviour-based approaches and discover practical strategies that address the why behind behaviour by supporting regulation, communication, and participation.

✨ Discover the 5 Keys to Supporting Behaviour Regulation:
💙 Building positive relationships & understanding the "why"
🌈 Meeting sensory needs
🗓️ Increasing predictability & using visual supports
💬 Providing communication supports
🧠 Interoception & empowering self-regulation

By the end of this workshop, you'll be able to:
✔ Understand the limitations of traditional behaviour-based approaches.
✔ Explain how each of the 5 Keys supports regulation.
✔ Apply practical, neuro-affirming strategies across a variety of clients and settings.

👥 Perfect for occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, educators, therapy assistants, psychologists, other healthcare professionals, and parents supporting neurodivergent children, youth, and adults.

🎓 Presented by:

Dr.Kelly Mahler, OTD, OTR/L and Chloe Rothschild

🔗 Register through https://saot.ca/event/five-keys-to-supporting-behaviour-regulation/

🌟 Honour a Lifetime of ImpactSharon Brintnell Lifetime Achievement AwardEvery profession is shaped by individuals whose ...
08/26/2026

🌟 Honour a Lifetime of Impact

Sharon Brintnell Lifetime Achievement Award

Every profession is shaped by individuals whose dedication, leadership, and vision leave a lasting legacy. The Sharon Brintnell Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes an occupational therapist whose lifelong contributions have advanced the profession and inspired others across Alberta.

This prestigious award celebrates excellence in areas such as:
✨ Clinical practice
🎓 Teaching and mentorship
📚 Research
🏛️ Administration and leadership
🤝 Community development
📋 Policy development
💙 Volunteer service

🏆 Award Recipient Receives:
🏅 A Lifetime Achievement Recognition Award
🌐 Recognition on the SAOT website and in the SAOT e-Bulletin
🎉 Recognition at the annual SAOT AGM

Do you know an occupational therapist whose career has made a meaningful and lasting difference? Help us recognize their extraordinary contributions and celebrate the legacy they've created for the profession.

🗓️ Nomination Deadline: October 1

👏 Nominate an exceptional OT today and help celebrate a lifetime of service, leadership, and impact. https://saot.ca/members/awards/

🧠 The 6 Guiding Principles of Trauma-Informed PracticeFrom Understanding to Embodied Practical Application📅 November 27–...
08/23/2026

🧠 The 6 Guiding Principles of Trauma-Informed Practice
From Understanding to Embodied Practical Application

📅 November 27–28, 2026
💻 Live Online via Zoom

➕ Complimentary Follow-Up Session: January 7, 2027
💸 Eligible for 2026 Member Workshop Credit

Trauma-informed practice is more than a framework—it's how we show up in moments that matter. This interactive training will help you move beyond theory and develop practical skills to foster safety, regulation, connection, and trust in your everyday work.

💡 You'll learn:
• The 6 guiding principles of trauma-informed practice and how to apply them
• How the nervous system responds to stress, trauma, and triggers
• The Window of Tolerance and its role in regulation
• Practical co-regulation and stabilization strategies
• How to reframe behaviour as an adaptive response
• Ways to support connection, presence, and practitioner wellbeing

Designed for occupational therapists, therapy assistants, support workers, and other healthcare professionals seeking practical, relationship-based approaches to care.

🎓 Presenter: Alexandra Dunn

🔗 Register today: https://saot.ca/event/

💼 Hiring an Occupational Therapist or Therapy Assistant?Connect with qualified professionals across Alberta by posting y...
08/20/2026

💼 Hiring an Occupational Therapist or Therapy Assistant?

Connect with qualified professionals across Alberta by posting your opportunity on the SAOT Employment Listings!

Your posting will be shared with SAOT members for 30 days, helping you reach an engaged audience of occupational therapy professionals and therapy assistants.

📌 Listings are accepted on an ongoing basis—renew your posting if your position is still available.

🔗 Create or renew your posting:
https://saot.ca/advertise/

🎙️ New Episode of Growing OT: How Interoception Transforms Practice🧠 Trauma, Regulation, and Body Connections with Kelly...
08/17/2026

🎙️ New Episode of Growing OT: How Interoception Transforms Practice

🧠 Trauma, Regulation, and Body Connections with Kelly Mahler

What if we shifted the way we understand behaviour, regulation, and therapeutic goals by listening more closely to what the body is telling us?

In this episode of Growing OT, host Claire O’Byrne welcomes back award-winning occupational therapist, author, and internationally recognized interoception expert Kelly Mahler for a powerful conversation about interoception, trauma, and neurodiversity-affirming practice.

✨ In this episode, you'll explore:
🧠 How trauma and chronic stress can impact interoception and connection to body signals
🌈 Why curiosity—not assumptions—is essential for supporting neurodivergent individuals
🤝 Moving beyond traditional ideas of independence toward valuing interdependence
💙 The importance of believing and validating clients’ lived sensory experiences
🌱 Practical ways to bring interoception-informed approaches into practice

Whether you’re an occupational therapist, parent, educator, or someone passionate about understanding human connection, this episode offers meaningful insights into supporting regulation with empathy and curiosity.

🎧 Listen to the episode of Growing OT today! https://youtu.be/B13yNwCmUVE?si=p3P7TielewsKo8R5

✨ Interested in learning more from Kelly Mahler?
Join us for Five Keys to Supporting Behaviour Regulation with Kelly Mahler and Chloe Rothschild.

📅 October 15–16, 2026
💻 Live Online

Explore neuro-affirming strategies to support regulation, communication, and meaningful participation across diverse learning profiles.

🔗 Learn more and register https://saot.ca/event/five-keys-to-supporting-behaviour-regulation/

🏠 Create Safer, More Accessible Homes📅 October 28, 2026 | 8:30 AM–12:00 PM📅 October 29, 2026 | 8:30 AM–4:00 PM💻 Live Onl...
08/14/2026

🏠 Create Safer, More Accessible Homes

📅 October 28, 2026 | 8:30 AM–12:00 PM
📅 October 29, 2026 | 8:30 AM–4:00 PM
💻 Live Online

Home modifications can have a profound impact on safety, independence, and quality of life. Join this practical 1.5-day workshop to strengthen your ability to assess home environments and develop effective, client-centred recommendations for adults and older adults with physical or cognitive challenges.

💡 You'll learn how to:
• Conduct structured, room-by-room home assessments
• Identify environmental barriers and match them with appropriate modifications and equipment
• Collaborate effectively with funders, vendors, and contractors
• Prioritize recommendations using sound clinical reasoning

Whether you're new to home modifications or looking to enhance your practice, this workshop offers practical tools you can apply immediately.

🎓 Instructor: Margot McWhirter, OT | Gerontology Specialist, Inclusive Aging

🔗 Register today: https://saot.ca/event/home-modifications-creating-accessible-inclusive-housing-4/

Address

P. O. Box 53079 14035 105 Avenue NW
Edmonton, AB
T5N0Z1

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