Society of Alberta Occupational Therapists

01/22/2026

"More than one-third of teachers were waiting for student assessments like speech therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy and psycho-educational assessments..."

The president of the Alberta Teacher’s Association (ATA), Jason Schilling, is holding a press conference in Edmonton Wednesday on a recent survey of educators the union says yields “concerning” results.

01/21/2026

🗣️ Bell Let’s Talk Day 🗣️

Mental health is shaped by our routines, environments, and opportunities to participate in meaningful life roles. Occupational therapists support mental health by helping people build structure, connection, and balance in daily life.

Today — and every day — let’s keep the conversation going.

01/20/2026

The Promoting Healthy Sleep for Early Childhood (PHS-EC) program is pleased to invite you to participate in and evaluate a new online professional development program for healthcare providers related to sleep concerns in young children. The Promoting Healthy Sleep for Early Childhood (PHS-EC) program is an online training program for multidisciplinary healthcare providers that provides information related to the assessment and treatment of sleep problems in children under the age of 5 years.

We are inviting healthcare providers who have experience working with children under the age of 5 years to review the five sessions in the program and provide feedback through post-program questionnaires and a brief interview. Each unit consists of short videos, case studies, and optional additional readings and resources.

This study will involve completing three pre-program questionnaires (~20 minutes) and the PHS-EC program within two weeks (~3-4 hours in total), followed by completion of four post-program questionnaires (~35 minutes), and participation in an interview scheduled at a time that is convenient to you (~30 minutes).

To be eligible for this study, individuals must:

Be a licensed or registered healthcare provider (with fluency in English) practicing in Canada (e.g., physician, psychologist, nurse, or other allied health professional [e.g., social worker, occupational therapist, etc.])

Not consider themselves to be a sleep expert or work in a clinical practice mainly focused on pediatric sleep

Have worked with at least 2 children under the age of 5 years with sleep concerns in the last 2 years

Not have previously participated in the Promoting Healthy Sleep – Child usability study or other research related to the Promoting Healthy Sleep for Early Childhood program

If you are interested in participating, please follow the link below to complete a screening questionnaire and to review and complete an Information and Consent Form: https://redcap.its.dal.ca/surveys/?s=H3CE7P3WKTFNYRJ9

If you have any questions, please contact phs-ec@dal.ca.

01/17/2026

🌟 Welcome to the SAOT Community Platform 🌟

Built by OTs, for OTs across Alberta, this is your space to connect, collaborate, and learn together.

✔ Share insights and lived experience
✔ Talk through challenges as they arise
✔ Stay up to date on OT news and events
✔ Connect with colleagues across practice areas

🚀 Join the conversation today:
https://community.saot.ca/home/

Sign up using your ACOT registration number or SAOT Member ID and start connecting with peers who truly understand OT practice.

01/14/2026

✨ Upcoming SAOT Sessions with Teresa Siebold ✨

1️⃣ “Why Is My Client Struggling to Do That?”
📅 May 8, 2026 | 1–4 pm MT | Live Online
Learn to create clear, prioritized impairment lists using NDT, orthopedic, and sensory approaches — improving efficiency and functional outcomes.

2️⃣ Movement, Perception & Plasticity
📅 May 29, 2026 | 1–4 pm MT | Live Online
Explore how sensory and perceptual impairments affect movement, and develop functional, activity-based treatment plans for clients with neurological injury.

💻 Grow your clinical reasoning and problem-solving skills with interactive case studies and discussions.

🔗 Register: https://saot.ca/workshops-events/

01/11/2026

💚 SAOT Support for Therapy Assistants — Now Open! 💚

SAOT is pleased to offer complimentary registration for therapy assistants through February 28, 2026.

With registration, you’ll receive:
✔ Complimentary SAOT registration
✔ Access to Group Plan Professional Liability Insurance through Brokerlink

✅ Who’s eligible:
• Therapy assistants (OTA, PTA, SLPA) living and/or working in Alberta
• Graduates of a recognized therapy assistant program in Alberta or elsewhere in Canada

💡 Don’t miss out on these supports — register today:
🔗 https://saot.ca/therapy-assistants/

01/08/2026

💜 January is Alzheimer’s Awareness Month 💜

Occupational therapists play an important role in supporting people living with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias — promoting independence, safety, and meaningful participation in daily life.

SAOT recognizes the impact of dementia on individuals, families, and caregivers, and the value of OT across the continuum of care.

01/05/2026

💙 SAOT Early Bird Memberships Are Open! 💙

Early Bird SAOT membership renewals and new memberships opened January 1, 2026. Memberships purchased during the Early Bird period are valid through February 2027.

As a SAOT member, you’ll enjoy:
✔ Discounted professional development opportunities
✔ Connection with Alberta’s OT community
✔ Exclusive member benefits, including Perkopolis discounts, access to extended health benefits, and group professional liability insurance rates
✔ Advocacy and resources supporting OT practice
✔ A 2026 workshop credit equal to the full value of your paid membership

Renew or join today:
🔗 https://saot.ca/members/

01/03/2026

✨ OT Leaders — this one’s for you. ✨

Leading with Confidence in Complex Times is a two-part leadership series created for occupational therapy professionals navigating conflict, change, and complexity with clarity, courage, and confidence.

📅 February 10 & 17, 2026 | 9:00–12:00 PM MT
🎁 Bonus: Complimentary follow-up session on March 3 (11:00 AM–12:00 PM MT)
🎤 Presenter: Shiyen Shu, MScOT, PMP, CYT

Build your confidence. Expand your leadership impact. Lead change with purpose.

🔗 https://saot.ca/event/leading-with-confidence-in-complex-times/

01/01/2026

✨ Happy New Year 2026 ✨

The Society of Alberta Occupational Therapists looks forward to another year of advancing the profession, supporting our members, and advocating for occupational therapy across Alberta.

Thank you for being part of our OT community.

12/30/2025

👋 Meet Our Executive Director: Robin Telasky

Robin brings over 30 years of experience in communications and non-profit management. She has been a dedicated part of the SAOT community since 2008 and is passionate about growing both the association and the occupational therapy profession to its full potential.

Join us in celebrating Robin’s commitment to leadership, advocacy, and connection within Alberta’s OT community.

12/28/2025

OT leaders: this one’s for you ✨

Leading with Confidence in Complex Times is a 2-part leadership series designed to help Occupational Therapy Professionals navigate conflict, change, and complexity with clarity, courage, and confidence.

📅 Feb 10 & 17, 2026 | 9am–12pm MT
🎁 BONUS: Free follow-up session – March 3 (11am–12pm MT)
🎤 Presented by Shiyen Shu, MSc.OT, PMP, CYT

Grow your confidence. Strengthen your impact. Lead change with intention.
https://saot.ca/event/leading-with-confidence-in-complex-times/