Exploring the Frontiers of Occupation

WHITEHORSE, June 12 – More than 300 occupational therapists and related health care professionals from across Canada and internationally will gather in Whitehorse, Yukon from June 12-14 for the annual conference of the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists (CAOT).Join CAOT for this 3-day conference when delegates will discover and promote innovative practice through their exchange of leading-edge ideas and ground-breaking research on health care issues pertinent to northern communities. Occupational therapists help people of all ages and abilities by allowing them to participate in daily activities.

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Featured presentations:

Achieving educational goals for students with mental illness – As mental illness often hits individuals in late adolescents, dropping out of high school becomes a huge barrier to future employment and education for affected individuals. With supports in the mental health system and educational institutions working together, individuals living with mental illness are more likely to achieve their educational goals and start to build a future. Colleen McCain will present findings of a study that explored how collaborative education programs can assist individuals with mental illness.

Rehabilitation with Nintendo’s Wii – Jonathan Halton will present how occupational therapists use current technology in creative ways. An emerging treatment method for adults recovering from brain injury, spinal cord injury and stroke is the use of Nintendo’s Wii system. This new technology provides a fun and engaging way to help improve function.

About CAOT

The Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists (CAOT) was founded in 1926 and is a national, non-profit professional organization. It strives to advance excellence in occupational therapy practice and to promote access to quality occupational therapy services for all people of Canada. CAOT, along with its provincial and territorial affiliates, represents over 10,000 occupational therapists and almost 1,100 students.

For more details on the conference program, please visit the CAOT web site at www.caot.ca.

Members of the media are welcome to attend any of the sessions. All events are held at the Yukon College, 500 College Drive. Please visit the Registration Desk to pick up a pass. A media room is available for interviews.

For further information: or to book an interview: Wade Scoffin, Association of Yukon Occupational Therapists, (867) 334-1553,
wade@occupationaltherapy.ca