Call for Papers will open in March, 2026!
Call for Proposals – MOTA 2026 Annual Conference
Conference Theme: The Power of Occupation: Empowering Lives Through Purposeful Doing
Conference Date: Saturday, September 26, 2026.
Location: McDaniel College, Westminster, Maryland.
The Maryland Occupational Therapy Association (MOTA) invites you to submit a proposal to present at the 2026 Annual Conference. This year’s in-person event will celebrate and showcase the creativity, diversity, and meaningful contributions of occupational therapy professionals under the theme:
The Power of Occupation: Empowering Lives Through Purposeful Doing
The 2026 MOTA conference celebrates the heart of occupational therapy: the powerful, life-shaping impact of what people do every day. The Power of Occupation: Empowering Lives Through Purposeful Doing invites practitioners, educators, students, and thought leaders to explore how meaningful engagement in occupations drives health, identity, and well-being—not only for the clients we serve, but also for ourselves as professionals and human beings.
Presentation Opportunities
As we bring the theme The Power of Occupation: Empowering Lives Through Purposeful Doing to life, we welcome submissions across a range of formats. Please indicate your preferred format when submitting.
1. Poster Presentation
Posters will be displayed during a designated session. Presenters will interact with attendees and respond to questions. Posters will be mounted on stands (dimensions TBD).
2. Course/Workshop (60 minutes)
Workshops offer a full hour to deliver a more interactive, creative learning experience. In keeping with the theme, presenters are encouraged to engage participants through discussion, demonstration, group work, or hands-on activities.
Important Submission Information
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- Submission Deadline: June 5, 2026. Late submissions will not be accepted.
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- Review Criteria: Proposals will be reviewed for clarity, accuracy, relevance to current OT practice, and alignment with the conference theme: Innovate. Inclusion. Impact.
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- Notification of Acceptance: Presenters will be notified of acceptance status by June 26, 2026.
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- Presenter Confirmation: Accepted presenters must sign and return a speaker agreement by July 3, 2026.
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- Presenter Information: All presenters and their credentials must be included at the time of submission. Presenters may not be added after the submission deadline.
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- Submission Process: All proposals must be submitted via the online form on the MOTA website. Submissions sent via email will not be accepted.
Submission Requirements
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- Title of Presentation
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- Presentation Level: Entry, Intermediate, or Advanced
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- Synopsis (30–40 words)
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- Abstract (250 words)
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- Learning Objectives (bullet points)
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- Presenter Biography (max. 50 words per presenter)
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- Presenter Contact Information
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- Bibliography
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- Audio/Visual Requirements (details to follow)
Conference Registration & Continuing Education Credit
Please see Conference Tickets section for details!
Note: The promotion or sale of products or services during conference presentations is strictly prohibited.
We are eager to highlight the dynamic voices and diverse expertise that move occupational therapy forward.
For questions or additional information, please contact Rachel Guilfoyle at conference.mota@gmail.com.
We look forward to receiving your submission and seeing you at MOTA 2026!