2025 ATRA Annual Conference – Session Descriptions
October 18–20, 2025 | San Antonio, TX
The following is the Session Descriptions for the 2025 ATRA Annual Conference in San Antonio, TX. All sessions, times, and presenter information have been confirmed, though final adjustments may occur due to unforeseen circumstances onsite.
For a visual Calendar view, please visit: Schedule at a Glance
For information on our Bonus Day at Morgan's Sports on Friday October 17th, please visit: ATRA San Antonio Bonus Day: Morgan's Sports
Continuing Education (CEUs):
NCTRC approval is currently pending. Please check back for updates prior to the conference.
Note: Poster presentations may be eligible for CEUs in 2025. Final determinations will be reflected once CEU approvals are finalized.
For questions related to specialty certification areas, please refer to the PDF version of the program for designation icons and CEU-eligible sessions.
Code of Conduct:
All attendees, speakers, exhibitors, and guests are expected to uphold the ATRA Conference Code of Conduct.
To review the Code, view it here.
Note on Non-ATRA Activities:
Please note that any events or activities not listed in the official ATRA San Antonio program are independently organized and not affiliated or sponsored by ATRA. ATRA is not responsible for independently coordinated events, meetups or activities not articulated in this program. Individuals interested in non-ATRA sponsored activities should contact their respective organizations directly for details.
Navigating Change: The Impact of 2025 Federal Shifts on Disability Services and Recreational Therapy
Session Description
2025 has been a year full of federal governmental changes in regulations, agency and operational structures, and service shifts. People with disabilities of all ages, recreational therapists, and the organizations we work in have all been impacted. In this general session, we will look at some of these changes and their impact and talk about what the future may hold. We will also explore what ATRA is doing and what we as individual recreational therapists can do to advocate for the people that we serve.
Learning Outcomes
1. Identify 3 legislative changes that have impacted recreational therapists and/or people with disabilities.
2. Describe 3 potential issues that are on the horizon for recreational therapy and/or people with disabilities.
3. Explain resources available to help recreational therapists advocate in the public area.
Practice Area: Select ALL that Apply
All
Target Audience
New Graduates/New Professionals
Educators/Researchers
Mid-Career Professionals
Seasoned Professionals
Primary Presenter
![[photo]](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/c557787f7b55acdb25eae5d3cffc371b.png?d=https://proposalspace.com/images/no_photo.png&r=PG&s=50 "Dr. Dawn DeVries, American Therapeutic Recreation Association")
Dr. Dawn DeVries, American Therapeutic Recreation Association
Biographical Information
Dr. Dawn DeVries serves as ATRA's Advocacy and Legislative Affairs Director, where she serves as eyes and actions on federal advocacy and public policy for the organization. In addition, she is a Professor and Program Director of Recreational Therapy at Grand Valley State University in Grand Rapids, MI.