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ATRA SoCal : 2026 Session Description
October 17–19, 2026
The Embassy Suites, Brea, California
2026 ATRA Annual Conference – Session Descriptions
October 17–19, 2026 | Brea, CA
The following session descriptions represent the planned educational program for the 2026 ATRA Annual Conference in Brea, CA. While every effort has been made to provide accurate information, session content, presenters, schedules, and locations remain subject to change.
For a visual Calendar view, please visit: Schedule at a Glance
Continuing Education (CEUs):
NCTRC pre-approval is pending for all sessions for CEUs.
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 SoCal 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 AI in Recreational Therapy: AI Task Force Findings and a Path Forward
Session Description
Artificial intelligence is reshaping how recreational therapists document care, design interventions, conduct research, and pursue professional development. The ATRA Task Force on Artificial Intelligence in Recreational Therapy was launched in October 2025 with a charge from the ATRA Board of Directors to examine the current and potential impacts of AI on the field and to produce evidence-informed recommendations for practitioners, educators, employers, and ATRA leadership. This session presents the task force’s key findings from an environmental scan and multi-domain literature review spanning allied health professions, higher education, workplace policy, academic publishing, and public health. Attendees will gain a clear picture of where AI is already influencing the profession, from HIPAA/FERPA-compliant documentation platforms to agentic AI tools that can autonomously complete continuing education modules, and the serious ethical, privacy, and academic integrity concerns these tools raise. The session will highlight stakeholder perspectives gathered from practitioners, educators, students, administrators, and consumers, and will preview the structure and key recommendations of the forthcoming white paper. Attendees will leave with a practical framework for evaluating AI tools in their own settings and an understanding of the ethical guardrails that should guide adoption.
Learning Outcomes
1. Identify at least three evidence-informed opportunities and three significant risks associated with AI integration in recreational therapy practice, education, and administration, drawing on the task force’s multi-domain literature review. 2. Analyze the ethical implications of current and emerging AI tools, including generative and agentic AI, as they relate to HIPAA/FERPA compliance, professional development integrity, academic honesty, and client-centered care within their own professional context. 3. Apply at least two draft recommendations from the ATRA AI Task Force white paper to evaluate AI tools or policies within their specific work setting, and articulate steps they can take to contribute to the profession’s ongoing development of AI standards.
Practice Area: Select ALL that Apply
All
Target Audience
New Graduates/New Professionals
Educators/Researchers
Mid-Career Professionals
Seasoned Professionals
Primary Presenter
![[photo]](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/a/ACg8ocLU1VNoC_n3EzwnVOePrzuGZkA_s2AfWvcimGZxWGYBvzCcKt9qRQ=s50 "Susan Purrington, Connecticut College")
Susan Purrington, Connecticut College
Biographical Information
Susan Purrington, PhD, CTRS, is currently the Harold F. Wiley Generative AI Teaching and Learning Fellow at Connecticut College. She is a recognized leader in AI integration within higher education, having developed the nation's first AI literacy course focused on leisure and recreation ("AI and the Future of Fun") and created several academic support and professional bots, such as the "RT Buddy," a specialized GPT chatbot for recreational therapy professionals. As an AI Ethics & Integration Consultant and former Associate Teaching Professor at Northern Arizona University, she has delivered presentations on AI in education and therapeutic recreation across multiple countries. She holds various AI and teaching certifications, and currently chairs the American Therapeutic Recreation Association AI Task Force. Her work bridges the gap between cutting-edge AI technology and practical applications in education, therapeutic recreation, and inclusive learning environments.
Co-Presenter/Panelists
![[photo]](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/c3d4e58f17600fcb7a07a6f95250642f.png?d=https://proposalspace.com/images/no_photo.png&r=PG&s=50 "Jason Page")
Jason Page
Credentials
PhD, CTRS
Biographical Information
Jason Page is an Assistant Professor and Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS) in the Recreation, Parks and Leisure Studies Department at SUNY Cortland, where he has served since 2020. He also directs the Inclusive Recreation Resource Center (IRRC) and coordinates the department's internship program. Born and raised in Ipswich, UK, he began his academic career at Canterbury Christchurch University before immigrating to the United States, where he spent over two decades working in human services with at-risk youth and individuals living with substance use and mental health disorders. He earned a second Bachelor’s degree in history and political science from SUNY Cortland, followed by a Master’s degree in Therapeutic Recreation, also from Cortland. In 2021, he completed his PhD in Recreation Therapy from Clemson University. Jason’s research centers on aberrant recreation, recreation subcultures, identity development, and substance use. Beyond core therapeutic classes Jason teaches courses exploring the sociological dimensions of leisure, including his signature course, Sex, Drugs, & Rock and Roll, which examines recreation through the lens of subculture and social deviance. Jason currently serves as President-Elect of the New York State Therapeutic Recreation Association (NYSTRA) and as a member of the ATRA taskforce on AI. Jason also continues to serve as a member of the New York Certification Board overseeing training for Substance Use Peers across the state.
![[photo]](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/cef9d88136c523628d4da61e9f80c8d2.png?d=https://proposalspace.com/images/no_photo.png&r=PG&s=50 "Dr. MaryJo Archambault, EdD; CTRS, Southern Connecticut State University")
Dr. MaryJo Archambault, EdD; CTRS, Southern Connecticut State University
Credentials
EdD, CTRS
Biographical Information
Dr. MaryJo Archambault is a Professor and Program Coordinator for Recreational Therapy at Southern Connecticut State University. With over 25 years of clinical and academic experience, Dr. Archambault has worked with individuals across a wide range of disabilities. Dr. Archambault serves as a member of the ATRA AI Task Force, where she contributes to exploring the implications and applications of artificial intelligence within the field of therapeutic recreation.
![[photo]](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/b16e37cf582ae5f6fd93205522e9915d.png?d=https://proposalspace.com/images/no_photo.png&r=PG&s=50 "Matthew Frando, Ability Path")
Matthew Frando, Ability Path
Credentials
MS, CTRS
Biographical Information
On task force but not sure about attendance. Will submit later
![[photo]](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/5bdad6d86ce166fde6ec6b6ed33c7de9.png?d=https://proposalspace.com/images/no_photo.png&r=PG&s=50 "Bryan Neider, Ability Path")
Bryan Neider, Ability Path
Credentials
none
Biographical Information
On task force but not sure about attendance. Will submit later
![[photo]](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/66e4a055d7a8133ab2fe4b7d11013482.png?d=https://proposalspace.com/images/no_photo.png&r=PG&s=50 "Charlise Bennett, Australian Recreational Therapy Association")
Charlise Bennett, Australian Recreational Therapy Association
Credentials
PhD, CTRS
Biographical Information
Is not attending but should be listed in program.