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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 is the Session Descriptions for the 2026 ATRA Annual Conference in Brea, CA. 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 On Demand Conference offerings, please visit: ATRA SoCal On Demand

Continuing Education (CEUs):
NCTRC pre-approval is pending fr all sessions for CEUs.

Once the program is pre-approved; 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 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.

Why Does Engagement Matter? The Association of Recreational Activity Engagement with Functional Ability in Long-term Care Residents

Sunday, October 18, 2026 at 10:00 AM–11:00 AM PDT
Virtual On Demand Only
Session Description

This session will describe the assessment of engagement using the Engagement in Preferred ActivitieS Scale (EPASS) in a long-term care community that emphasized the provision of preference-based recreational activities and pragmatically tracked both activity attendance and engagement over time. Data will be presented on the association of EPASS ratings (attentiveness, positive attitude, duration, and overall engagement (scored 0-9) with functional ability in 421 long-term care residents retrospectively studied over a 6-month period. Results indicate that higher levels of engagement (i.e., overall engagement, attentiveness, positive attitude, or duration) are associated with less functional impairment over time. The session will discuss implications of findings for future use of the EPASS as a measure of the mechanism of impact of preference-based therapeutic recreation interventions on resident clinical outcomes, the clinical implications of the association of engagement with functional ability over time, and future research implications.

Learning Outcomes

(1) Explain how engagement (overall engagement, attentiveness, positive attitude, and duration) is measured using the Engagement in Preferred ActivitieS Scale (EPASS). (2) Describe how engagement (overall engagement, attentiveness, positive attitude, and duration) is associated with functional ability in long-term care residents over a 6-month period. (3) Discuss implications of using the EPASS to measure engagement as a mechanism of impact of preference-based recreational activities on long-term care residents’ clinical outcomes.

Practice Area: Select ALL that Apply
Older Adults
Research
Target Audience
Students
New Graduates/New Professionals
Educators/Researchers
Mid-Career Professionals
Seasoned Professionals

Primary Presenter

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Rhonda Nelson, Ph.D., MTRS, CTRS, FDRT, University of Utah, Department of Occupational and Recreational Therapies
Biographical Information

Rhonda Nelson, Ph.D., MTRS, CTRS, FDRT is an Associate Professor, Recreational Therapy (RT) Program Director, and Director of RT Graduate Studies at the University of Utah. She has extensive experience as an RT practitioner, educator, and researcher and is a strong advocate for evidence-based practice and professional collaboration. Rhonda is particularly passionate about RT programs and research that bring faculty/researchers, students, RT practitioners, and clients/consumers together to work on projects that advance the RT profession. Rhonda currently serves as President of the National Academy of Recreational Therapists (NART) and previously served as Chair of the Committee on Accreditation of Recreational Therapy Education (CARTE).

Co-Presenter/Panelists

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Allison R. Heid, Ph.D., Independent Research Consultant
Credentials

Ph.D.

Biographical Information

Allison R. Heid, Ph.D., has her doctoral training in Human Development and Family Studies from the Pennsylvania State University with specializations in Adult Development and Aging and Intervention Science. She works as an Independent Research Consultant evaluating service programs for individuals with dementia and their care partners. She also teaches as an adjunct faculty member for Saint Joseph’s University. Dr. Heid’s research focuses on preference-based, person-centered care processes.

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Kimberly S. Van Haitsma, Ph.D., The Pennsylvania State University, Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing, Program for Person Centered Living Systems of Care
Credentials

Ph.D.

Biographical Information

Kimberly S. Van Haitsma, Ph.D., is a Clinical Geropsychologist with a PhD in Clinical Psychology. She is Professor in the Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing and Director of the Program for Person Centered Living Systems of Care (PPCLSC) located in the Tressa Nese and Helen Diskevich Center of Geriatric Nursing Excellence (CGNE) at the Pennsylvania State University. Dr. Van Haitsma is the co-founder of Preference Based Living, whose mission is to conduct studies that test innovative methods to honor preferences for people receiving care in varied settings worldwide.

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