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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.
Do Intergenational Community-Engaged Connections Improve Ageism in Freshmen College Students?
Session Description
The number and proportion of older adults is rising rapidly as advances in modern medicine extend life expectancy. By 2034, adults over the age of 65 will outnumber those under 18 for the first time in U.S. history. Increased longevity is also associated with higher rates of age-related chronic conditions such as heart disease, cancer, and dementia, with many older adults managing multiple comorbidities that require frequent interaction with healthcare systems. As a result, healthcare professionals across disciplines will increasingly serve older patients. Because future recreational therapists will typically be younger than their patients, it is essential they are prepared to recognize ageist language and communicate in intergenerational contexts. Despite this need, undergraduate students in the College of Health Professions at Slippery Rock University previously had limited opportunities to develop intergenerational communication skills early in their academic training. To address this gap, we developed the Cultivating Opportunities for New Engagement, Communication, and Teamwork between First-Year Students and Community-Dwelling Older Adults (CONNECT) Program. Implemented within two FYRST Seminar classrooms during Fall 2025, CONNECT was designed to provide structured, faculty-facilitated intergenerational engagement. The CONNECT Program educated first-year students on ageism, intergenerational communication, engagement strategies, teamwork, and professional responsibility. Students were paired with community-dwelling older adults and participated in two in-person meetings and biweekly phone calls across the semester. This session will describe the findings in this mixed-method design.
Learning Outcomes
1. summarize how a short-term intergenerational communication program alters quantitative assessments of ageism. 2. describe how short-term intergenerational communication program alters qualitative assessments of ageism. 3. identify ways to include intergenerational aspects into RT education and service-learning programs.
Practice Area: Select ALL that Apply
Research
Target Audience
Educators/Researchers
Primary Presenter
![[photo]](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/29e5d1c22de8104f8b93690c7a4c31dc.png?d=https://proposalspace.com/images/no_photo.png&r=PG&s=50 "Betsy Kemeny, PhD, Slippery Rock University")
Betsy Kemeny, PhD, Slippery Rock University
Biographical Information
Betsy Kemeny is Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist and Certified Professional Gerontologist with 36 years of professional experience. Her work experiences have included outpatient rehabilitation, adult day, assisted living, hospice, and long-term care. Her scholarship includes more than 30 publications and 70 presentations. As Professor and Program Director of Recreational Therapy at Slippery Rock University, she is also a Fellow, Distinguished in Recreational Therapy. She currently serves as co-chair of the Scientific Advisory Council for Horses and Humans Research Foundation. Dr. Kemeny received her bachelor’s degree in Sociology at Wake Forest University, her master’s degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and her Ph.D. from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. From 2014 to 2022, Dr. Kemeny has served on the board of directors for the American Therapeutic Recreation Association as Member at Large, Secretary, and President. She was the President of the National Academy of Recreational Therapists from 2022-2025.
Co-Presenter/Panelists
![[photo]](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/6ea7624f3d173a71cea073e08cd37522.png?d=https://proposalspace.com/images/no_photo.png&r=PG&s=50 "Rahel Hartman, RT Student, Slippery Rock University")
Rahel Hartman, RT Student, Slippery Rock University
Credentials
SRU RT Club President
Biographical Information
Rahel Hartman is a sophomore recreational therapy student at Slippery Rock University. She is a peer leader for the freshman FYRST year seminar. She is the SRU Recreational Therapy Club President from 2026-2027.