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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.
Standing Is Not Required: Using Rhythm as Rehabilitation Through Adaptive Tap Dance
Session Description
Adaptive tap dance offers a novel, inclusive approach to recreation therapy that engages cognitive, motor, and emotional domains through rhythm-based movement. This session introduces “rhythm as rehabilitation,” a framework that utilizes auditory feedback, patterning, and repetition to support neuroplasticity, coordination, and engagement across diverse populations, including older adults and individuals with mobility impairments, Parkinson’s disease, and dementia. Participants will explore how adaptive tools, including tap mittens and lap boards, remove traditional barriers to participation, making rhythmic movement accessible to people of all physical abilities. Through guided demonstration and interactive practice, attendees will learn to implement seated and standing rhythmic exercises that can be integrated immediately into therapeutic and recreational programming. Real-world applications from recreation therapists currently utilizing this approach in clinical and community settings will be shared, highlighting observed outcomes such as increased participation, improved mood, and enhanced cognitive engagement. In this three-hour hands-on workshop, attendees will leave with practical strategies, adaptable movement sequences, and a replicable framework to incorporate rhythm-based interventions into their own practice — proving that meaningful participation, expression, and joy in movement do not require standing.
Learning Outcomes
1. Demonstrate at least two adaptive, rhythm-based movement sequences using seated and/or standing formats appropriate for individuals with varying mobility levels. 2. Apply principles of rhythm-based intervention, including auditory cueing, repetition, and patterning, to support cognitive, motor, and emotional engagement in recreational therapy settings. 3. Design a structured, inclusive rhythm-based activity using adaptive tools or modifications that can be implemented within their own therapeutic or community-based programming.
Practice Area: Select ALL that Apply
Community
Military/Veterans
Older Adults
Physical Rehabilitation and Medicine
Target Audience
Mid-Career Professionals
Seasoned Professionals
Primary Presenter
![[photo]](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/31320a8a7c7c371cc4aaaad9d81d0012.png?d=https://proposalspace.com/images/no_photo.png&r=PG&s=50 "Victoria Moore, Victoria Moore Tap Dance")
Victoria Moore, Victoria Moore Tap Dance
Biographical Information
Victoria Moore, AOS, is the founder of Victoria Moore Tap Dance and creator of the Tap for All program, an innovative approach that makes tap dance accessible for individuals with disabilities, mobility impairments, and older adults. With over three decades of experience as a professional dancer, educator, and speaker, she has dedicated her career to expanding access to dance and redefining what participation in movement can look like. Victoria developed adaptive tools, including tap mittens and lap boards, as well as a training and certification program that equips educators and therapists to implement inclusive, rhythm-based movement in their own settings. Her work integrates principles of rhythm, auditory feedback, and repetition to support cognitive, motor, and emotional engagement. The Tap for All program has been utilized by recreation therapists in VA health centers from Puerto Rico to Northern California, supporting veterans through innovative, accessible movement experiences. Most notably, a Puerto Rico VA facility reported increased appointment compliance after implementation and replicated the program at its second health center. Through her teaching, speaking, and program development, Victoria continues to lead a growing movement at the intersection of dance, inclusion, and therapeutic practice—creating pathways for all individuals to experience the joy, connection, and therapeutic power of rhythm—without standing being required.