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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.
Able-Bodied Female Support Staff in Wheelchair Rugby: Gender, Ability, and Power Dynamics
Session Description
This session discusses the experiences of able-bodied women serving in support roles within wheelchair rugby, a male-dominated disability sport context. Drawing on qualitative interview data, collected at a national wheelchair rugby tournament, this presentation discusses how gender and ability intersect to shape power dynamics, role expectations, and interpersonal relationships within adaptive sport environments. Findings highlight a unique paradox within wheelchair rugby: while women are underrepresented as athletes, they are more visible in support roles such as classifiers, referees, coaches, and volunteers. This positioning reflects broader societal expectations that align women with caregiving and supportive functions, reinforcing gendered divisions of labor even within adaptive sport settings. Three key themes will be discussed: (1) power dynamics shaped by gender, ability, and professional roles, (2) expectations placed on individuals based on perceived identity and function, and (3) relationships that influence entry, inclusion, and long-term involvement in the sport. These findings demonstrate how able-bodied women simultaneously navigate marginalization (as women in a male-dominated sport) and privilege (as able-bodied individuals in disability sport). Practical implications will be provided for recreational therapists and adaptive sport professionals, including strategies to promote equitable role distribution, support client autonomy, and increase awareness of how identity and power influence practice. This session encourages critical reflection on how professionals engage with individuals in adaptive sport and therapeutic recreation settings.
Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this session, participants will be able to: 1. Identify how gender and ability shape power dynamics within adaptive sport and recreational therapy settings. 2. Describe how able-bodied female support staff experience both privilege and marginalization in disability sport environments. 3. Apply at least one strategy to promote inclusive and client-centered practice in adaptive sport or recreational therapy contexts.
Practice Area: Select ALL that Apply
Research
Target Audience
New Graduates/New Professionals
Educators/Researchers
Mid-Career Professionals
Seasoned Professionals
Primary Presenter
![[photo]](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/0b4f848e60e6067dcd4bd7ef7b12a5cc.png?d=https://proposalspace.com/images/no_photo.png&r=PG&s=50 "Joy Cabador, MS, CTRS, University of Houston")
Joy Cabador, MS, CTRS, University of Houston
Biographical Information
Joy Cabador is a PhD student in Kinesiology with a concentration in Sport and Fitness Administration at the University of Houston (UH). She holds a Master’s degree in Therapeutic Recreation from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and is a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS). Her research centers on disability/adaptive sport and recreation with a particular focus on access, equity and social experiences of athletes with disabilities. Her scholarship emphasizes the role of sport as a context for identity development, community engagement, and social inclusion. She has presented her research at national conferences, including the North American Society for Sport Management (NASSM), North American Society of the Sociology of Sport (NASSS), and the Move United Education Conference and is a recipient of grant funding from the Lakeshore Foundation. In addition to her research, Joy has professional experience in adaptive recreation and disability services, including work with the National Ability Center and serving as an advisor in accessibility and disability services within higher education. She is also actively involved in the adaptive sport community through volunteering and her work with the UH’s adaptive athletics programs. Her professional and academic experiences reflect a commitment to advancing inclusive practices.
Co-Presenter/Panelists
![[photo]](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/24f9e18b3887d29740e046dd92ad857d.png?d=https://proposalspace.com/images/no_photo.png&r=PG&s=50 "Michael Cottingham, PhD, University of Houston")
Michael Cottingham, PhD, University of Houston
Credentials
PhD
Biographical Information
Dr. Cottingham is a professor of Sport Administration in the department of Health and Human Performance at UH. His research interests focus on Perceptions of Athletes with Disabilities as well as Spectatorship and Sponsorship in Disability Sport. In addition, he examines more broad topics in Sport Consumer Behavior. He is involved in the Sport Administration graduate program at UH and also teach senior level undergraduate classes. Additionally, he is the director of Adaptive Athletics at the University of Houston.
![[photo]](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/a6f824128940325001e5912a3d57a3f1.png?d=https://proposalspace.com/images/no_photo.png&r=PG&s=50 "Alyson Galanga, MD, Rutgers-NJMS")
Alyson Galanga, MD, Rutgers-NJMS
Credentials
MD
Biographical Information
Alyson Galanga is a Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation resident physician at Rutgers–NJMS/Kessler Rehabilitation and completed a preliminary internal medicine training year at UCLA-Harbor. Interested in neurorehabilitation, spinal cord injury, and adaptive sports, with a focus on improving access to rehabilitation and promoting disability inclusion. Actively involved in research on adaptive and inclusive interventions and their role in physical and psychosocial recovery.