61st Annual National Conference of All India Occupational Therapists Association (AIOTA) organised by The Kerala Occupational Therapists’ Association was officially inaugurated by Justice Cyriac Joseph Former Judge Supreme Court of India, and Chairman Kerala-Lok Ayukta at Gokulam Park Convention Centre in Kaloor, 2024. ‘Chiraku’ a free paedeatric disability screening and parental training programme held during the conference was inaugurated by Uma Thomas MLA Thrikakkara.
“Article 21 of the Indian Constitution guarantees the right to life, encompassing a life with dignity. Dignity implies a life with health, which is recognized as a fundamental right. Occupational therapists play a role in facilitating these rights to health’, said Justice Cyriac Joseph -Former Judge Supreme Court of India, and Chairman Kerala-Lok Ayukta inaugurating the conference.
The theme of the conference was “Occupations and Occupational Sciences Creating Magic in Occupational Therapy,” reflecting the commitment of the conference to explore the latest innovations, technologies, strategies, and solutions in Occupational Therapy. The conference had 1000+ participants, students and working professionals from 15+ countries, provided a platform for researchers and practitioners to share knowledge and experiences directly.
OTICON 2024 was a flagship event by AIOTA and was set to be the largest and most significant Occupational Therapy gathering. The conference offered an excellent opportunity for attendees to learn from industry experts and professionals. The three-day program was included scientific paper presentations by nearly 15 invited speakers, along with almost 30 research papers and poster presentations by students from 19 institutions.
Occupational Therapy is a crucial healthcare profession dedicated to helping individuals of all ages overcome challenges hindering their participation in daily life due to disease, injury, or disability. By promoting independence and functional skills, Occupational Therapy seeks to enhance overall well-being and quality of life.
In addition to the conference and training program, various cultural programs, including street plays by students from nearly 15 colleges, were featured.
The inaugural ceremony was evoked with the presence of other esteemed dignitaries such as, Adv. Mons Joseph, MLA Kaduthuruthy, Dr. Anil Kumar Srivastava, President AIOTA, Dr. Joseph Sunny- Organizing Secretary, Dr. Lakshmanan Sethuraman, Conference Coordinator and Dr Jyotika Bijlani, Dean ACOT.
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