ADHCE Monthly Zoom Meeting
Thurs. March 5, 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM EST
Speaker: Allison F. Sullivan, DOT, MSOT, OTR/L, ECMH-E®
Topic: Designing for Coping and Recovery in Mental Health:
How Interdisciplinary Teams Integrate Lived Experience, Cognition, and
Environmental Context
Presentation Summary:
Mental health conditions are frequently treated as individual challenges requiring “coping skills,” rather than as disabilities shaped by environmental demands, cognitive load, and system design. Yet mental health conditions often co-exist with other disabilities and significantly influence participation across healthcare settings.
This interactive presentation explores how coping and recovery in mental health are outcomes produced through interdisciplinary collaboration. We will examine how lived experience expertise, cognitive level, executive functioning, and contextual demands shape participation in acute care, community mental health, primary care, and rehabilitation settings.
Using co-production as a guiding principle, the session demonstrates practical
strategies interdisciplinary teams can use to reduce cognitive load, support self-determination, and promote meaningful engagement in daily life.
Open-access resources from the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) Mental Health Special Interest Section microsite will be shared to support inclusive, Interdisciplinary practice.
BIO of Speaker
Allison F. Sullivan, DOT, MSOT, OTR/L, ECMH-E® is a full professor of occupational therapy and lead faculty for the post-professional OTD program at American International College in Springfield, MA. She is the current Chair of the American Occupational Therapy Association’s Mental Health Special Interest Section, President of the Community Advisory Board for the Lighthouse, a psychosocial clubhouse in Springfield, MA and member of the Board of Directors of Martin Luther King Jr. Family Services. Dr. Sullivan’s scholarship and teaching focus on trauma-informed practice, functional cognition, interdisciplinary collaboration, and systems design that promote participation for individuals experiencing mental health conditions across healthcare and community settings. She presents nationally and internationally mental health, occupational therapy, and recovery-oriented practice.
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On the first Thursday of every month at 11:30 EST ADHCE provides a networking opportunity to members and interested guests as well as near Monthly Presentations. The monthly meeting typically includes presentations around current topics of interest, advocacy, and announcements for upcoming events. You can also learn more about the organization and the wonderful work of its members. Students are welcomed. If you are not a member you will need to register to receive a free Zoom invite to attend monthly meetings.
ADHCE does not collect registration fees for any event and proudly offers monthly meetings and an annual conference at no additional cost to attendees. We do welcome donations to support ongoing operational expenses as the organization continues to grow. And if you are not yet a member please join ADHCE.
