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Dear Colleagues,

It is with great pleasure and heartfelt enthusiasm that I welcome you all to the 63rd Annual National Conference of the All India Occupational Therapists’ Association – OTICON-2026, to be held from 9th January, 2025 to 11th January, 2025 in the vibrant city of Bhubaneswar, Odisha.

This year’s conference is being organised by the Odisha Branch of AIOTA in collaboration with Swami Vivekanand National Institute of Rehabilitation, Training and Research (SVNIRTAR), Cuttack—a premier institution in the field of rehabilitation. The collaboration promises to enrich the scientific and professional fabric of the conference with regional flavor and national relevance.

The theme of OTICON-2026 is: “Tradition to Technology – Embracing Cultural Diversity in Occupational Therapy.”
This theme reflects our evolving journey as a profession—from our strong roots in traditional practice to our embrace of modern innovations and technologies, while respecting and integrating India’s vast cultural diversity into therapeutic approaches.

OTICON has always been more than just a conference—it is a celebration of knowledge, innovation, professional unity, and shared purpose. I encourage life members, student members, researchers, academicians, and clinicians to participate actively, present your work, share your experiences, and engage in meaningful discussions that shape the future of Occupational Therapy in India.

With Bhubaneswar’s rich cultural heritage and progressive outlook, and the scholarly support of SVNIRTAR, this conference promises to be both academically enriching and culturally memorable. Let us come together to learn, collaborate, and celebrate the growing strength and impact of our profession.

Looking forward to welcoming you all to OTICON-2026 in Bhubaneswar!

Warm Regards,

Dr. Pankaj Bajpai
President, AIOTA
Organizing Chairperson

Respected AIOTA members, esteemed colleagues, dedicated professionals, and future delegates,

It gives me immense pleasure and pride to invite you to the 63rd Annual National Conference of the All India Occupational Therapists’ Association—OTICON 2026, to be held in the culturally vibrant and historically rich state of Odisha.

To be organized from 9th January, 2026 to 11th January, 2026, by the Odisha Branch of AIOTA (OBAIOTA) in collaboration with Swami Vivekanand National Institute of Rehabilitation Training & Research (SVNIRTAR), Cuttack, this prestigious academic conclave promises to be a dynamic blend of tradition, innovation, and professional exchange.

This year, the conference will revolve around the compelling theme: “Tradition to Technology: Embracing Cultural Diversity in Occupational Therapy.” It is a theme that calls for thoughtful reflection on how we honour time-tested practices while embracing emerging technologies and inclusive care. It captures India’s unique synthesis of ancient healing wisdom and modern innovation. In a country as culturally diverse as ours, occupational therapy must remain adaptable, culturally sensitive, and future-ready—meeting the needs of varied communities across our vast and evolving landscape.

The city of Bhubaneswar, known as the 'Temple City of India,' is a living testament to the harmony between heritage and modernity—a perfect reflection of our conference theme. Hosting OTICON 2026 here reinforces the importance of embracing tradition while moving toward innovation.

SVNIRTAR, as a leading institution in rehabilitation, brings unparalleled expertise and vision to OTICON 2026. Its dedication to both tradition and technological advancement embodies the very essence of this year’s theme.

Join us at the S'O'A Auditorium, Campus 2, Bhubaneswar—not just for a conference, but for a shared journey where knowledge meets culture, tradition inspires innovation, and the future of occupational therapy in India is shaped together.

We eagerly await your presence at OTICON 2026.

With sincere regards,

Dr. Anurupa Senapati
Organizing Secretary
OTICON 2026

"Namaste and warm greetings to all!

I, Dr. Pragyan Singh, Scientific Chairperson for OTICON 2026 — the 63rd Annual National Conference of the All India Occupational Therapists’ Association, on behalf of the entire scientific committee, I invite researchers, clinicians, academicians, and students to be a part of this grand platform, from 9th-11thJanuary, 2026 in the City of Temples, Bhubaneswar, Odisha.

OTICON has always been a platform to share ideas, innovations, and evidence-based practices. I encourage all of you to showcase your valuable research, engage in meaningful scientific discussions, and contribute towards enhancing the scope of Occupational Therapy for diverse populations.

We look forward to your research contributions and thought-provoking presentations that will enrich this scientific gathering.

Join us — Let’s learn, share, and inspire each other to advance Occupational Therapy across India and beyond.

See you at OTICON 2026!"

With regards,

Dr. Pragyan Singh
Scientific Chairperson
OTICON 2026

It gives me great pleasure, to invite all the national & international Occupational Therapy professionals & students to participate at the 63rd Annual National Conference of All India Occupational Therapists’ Association, OTICON’2026, to be held in Bhubaneswar from 9 to 11 Jan. 2026

The organizing committee has planned OTICON’2026 meticulously which will be very informative and relevant for the participants and will provide opportunities for further exploration and growth of Occupational Therapy in practice, education, and research.

On behalf of the Organizing Committee, I assure you that OTICON’2026 will provide a platform for the exchange of research work by national and international experts, which will immensely enhance the knowledge of the participating delegates.

The Academic Council of Occupational Therapy (ACOT) has been leading and organizing “Continuing Occupational Therapy Education” (COTE) programmes on various important and contemporary topics in the form of monthly webinars, short Certificate Courses, seminars, training workshops, etc. to share & update the knowledge by experienced faculty, thus helping the OT professional stay abreast up to date. “PAMOT”, “Neuro- techniques”, “Hands splinting”, “Ergonomics”, “Specific Learning Disability” , “Adjunctive Therapies”, ”Neonatal Therapy” & “Competency-based curriculum” are some of the courses that have been successfully conducted so far & I assure you that this momentum will be continued in the coming years with new contemporary topics.

So another important event, which ACOT organises every year during OTICON, is the pre-conference COTE in which the eminent Occupational Therapy Professionals are invited to provide updates & share knowledge with the participants of their experience and expertise. This would be a great opportunity to reach out to as many students and therapists as possible to stay informed & facilitate learning on advanced occupational therapy practice.

On behalf of organising committee & Academic Council of Occupational Therapy, I would like to invite all the Occupational Therapists & students to participate in this conference in large numbers and make this conference a great success.

I wish you all the best and looking forward to meeting you during OTOCON 2026.

Dr. Jyothika Bijlani
Dean, ACOT of AIOTA

Dear Esteemed Delegates,

With immense pride and profound joy, I welcome you to the 63rd Annual National Conference of the All India Occupational Therapists’ Association (AIOTA)—OTICON 2025. This year, our professional journey brings us to the culturally enriched land of Odisha, where ancient tradition and contemporary innovation coexist in harmony.

Set in the dynamic capital city of Bhubaneswar, at the prestigious S'O'A Auditorium and hosted by the Odisha Branch of AIOTA (OBAIOTA) in collaboration with Swami Vivekananda National Institute of Rehabilitation Training & Research (SVNIRTAR), this edition of OTICON promises to be a transformative confluence of wisdom, heritage, and progress.

Embracing the Theme:"Tradition to Technology: Embracing Cultural Diversity in Occupational Therapy"

In an era shaped by digital acceleration and global interconnectedness, our chosen theme captures what modern Occupational Therapy must embody—a seamless fusion of cultural intelligence and technological advancement. This conference serves as a forum for academic excellence and a platform to champion inclusivity, cultural resonance, and evidence-informed practices tailored to India's diverse population.

On behalf of AIOTA, I welcome you all to OTICON 2026. Let this be not just a conference, but a celebration of who we are—and who we aspire to become—as Occupational Therapists of a progressive India.

With warm regards and professional solidarity,

Dr. Joseph Sunny, MOT, Ph.D., Fellow (NDD)
Honorary Secretary, AIOTA
Founder & Director, PRAYATNA – The Centre for Child Development
Certified Sensory Integration Therapist (University of Southern California)