"Beyond the Diagnosis: Living the Day to Day" Health Conference

Join the MS Achievement Center for this half-day health conference centered on tools, resources and insights to support whole-person wellness.

PTs / PTAs, OTs / OTAs & Students can earn 4 CEUs and will:

1. Learn strategies to meaningfully integrate the client voice and lived experience into treatment planning and care delivery
2. Identify approaches to providing realistic, client-centered education and recommendations that reflect the complexities of chronic neurological conditions
3. Enhance ability to collaborate across roles—healthcare provider, carepartner and client—to support quality of life, autonomy and holistic well-being.

Conference includes 4 interactive sessions, continental breakfast, lunch and Health Resources Fair with prize drawings.

Attendees will participate in these dynamic sessions:

• Listening, Learning and Letting Go of Assumptions: Achieving Best Outcomes Through Client-Centered Practice
  Session for health professionals
  Interactive session challenges healthcare professionals to examine unintended assumptions in the care of individuals with chronic neurological conditions. Through discussion, re)ection and case-based exploration, participants will uncover how biases, limited perspectives and systemic habits can unintentionally impact client outcomes. Participants will leave with actionable strategies to reframe their practice and foster deeper therapeutic partnerships.
• The Insider's Guide: Trusted Tools & Resources for Living with a Chronic Condition
  Session for individuals with MS or other neurological condition and carepartners
  Living with MS or another chronic neurological condition can sometimes feel like playing a game without the instruction manual. Just when you think you’re on your own, someone casually mentions a service, tool or program that could have helped months—or even years—ago. In this interactive session, we’ll share the "cheat codes" we've gathered over years of working alongside individuals with MS, stroke and Parkinson’s. These aren’t magic fixes, but they are practical, often under-the-radar resources that can make a meaningful difference. You’ll leave with a list of real-world tools, contacts and programs to support you or someone you care about—and the reassurance that you don’t have to figure it all out alone. Whether you are newly diagnosed or have been living with a condition for years, this workshop offers valuable takeaways to help you navigate your journey.
• Real Talk: Insights for Living with a Chronic Condition - Panel Discussion
  This candid panel discussion invites attendees into the lived experience of individuals navigating life with multiple sclerosis, including the perspective of a carepartner. Moderated to explore the everyday realities of symptom management, healthcare interactions, and evolving identity, panelists will share openly about their challenges, triumphs, and what they wish healthcare providers understood better.
  >>>For occupational and physical therapists, this session offers a powerful opportunity to deepen empathy and gain insight that can lead to more holistic, client-centered care.
  >>>For individuals living with neurological conditions and their carepartners, this session offers the chance to hear real stories from peers, discover new strategies for navigating similar challenges, and feel a sense of community through shared experience. Whether you're newly diagnosed or have been living with your condition for years, this discussion is an opportunity to reflect, relate, and leave feeling seen and supported.
• Listening, Adapting and Collaborating: Finding the Balance in Movement Support
  Mobility and transfers are cornerstones of occupational and physical therapy, but textbook "best practices" alone often don’t account for the real-life complexity of chronic, progressive neurological conditions and individual environments. In this interactive session, an OT and PT with extensive neuro and community-based experience will guide participants through case discussions, demonstrations, and conversations that challenge black-and-white thinking.
• Navigating the Legal and Financial Realities of Chronic Conditions
  This candid panel discussion invites attendees into the lived experience of individuals navigating life with multiple sclerosis, including the perspective of a carepartner. Moderated to explore the everyday realities of symptom management, healthcare interactions, and evolving identity, panelists will share openly about their challenges, triumphs, and what they wish healthcare providers understood better.
  >>>For occupational and physical therapists, this session offers a powerful opportunity to deepen empathy and gain insight that can lead to more holistic, client-centered care.
  >>>For individuals living with neurological conditions and their carepartners, this session offers the chance to hear real stories from peers, discover new strategies for navigating similar challenges, and feel a sense of community through shared experience. Whether you're newly diagnosed or have been living with your condition for years, this discussion is an opportunity to reflect, relate, and leave feeling seen and supported.

Who should attend?

• Individuals with MS or other neurological conditions
• Carepartners
• Occupational Therapists / OTAs
• Physical Therapists / PTAs
• Other Health Professionals seeking CEUs
• Students

We gratefully acknowledge the support of the MS Foundation through a grant for this conference.