NBCOT's 2026 Impact Event Celebrates School-Based Occupational Therapy Practitioners

Every day, school-based occupational therapy practitioners help students build the skills they need to learn, participate, and thrive. They support independence, adapt environments, collaborate with educators and families, and help students overcome barriers to success—often with limited resources and little recognition.

To recognize these practitioners' dedication and support their work, the NBCOT team came together for our annual Impact Event, a day dedicated to service, connection, and giving back to the profession and the community we serve.

Together, employees assembled more than 100 sensory bags for occupational therapy practitioners serving Montgomery County Public Schools, the public school district in the community where NBCOT is headquartered. Filled with therapy supplies and handwritten notes of appreciation, the bags were designed to support practitioners while recognizing the meaningful difference they make in students' lives every day.

The goal was simple: to recognize the school-based occupational therapy practitioners who make a difference in students' lives every day and thank them for all they do.

Montgomery County Public Schools employs more than 100 occupational therapy practitioners who support thousands of students each year. Supporting these practitioners was one way NBCOT could give back to the local community we proudly call home. The donation provided more than therapy supplies; it offered encouragement and recognition at a time when both were deeply needed.

“Your generosity has made a difference in so many ways. First, it provided a morale lift to our staff at a time when it was deeply needed. Due to decreased school funding over the past two to three years, your donation provided well-needed supplies that ultimately our students will benefit from. The handwritten thank-you note in each bag did not go unnoticed, and staff were deeply touched by them.”

Lisa Akman, Occupational Therapy Program Assistant

Montgomery County Public Schools

The supplies will be used daily to support student care, and additional materials will help newly hired practitioners begin the school year with essential resources already in hand.

For the NBCOT team, the event was equally meaningful. Employees worked side by side assembling bags, writing personal notes, and reflecting on the impact occupational therapy practitioners have on students’ lives. It was an opportunity to step away from our daily work and connect more personally with the profession and community we serve.

“School-based occupational therapy practitioners play an essential role in helping students participate, learn, and succeed. Our team wanted to recognize their dedication and thank them for the difference they make every day. Supporting the profession means supporting the practitioners whose work changes the lives of students, families, and communities.”

Angela Macauley, PMP

President/CEO, NBCOT

Occupational therapy practitioners often work behind the scenes, yet their impact is seen every day in classrooms, homes, and communities. Through our annual Impact Event, NBCOT is proud to celebrate these practitioners' contributions and support the profession that inspires our mission. Because when we invest in occupational therapy practitioners, we also invest in the students, families, and communities whose lives they help transform every day.