Occupational therapy assessment of functional cognition for employment: Unpacking the toolbox (June 19, 2025)

Thursday, June 19, 2025

10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Eastern Time)

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Canadian occupational therapists are increasingly faced with the challenge of evaluating the functional cognitive impacts of concussion / TBI, mental health diagnoses, chronic pain, and other factors on an individual’s occupational participation. It is important for occupational therapists to have a solid understanding of functional cognition, what it encompasses, how it impacts an individual's capacity for employment, and how to assess and analyze the impact for the purposes of providing independent opinion and determining a therapy plan with the individual. Occupational therapists utilize ecologically valid measures for contextual occupational analysis; to assess the fit between the individual’s function and the specific occupational demands of employment.

A toolbox of measures that capture the functional cognitive limitations experienced by the individual that are also relevant to critical cognitive job demands is required to ensure an accurate and comprehensive assessment of abilities and limitations and the starting point to establish a work-oriented rehabilitation plan.

The purpose of this workshop is to unpack the toolbox of measures to assess functional cognition and to familiarize occupational therapists with the utility and application of each measure for determining an individual’s suitability and challenges for employment. Workshop topics include:

• Functional cognition: What is functional cognition? How do we assess an individual’s functional cognitive capacity?
• Structured observations: How do we tailor the environmental parameters of the assessment and use structured observations to gather information on functional cognition?
• Patient-related outcome measures (PROM): How do we consider an individual’s subjective reports regarding functional cognitive challenges? Why is collaboration with clients critical to understanding occupational participation?
• Standardized measures: What standardized measures do we have available to evaluate functional cognition, keeping the client's occupation at the centre of practice?
• Work simulation: How do we utilize work simulation activities (generic and work-specific) to evaluate work-related functional cognition?

Please note that the focus of this workshop is on work-oriented assessment rather than work-oriented rehabilitation. This workshop will assist therapists in establishing a baseline of function and identifying where gaps for employment exist, assisting with formulation of targets for cognitive rehabilitation.

Preliminary workshop agenda

Learning objectives

By the end of this workshop, you will be able to:

1. Explain the concept of functional cognition within the occupational therapy scope of practice.
2. Utilize structured observations of functional cognition that will assist with formulation of opinion on abilities and limitations.
3. Select Patient-Related Outcome Measures (e.g., qualitative measures) that will assist with formulation of opinion on abilities and limitations.
4. Select standardized measures (e.g., quantitative measures) that will assist with formulation of opinion on abilities and limitations.
5. Describe generic and work-specific work simulation activities that will assist with formulation of opinion on abilities and limitations.
6. Incorporate tests and measures to formulate an opinion on an individual's functional cognitive capacity and compare this with information on critical cognitive job demands.

Target audience

Occupational therapist clinicians who wish to further their knowledge and skills in the assessment of functional cognition for employment when working with adolescents and adults.

Please note: The focus of this workshop is on work-oriented assessment rather than work-oriented rehabilitation. A separate workshop offered by this presenter, entitled "Mental health, functional cognition, and return to work: The critical role of occupational therapists in facilitating successful outcomes" focuses on the Comprehensive Functional Capacity Evaluation (C-FCE) to assist with return-to-work planning and monitoring. Each participant is responsible to ensure they apply the information within the context of their licensure, provincial/territorial legislations, institution regulations, scope of practice, etc.

Client age group

Adolescents (13-19 years old), Adults (20-64 years old)

Areas of practice

Brain injury/Concussion/Spinal Cord, Chronic Pain, Mental Health, Return to Work

Workshop level

Intermediate (3-5 years of experience) 

Please note: Participants with less than this stated level of experience are welcome to attend the workshop. The workshop content will be geared towards those with several years of experience in occupational therapy in their own area of practice.. 

Presenter

Tania L. M. Percy, B.A., B.Sc.OT, Reg. OT (BC)

Tania Percy has been working as a consultant occupational therapist with Progressive Rehab OrionHealth for over 20 years. Tania also worked in Ontario as a consultant occupational therapist for approximately 5 years. She has certification as a Work Capacity Evaluator (CWCE, 1998), is a Certified Cost of Future Care/Life Care Planner (Advanced, 2018), and has been accepted as an expert witness at the Supreme Court level as an occupational therapist providing expert opinion on functional capacity, work capacity and cost of future care. Tania is the clinical instructor for Cognitive Functional Capacity Evaluation and for the Cost of Future Care/Life Care Planning Certification Program with Matheson Education and Training Solutions.  Tania also provides education and clinical development in the areas of cost of future care, work capacity, brain and spinal cord injury, cognitive functional capacity evaluation and pain (CAOT, WorkSafe BC, RMA/METS).

Registration fees

Early bird rates: Registration and payment completed by April 23, 2025

Regular rates: Registration and payment completed after April 23, 2025

Registration deadline: June 19, 2025 at 9:59 a.m. (Eastern Time) 

Please note that CAOT does not offer group registration fees.

*It may be more cost effective to become a CAOT Member or Associate rather than pay the non-member rate. See “Can a non-member register for a Workshop?” in our Professional Development FAQs to know which membership category you are eligible for.  

Included in your registration fee:

Online workshop, access to the recording for a period of 14 days following the workshop, electronic copy of presentation slide handouts, opportunity to network and make connections with other occupational therapists interested in this topic, electronic certificate of attendance.

Cancellation/refund policy

All cancellation/refund requests must be sent in writing to education@caot.ca. All cancellation requests received by June 4, 2025 will be given a full refund minus a $50.00 administrative fee. No refunds will be given after June 4, 2025. Substitutions and transfers requests received by June 4, 2025 are permitted and are subject to a $50.00 administrative fee.

If you are exceptionally unable to complete the workshop, please reach out to education@caot.ca by 25 days following the end of the workshop for extended access to the recording (up to one month after the end of the workshop) or a one-time transfer to another offering of the same workshop if currently open for registration.  CAOT reserves the right to modify the workshop title, description, registration dates and information on the workshop webpage. CAOT will notify participants on or before May 9, 2025 if there is insufficient registration by that date and reserves the right to cancel a Workshop due to insufficient registration up until May 23, 2025. CAOT reserves the right to modify the offering, interrupt Workshops, change the timing of a Workshop, cancel a Workshop or change the technology for the Workshop due to the presenter no longer being able to present the Workshop, severe weather, power failure, building closures or other special circumstances that are beyond the control of CAOT by notifying participants as soon as possible. If the Workshop is cancelled by CAOT, registrants will receive a full refund of the registration fee. CAOT will not be responsible for other costs or expenses incurred by registrants as a result of any such changes.

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The Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists (CAOT) is committed to accessibility as expressed in the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). We provide an electronic copy of the handouts approximately one week ahead of time in multiple slide layouts, auto-generated closed captioning through Zoom (excluding breakout rooms), as well as access to the recording for two weeks following the workshop. If you require additional special arrangements for accessibility, please contact education@caot.ca or 1-800-434-2268.    

Please note that workshop is offered in English.