AOTA is a Partner in your Practice Be a Member!

Centennial Vision We envision that occupational therapy is: Powerful Widely recognized Science-driven Evidence-based Globally connected Diverse Meeting society's occupational needs

The Impact of Our Vision “With a freshness of vision, you have the possibility of a freshness of action….” Senge, Scharmer, Jaworski, & Flowers. (2004). Presence: An exploration of profound change in people, organizations, and society. New York: Random House.

Power To Grow our Power AOTA has conducted: Leadership Development Institute for state presidents Leadership Mentoring Circles for program directors of professional and assistant level academic programs Better transitioning from outgoing elected leaders to incoming elected leaders.

Power To Use our Power, AOTA advocacy Protected Medicare coverage and will represent occupational therapy through health care reform debate Created access to Physician Quality Reporting Initiative Overturned CMS requirement that occupational therapists be ATP certified to evaluate for wheeled mobility devices Amended The College Opportunity and Affordability Act ( student loan repayment program) to include OT

Political Advocacy Made Possible AOTPAC at Republican/Democratic Conventions Amy Lamb & Penny Moyers Cleveland with Senator Grassley of Iowa AOTA Board with Representative Chris Van Hollen of MD Representative Virginia Fox of North Carolina

Widely Recognized A new brand for occupational therapy, “Living Life To Its Fullest,” was unveiled in 2008 based on consumer research.

Widely Recognized USA Today: use of Wii in occupational therapy Los Angeles Times & U.S. News & World Report: occupational therapy career New York Times: Sensory Processing Disorders Retirement Living TV: Universal design Washington Times: Chronic pain Focus on Healthy Aging: Arthritis Fine Living TV: Ergonomics Backpack Awareness Day (35 local newspapers & 40 local TV interviews)

Science-Driven and Evidence-Based AOTA is working to create a National Outcomes Database and the development of a patient record and documentation system for occupational therapy services.

Science-Driven and Evidence-Based AOTA Practice Guidelines – Adults with Stroke – external review completed Children and Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorders – external review in process Clinical Conditions Related to Workers’ Compensation – in process Adults with Alzheimer’s Disease – in process Adults with Traumatic Brain Injury – in process

Science-Driven and Evidence-Based 24 EVIDENCE BYTES in 1 Minute Update 6 EVIDENCE PERKS were in OT Practice Draft evidence-based guidelines accepted by the California Workers’ Compensation Board

Science-Driven and Evidence-Based National Institutes of Health (NIH) – AOTA provided comments for the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) Strategic Plan; the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee strategic plan of the NIMH; and report language relative to National Institute of Nervous Disorders and Stroke (NINDS). Outreach to the Veterans Administration to promote use of evidence-based occupational therapy with emphasis on head injury, low vision, mental health and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

Science-Driven and Evidence-Based AOTA provided input into the American College of Environmental Medicine’s Occupational Medicine Practice Guidelines with the following results. Clarity on the distinction between occupational therapy and physical therapy. Description of occupational therapy practitioners as “…trained to recognize both psychological and physical issues that may influence the treatment of back pain.” Emphasis on occupational therapy as having a greater focus on “cognitive behavioral, occupational, and activity- based approaches.”

Globally Connected and Diverse Workforce A Prepared Workforce Model Curriculum Educational Blueprint for the Future Board and Specialty Certification Diverse continuing education and learning materials

Meeting Occupational Needs AOTA’s Car-Fit project with American Automobile Association (AAA) and American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) awarded AOTA a $150,00 to distribute mini-grants encouraging driving rehabilitation program development. AARP’s Home Fit Guide: AOTA included occupational therapy’s role in environmental modification.

Meeting Occupational Needs AOTA Consumer Advocacy Safety of Seniors Act, also known as the Keeping Seniors Safe from Falls Act Paul Wellstone Mental Health Equity Act (mental health parity) AOTA is a partner of the RtI (Response to Intervention) Action Network, a program of the National Center for Learning Disabilities funded by the Cisco Foundation.

Meeting Occupational Needs Consumer Advocacy Successful opposition to eliminating Medicaid Rehabilitation Services Option for community mental health centers Advocate for the Combating Autism Act Congressional Testimony on PTSD

Be A Member There are currently approximately 40,000 members. There are 140,000 practitioners. We are affected by a down economy which could threaten our great work on the Centennial Vision. You can insulate AOTA from this negative economy.

Why be a Member Now? Health care reform is coming and we must be at the table to ensure consumer access to occupational therapy. Occupational therapy must be widely recognized by consumers, the public, and legislators. Occupational therapy must have the science to show its effectiveness.

JOIN AOTA! The value of AOTA membership vastly outweighs the cost. For less than $19 a month—or just 62¢ a day—you get a host of tangible and intangible benefits that support you in practice. AOTA has not raised dues in years. AOTA now offers the Easy Pay Option credit card installment plan with payments of just $18.75 per month for occupational therapists and $10.92 for occupational therapy assistants. Go to and join today! Or, download the membership application and mail it to AOTA, Attn: Membership, 4720 Montgomery Lane, Bethesda, MD Enter Priority Code M2M09 and be eligible to enter a drawing for a $300 VISA Gift Card (ends March 1, 2009; drawing on March 15, 2009).