Occupational Therapy in the News
Media coverage is an important part of raising public awareness about occupational therapy practice and research. Here are some of the most recent stories covered in print and online.
11/10/09: WITI-TV aired a
story about an occupational therapy practitioner's research regarding young veterans adjusting to life at home.
11/09/09: The
Associated Press wrote an
article about the stability of health care jobs, including occupational therapy.
11/06/09: CareerTV featured an occupational therapy practitioner using the Wii with clients.
11/06/09: Occupational therapy is
named a "best career" by
The Daily Beast.
11/03/09: The Kojo Nnamdi Show on
NPR aired a
segment about concussions in high school sports and referenced occupational therapy.
11/02/09: Associated Press ran an
article about AOTA member Dr. Cynthia Bell's research about how "Wii bowling affects the participants' quality of life and social skills and gives them confidence to prevent falls." The story was subsequently picked up by other media outlets, including
USA Today,
Winston-Salem Journal and more.
10/30/09: The Washington Post ran an
article about a three-year-old child with dyspraxia and how occupational therapy has helped him.
10/16/09: NPR aired a
segment about an occupational therapy practitioner helping a burn victim.
10/09/09: Money Magazine listed occupational therapy as one of the best jobs in America, indicating it is very low-stress.
10/08/09: NPR aired a
segment about careers that remain in high demand, including occupational therapy.
10/07/09: Real Simple interviewed AOTA member Dr. Karen Jacobs about ergonomics and doing laundry.
10/06/09: The
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette ran a
letter to the editor from AOTA member Patricia Christ about the joy of being an occupational therapy practitioner.
10/05/09: Roll Call announced AOTA's 2009 Capitol Hill Day, featuring an interview with chief public affairs officer Christina A. Metzler.
10/04/09: The
St. Louis Post-Dispatch ran an
article about a new charity helping individuals with autism, including providing payment for occupational therapy services.
10/02/09: HealthDay distributed an
article about support suggestions for people with cancer, including "using a rehabilitation service that provides occupational therapy." Subsequently, the story was picked up by many other media outlets, including
U.S. News & World Report,
BusinessWeek,
Forbes,
The Washington Post,
iVillage,
Everyday Health,
MSN Health, and more.
10/01/09: The Washington Post featured AOTA member Jan Olsen's Handwriting Without Tears program.
09/27/09: The
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette featured an occupational therapy practitioner in an
article about recovering from a hand transplant.
09/27/09: Occupational therapy was mentioned in a prominently featured
Washington Post article about health care reform.
09/21/09: World News Tonight on ABC featured a
segment about driving rehabilitation specialists. AOTA member Mary Beth Meyer was interviewed.
09/15/09: WISC-TV interviewed an occupational therapy practitioner about the use of therapy balls in the classroom.
09/08/09: The Today Show featured occupational therapy when interviewing a girl who had her hand replaced more than a year ago.
09/03/09: HealthDay ran an
article about research conducted by AOTA member Timothy J. Wolf about the decreasing age at the time stroke occurs and how OT can make a significant impact if included as part of the recovery process. Subsequently, the story was picked up by many other media outlets, including
U.S. News & World Report,
BusinessWeek,
Forbes,
The Washington Post,
iVillage,
Everyday Health,
MSN Health, and more.
08/31/09: USA Today featured a study conducted by AOTA member Erica Stern about the poor driving habits of troops returning from war.
08/24/09: The
Staten Island Advance interviewed AOTA members Jude De Prospo and Dr. Karen Jacobs about National School Backpack Awareness Day and backpack safety in general.
08/24/09: The
Staten Island Advance interviewed AOTA member Dr. Karen Jacobs about the expansion of National School Backpack Awareness Day to include ergonomic tips for purses, briefcases and suitcases.
08/20/09: WTSP-TV aired a
story about backpack safety, citing statistics provided by AOTA.
08/20/09: The Columbus Dispatch wrote a
story about backpack safety, citing statistics provided by AOTA.
08/19/09: The New York Times interviewed AOTA member Scott Nordquist about why he enrolled in a two-year occupational therapy program after being laid off from his job of 18 years.
08/12/09: Health.com interviewed AOTA member Cathy Kleinman-Barnett about how weight lifting can benefit breast cancer survivors. The article was subsequently picked up by
CNN.com.
08/11/09: The Wall Street Journal wrote an
article about teacher layoffs and changing careers, including a 25-year-old who is going back to school to study occupational therapy.
08/11/09: The Cypress Times wrote an
article about National School Backpack Awareness Day, quoting AOTA member Jean Polichino. The article was also reprinted in
Houston Style Magazine.
08/11/09: Examiner.com wrote an
article about National School Backpack Awareness Day and choosing the right backpack for your toddler.
08/05/09: Examiner.com wrote an
article about National School Backpack Awareness Day and selecting the right backpack from the comfort of your own home.
08/02/09: The
Chicago Tribune wrote an
article about how an occupational therapy practitioner is helping a quadriplegic mom prepare to care for her new baby.
07/24/09: Woman's Day interviewed Dr. Karen Jacobs about buying an ergonomically correct purse as part of AOTA's National School Backpack Awareness Day campaign.
07/17/09: The New York Times wrote an
article about aging in place, quoting an occupational therapy practitioner about his role in the process.
07/16/09: Forbes.com wrote an
article about "hot jobs where pay is rising during the recession," including occupational therapy.
AOTA president Penelope A. Moyers was
quoted.
07/16/09: The Today Show featured the first patient to undergo a double hand transplant in the United States and discussed extensively the role occupational therapy has and will continue to play in his recovery.
07/14/09: The Oregonian interviewed AOTA member Jennifer Lape about Snoezelen rooms following her
article in
OT Practice about the same subject.
07/13/09: USNews.com ran an article about aging in place, and AOTA member Dr. Vanessa Dazio responded with a
letter about aging successfully at home.
07/06/09: NPR ran a
segment about driving rehabilitation specialists helping older drivers and mentioned occupational therapy practitioners as an expert in this area.
06/26/09: The
Kansas City Star ran an
article about an occupational therapist-led dementia caregiver advice workshop.
06/20/09: NBC Sports featured AOTA member Alexander Lopez's PAR FORE program during coverage of the U.S. Open. The USGA Web site also ran an
article about the program.
06/18/09: The
Las Vegas Sun ran an
article about occupational therapy students participating in a contest to design assistive technologies.
06/14/09: Examiner.com wrote an
article quoting an occupational therapy practitioner about the use of the Nintendo Wii for therapy intervention with Parkinson's clients.
06/08/09: The
Boston Globe quoted AOTA's Older Driver Coordinator Elin Schold Davis about keeping older drivers safe on the roads.
06/02/09: HealthDay wrote an
article about "cell phone elbow" and quoted an occupational therapy practitioner about how common the condition is. The article was subsequently picked up by numerous publications, including the
Atlanta Journal Constitution.
06/01/09: Career expert Alexandra Levit interviewed AOTA member Alexander Lopez for her
Water Cooler Wisdom blog about why he enjoys being an occupational therapy practitioner.
05/28/09: The Today Show featured triplets with childhood burn scars. Now, two of the sisters plan to enroll in occupational therapy programs in the fall. This story was subsequently featured by many media outlets.
05/28/09: A
New York Times blog,
The New Old Age,
featured AOTA member Lois Glover in an article about home modifications.
05/17/09: The
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review quoted an occupational therapy practitioner in an
article about an historic hand transplant.
05/13/09: The
Star Tribune wrote a
profile of AOTA member Louise Montague.
05/08/09: ABCnews.com ran a
story featuring the home safety and Alzheimer's research of AOTA member
Scott A. Trudeau. The story also aired on
Good Morning America, which can be viewed
here.
05/06/09: Good Morning America aired a
segment about helping stroke patients live life more independently, featuring an occupational therapy practitioner. The transcript can be found
here.
05/05/09: A CarFit event hosted by Carilion Clinic was
featured by
WDBJ-TV.
05/01/09: Managed Healthcare Executive ran an
article by AOTA executive director Frederick P. Somers about the role of the occupational therapy profession.
04/29/09: AOTA's pediatric coordinator, Sandra Schefkind, wrote a
guest post for the Easter Seals autism blog about occupational therapy intervention for children with autism in a school-based setting.
04/27/09: Parenting wrote an
article about babies' grip development, quoting AOTA's pediatric coordinator, Sandra Schefkind.
04/27/09: The podcast show
Jobs in Pods covered occupational therapy in a recent
episode.
04/23/09: Tony Cochran, the "Agnes" cartoonist, developed a
series of strips about the Annual Conference & Expo.
04/20/09: The News Journal published an
article about Occupational Therapy Month and how occupational therapists at Easter Seals are changing lives in Delaware.
04/16/09: As part of a series about autism,
The Today Show featured an occupational therapy practitioner working with an interior designer to create a bedroom that caters to the sensory needs of children with autism.
04/15/09: AOTA member Cathy Brennan
speaks with the
Star Tribune about the benefits of joining your professional association.
04/14/09: AOTA member Ellen Harrington-Kane wrote a
post on the Easter Seals blog about how occupational therapy helps people with autism participate in daily routines. She also encouraged readers to listen to the "Living Life To Its Fullest"
podcast episode she recorded with AOTA member Janie Scott.
04/14/09: The
Sacramento Bee demystified the occupational therapy profession in this
article.
04/09/09: The Garden Island interviewed AOTA member Steve Kline for an
article about how occupational therapy helps people living meaningful lives.
04/07/09: HealthDay ran a
story about research conducted by AOTA member Laura N. Gitlin about how occupational therapy intervention may help extend individuals lives by 3.5 years. This story also was reprinted in
U.S. News & World Report, the
Washington Post,
MSN.com and other media outlets.
04/06/09: In an
article about Alzheimer's and driving, the
Associated Press directed readers to AOTA's Older Driver Web site.
04/06/09: KFYR-TV aired a
story about how a man with no hands was so impressed by how occupational therapy practitioners helped him live an independent life that he became an occupational therapist himself.
04/06/09: GateHouse News Service wrote an
article that demystifies occupational therapy.
04/05/09: AOTA member Amy Marlow wrote an
article about how occupational therapy helps individuals live life to its fullest in
The Messenger.
04/03/09: United Press International wrote an
article about occupational therapy's role in arthritis intervention.
04/03/09: All Healthcare included occupational therapy in its "
10 Best Healthcare Jobs with a Master's Degree" list.
04/02/09: KDKA-TV in Pittsburgh, and several other media outlets, ran a
story about a successful hand transplant for a former marine. Several occupational therapy practitioners are involved in his recovery.
04/02/09: The
South Florida Sun-Sentinel wrote an
article using Wii-habilitation as a therapy intervention.
04/02/09: The Daily Times wrote an
article about
Beebe Medical Center’s occupational therapy team celebrating Occupational Therapy Month this year.
04/02/09: The
Jackson County Chronicle wrote a
news brief about occupational therapists at Black River Memorial Hospital’s rehabilitation services department who will be celebrating Occupational Therapy Month this year.
04/01/09: Slate ran an
article about autism "treatments" and research, briefly mentioning occupational therapy. AOTA members and autism experts
Dr. Roseann Schaaf and
Dr. Kristie Koenig responded.
04/01/09: Long-Term Living magazine ran an
article co-authored by AOTA members Pam Toto and Laurel Cargill Radley about how to eliminate barriers to physical, social and mental well-being in long-term care facilities.
03/29/09: The
Detroit Free Press quoted AOTA member Nancy Sebring-Cale in an
article about home modification and accessibility.
03/28/09: Naples Daily News quoted AOTA member Jaesen Petretta in an
article about autism. The article also was reprinted in
Smart Brief.
03/26/09: The
Detroit Free Press quoted AOTA member Bernadette Kosir in an
article about jobs in home health services.
03/24/09: USA Today wrote an
article about an occupational therapist who works with service dogs.
03/23/09: HealthNewsDigest.com wrote an
article about research conducted by AOTA member Laura N. Gitlin, which found that therapy intervention could improve the lifespan and quality of life.
03/20/09: All Headline News wrote an
article about brain injury and helmet safety quoting AOTA member Shawn Phipps.
03/19/09: HealthNewsDigest.com wrote an
article about brain injury and helmet safety citing AOTA as the source.
03/17/09: ABC News interviewed AOTA member Jan Olsen about her "Mail to the Chief" letter-writing campaign.
03/17/09: An occupational therapist was
featured in the nationally syndicated column "Dear Abby" regarding sensory processing disorder.
03/16/09: HealthNewsDigest.com wrote an
article about new autism research by AOTA members at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
03/15/09: The
Chicago Tribune interviewed an occupational therapist for an
article about carpal tunnel pain.
03/13/09: The
Milwaukee Sentinel Journal wrote an
article about AOTA member Carol Haertlein Sells, who recently enlisted in the Army to oversee a new doctoral program in occupational therapy at Brooke Army Medical Center. This article also was reprinted in the
Boston Herald.
03/11/09: AOTA member Hima Dalal was
featured on
ABC Columbia about "Reiki healing."
03/10/09: Rehab Management quoted AOTA president Penelope Moyers Cleveland in an
article about the new occupational therapy brand.
03/09/09: HealthNewsDigest.com wrote an
article about gardening safety tips featuring AOTA Board member Dr. Paula Kramer.
03/01/09: Ladies Home Journal featured occupational therapy in an article about using the proper type of therapist for massages.
02/27/09: The Daily Press interviewed an occupational therapist about being a driving rehabilitation specialist helping older drivers stay safely behind the wheel.
02/24/09: HealthDay featured gardening tips from AOTA in this
article, which was picked up by other outlets such as
U.S. News & World Report,
The Washington Post, and
MSN.com.
02/21/09: The Washington Post ran an
article about aging in place in which occupational therapists were mentioned as a resource to homeowners.
02/20/09: CBS 3 in Philadelphia quoted AOTA member Stacey Saleff in a
story about National Eating Disorders Awareness Week.
02/18/09: AOTA member Robyn Kaiser speaks out against possible Medicaid cuts in Nevada in
this Associated Press article.
02/16/09: KETV-TV interviewed an occupational therapist helping a teen after a traumatic brain injury.
02/16/09: The Indianapolis Star interviewed therapists of different disciplines, including an occupational therapist, about changes in therapy practice due to an aging population.
02/09/09: USA Today directed readers to AOTA's Older Driver Web site to find a driver rehabilitation specialist in an
article about Alzheimer's.
02/08/09: Former AOTA president Dr. Karen Jacobs was
interviewed by the
Boston Globe about ergonomics and sitting up straight in the workplace.
02/04/09: AOTA executive director Frederick P. Somers was
interviewed by
Association Bisnow about the Centennial Vision and other AOTA news.
02/02/09: AOTA member Jaci Durham was
interviewed by
McClatchy Newspapers about occupational therapy and autism.
02/02/09: An occupational therapist wrote a
guest column in the
Mansfield News Journal (Ohio) about outdoor play and sensory integration.
01/29/09: In her parenting column, Fiona Charles of
The Star-Ledger ran an
article about sensory processing disorder, whether or not her child is ready for kindergarten and her occupational therapist's opinion.
01/28/09: The newly crowned Miss Indiana recently graduated from UIndy with a master's in occupational therapy, as stated in this
article in the
Indianapolis Star.
01/27/09: CNNMoney.com ran an
article about a 58-year-old man going back to school to study occupational therapy because it's a growing field with jobs.
01/26/09: An
article appeared on
Examiner.com about occupational therapy and autism.
Click
here to discuss this article on OTConnections.
01/25/09: The
Hartford Courant included occupational therapy in its article about
growing health care fields.
01/19/09: The New York Times briefly mentioned
occupational therapy as an early intervention option for children with autism.
01/18/09: The
Atlanta Journal Constitution profiled AOTA member Debi Hinerfeld, OTR/L, in its
"Spotlight on a Leader" series.
Click
here to discuss this article on OTConnections.
01/10/09: The Oregonian quoted AOTA member Sage Fuller, MOT, OTR/L, in an
article about helping kids improve their handwriting.