Social learning through AOTA's Communities of Practice

Academic Admissions Community of Practice

Enhances the capacity, knowledge and professional development of admissions professionals at all levels of OT and OTA education, encompassing all institutional types. This CoP is housed under the Academic Education Special Interest Section.

Acute and Critical Care Community of Practice

The acute and critical care community of practice aims to foster collaboration, knowledge sharing, and skill development among practitioners working in high-intensity healthcare environments, by providing a platform for exchanging evidence-based practices, and supporting practitioners addressing complex patient care challenges. This CoP is housed under the Rehabilitation & Disability Special Interest Section.

Adaptive Sports & Leisure Community of Practice

The purpose of this Adaptive Sports and Leisure CoP is to create a social learning community where OT practitioners can network and share stories of best practice techniques to help advance participation in adaptive sports and leisure for diverse clients and cultures across the lifespan. This CoP is housed under the Rehabilitation and Disability Special Interest Section.

Aquatic Occupational Therapy Community of Practice

Connects members wishing to explore occupational therapy’s role in water related activities including aquatic safety, swim skills, drowning prevention, self care, motor skills, social participation, parent education, advocacy, lifelong recreation and leisure, and more. This CoP is housed under the Children and Youth Special Interest Section.

Autism Community of Practice

Explores the strategies, challenges, and opportunities providing occupational therapy to autistic individuals. This CoP is housed under the Developmental Disabilities Special Interest Section.

Cancer Care Community of Practice

The Cancer Care Community of Practice addresses the complex needs of oncology survivors across the continuum of care. This section is housed under the Rehabilitation & Disabilities Special Interest Section.

Dementia Community of Practice

Explores evidence-informed practice and the role of OT in supporting occupational performance and quality of life for people living with dementia and their care partners. This CoP is housed under the Productive Aging Special Interest Section.

Early Childhood Community of Practice

Addresses the demands of working in this critical phase of the life span to address needs as early as possible to prevent later challenges. This CoP is housed under the Children & Youth Special Interest Section.

Emergency Response & Disaster Management Community of Practice

Explore a variety of direct service, advocacy, research, and leadership perspectives in both emergency response and all phases of disaster management. This CoP is housed under the Developmental Disabilities Special Interest Section.

Environmental Modifications Community of Practice

Explores best and emerging practice in the area of home and environmental modifications which are routinely incorporated into occupational therapy assessment and intervention plans to understand and address performance issues. This CoP is housed under the Home & Community Health Special Interest Section.

Functional Cognition Community of Practice

Connects members addressing functional cognition to support their learning needs, using evidence based practices, and sharing of experiences and challenges across the lifespan and settings. This CoP is housed under the Developmental Disability Special Interest Section.

Homelessness Community of Practice

Explores the challenges that unhoused individuals present in practice to meet both their individual performance as well as their often complex social needs. This CoP is housed under the Mental Health Special Interest Section.

Hospital-based Pediatrics Community of Practice

Provides a place for clinicians working with children in acute care to probe the distinct challenges of working with this population in the hospital setting. This CoP is housed under the Children & Youth Special Interest Section.

Integrative Health Community of Practice

The holistic nature of occupational therapy sets the stage for practitioners to explore the role of complementary interventions and approaches in practice to address occupational performance needs. This CoP is housed under the Home & Community Health Special Interest Section.

Justice, Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion (JEDI) Community of Practice

Explores how JEDI can be incorporated into occupational therapy education, including risks, benefits, and best practices. This community of practice is housed under the Academic Education Special Interest Section.

Leadership Community of Practice

Explores the expansion of occupational therapy practice into administration and management roles. This CoP is housed under the Special Interest Section Council.

Lifestyle Management Community of Practice

Explores how lifestyle and health management approaches can be used in a wide range of occupational therapy settings across the lifespan to promote health, well-being, and quality of life. This CoP is housed under the Rehabilitation & Disability Special Interest Section.

Literacy Community of Practice

Addresses the impact of literacy on both developmental and health interventions. This CoP is housed under the Special Interest Section Council.

Long COVID Community of Practice

Serves as a collaborative space for OT practitioners working or interested in long COVID care across the lifespan—to drive knowledge mobilization and enhance our professions responsiveness to the emerging and unmet needs of the long COVID population. This CoP is housed under the Work & Industry Special Interest Section.

Mealtime Occupations Community of Practice

Probes the impact of feeding, eating, and swallowing deficits across the lifespan. This CoP is housed under the Developmental Disabilities Special Interest Section.

Occupation-Based Pelvic Health Community of Practice

Explores the intersections of pelvic health and occupational performance across the lifespan and genders. This CoP is housed under the Home and Community Health Special Interest Section.

Palliative Care Community of Practice

Palliative care occurs across the lifespan and addresses the needs of clients recently diagnosed with a serious illness seeking curative treatment, those wishing to manage a chronic, non-curable illness, and those facing the end of their life due to disease progression or diagnosis of a terminal illness. This CoP is housed under the Rehabilitation and Disability Special Interest Section.

Pediatric Trauma Community of Practice

Explores evidence-based strategies used to address trauma, share resources, collaborate, and advocate for the role of occupational therapy practitioners in trauma informed care. This CoP is housed under the Sensory Integration and Processing Special Interest Section.

Psychosis Community of Practice

Explores the demands of working with challenging mental health symptoms and the role of occupational therapy meeting the needs of those with serious mental illness. This CoP is housed under the Mental Health Special Interest Section.

Quality Improvement Community of Practice

Explores the use of quality measures needed to support everyday practice. This CoP provides networking opportunities and peer support to OT practitioners navigating AOTA’s Practice Improvement action steps through shared problem solving to support cost savings, positive outcomes, advocacy, and client and customer-centered care. This CoP is housed under the Work and Industry Special Interest Section.

Rural Therapy Community of Practice

Probes the impact of therapy practice in this vulnerable and challenging context. This CoP is housed under the Academic Education Special Interest Section.

School-based Community of Practice

A safe place that welcomes present, past, and future school-based OT practitioners to exchange ideas, focus on best practices, learn, share, and collectively impact children and youth in schools.. This CoP is housed under the Children & Youth Special Interest Section.

School Mental Health Community of Practice

Explores the impact occupational therapy can have on meeting the needs of school communities to support children's mental health and well-being. This CoP is housed under the Mental Health Special Interest Section.

Simulation Education Community of Practice

Fosters collaboration, understanding and support for application of simulation best practice standards to enhance the quality of occupational therapy education and practice across various settings throughout the continuum of care. This CoP is housed under the Academic Education Special Interest Section.

State Leaders in School Practice Community of Practice

Provides support and networking to promote occupational therapy advocacy across states. This CoP is housed under the Special Interest Section Council.

Transitions Community of Practice

Explores key transitions in development and the essential bridge that occupational therapy can be to support successful movement across contexts. This CoP is housed under the Developmental Disabilities Special Interest Section.

Women's Health Community of Practice

Addresses the distinct needs of women and opportunities for occupational therapy to optimize care by lending our holistic approaches. This CoP is housed under the Rehabilitation & Disability Special Interest Section.