AOTA's Fund to Promote OT Awarded $200K from the Sandra Hoskins Legacy Foundation

Funding Will Launch AOTA’s RISE Pathways Program

Bethesda, MD, 11/04/2024 – The American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) is pleased to announce that The Fund to Promote Awareness of Occupational Therapy, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization established by AOTA in 2002, has received $200K from the Sandra Hoskins Legacy Foundation (SHLF). This funding will support the inaugural year of the RISE Pathways Program, a significant initiative to advance entry to the occupational therapy field.

AOTA's leadership and staff have developed an ambitious five-year proposal totaling $1.35 million, to help AOTA identify, recruit, and support individuals from underrepresented communities, and equip them with the knowledge, skills, and leadership necessary to excel in the field of occupational therapy. 

“The RISE Pathways Program aims to remove barriers and increase overall access to entry in the occupational therapy profession,” says AOTA Practice Manager Angela Warren, staff liaison for the RISE program.  “We are immensely grateful to the Sandra Hoskins Legacy Foundation for their support of this pivotal program.”

“As the nation’s largest organization serving occupational therapy practitioners, AOTA is committed to uplifting our profession and creating opportunities,” says AOTA CEO Katie Jordan, OTD, OTR/L, FAOTA. “This transformational funding that will help enable us to create sustainable solutions for the OT Workforce over the next five years and beyond.”

The RISE program has four long-term aims:

• Increased Access: Achieve increased access to the OT workforce.
• Enhanced Awareness: Improve awareness and understanding of diverse perspectives within the OT profession, leading to better client outcomes and increased satisfaction among the communities we serve.
• Leadership Development: Foster a new generation of OT leaders equipped to advocate for inclusive practices and policies within the profession.
• Sustainable Impact: Establish a sustainable model for increasing access in to OT that can be replicated and scaled across other healthcare professions.

Varleisha D. Lyons PhD, OTD, OTR/L, ASDCS, FAOTA, Vice President of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Justice, Access, & Belonging (DEIJAB), Governance, and Ethics at AOTA emphasizes that the RISE initiative is no small endeavor; it is a significant investment in the future of occupational therapy. 

“The RISE Pathways Program is a multi-year, comprehensive approach involving recruitment through education, mentorship, leadership development, and career support. We are actively paving the way for future generations of occupational therapy practitioners,” says Dr. Lyons. “This is not the work of AOTA alone. This is a momentous endeavor requiring the efforts of the entire OT community.”

Media: To learn more about the RISE Pathways Program or to request an interview with AOTA CEO Katie Jordan, OTD, OTR/L, FAOTA or Varleisha D. Lyons PhD, OTD, OTR/L, ASDCS, FAOTA, Vice President of Diversity Equity Inclusion Justice Access & Belonging, Governance, and Ethics, please contact praota@aota.org. 

About AOTA
Founded in 1917, the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) represents the professional interests and concerns of more than 244,000 occupational therapists, assistants, and students nationwide. The Association educates the public and advances the profession of occupational therapy by providing resources, setting professional and educational standards, and serving as an advocate to improve health care. Based in Bethesda, Md., AOTA’s major programs and activities are directed toward promoting the professional development of its members and assuring consumer access to quality services so patients can maximize their individual potential. For more information, go to www.aota.org. 

About The Fund to Promote Awareness of Occupational Therapy
The Fund to Promote Awareness of Occupational Therapy was created by the American Occupational Therapy Association in 2002 as part of a long-term strategy to raise awareness of occupational therapy. The Fund is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, committed to ongoing resource development to support targeted education, research, and professional development opportunities that will increase the public’s understanding of occupational therapy. The Fund exists to achieve greater understanding, availability, and use of occupational therapy and to promote the profession’s contributions to health, wellness, participation, productivity, and quality of life in society.