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

Funding Will Launch AOTA’s RISE Pathways to Diversity 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 to Diversity Program, a significant initiative to advance diversity within 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 to Diversity Program aims to increase diversity in the occupational therapy profession by 20% over the next 25 years,” 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.”

Lack of ethnic and gender diversity is a significant challenge for the occupational therapy profession and has far-reaching implications for both the profession and the communities it serves. According to AOTA’s 2023 Workforce and Salary Survey, approximately 85 percent of the practitioner respondents identified as White and 91 percent identified as women. 

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

The RISE program has four long-term aims:

• Increased Diversity: Achieve a 20% increase in the diversity of the OT workforce over 25 years.
• Enhanced Cultural Intelligence: Improve cultural intelligence and inclusivity within the OT profession, leading to better client outcomes and increased satisfaction among diverse communities.
• Leadership Development: Foster a new generation of diverse OT leaders equipped to advocate for inclusive practices and policies within the profession.
• Sustainable Impact: Establish a sustainable model for increasing diversity in 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 to Diversity Program is a multi-year, comprehensive approach involving targeted recruitment of underserved populations, education, mentorship, leadership development, and career support. We are actively paving the way for future generations of diverse 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 to Diversity 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.