AOTA to Celebrate World OT Day
Free Access to Select Educational Materials for the Entire Occupational Therapy Community
Bethesda, MD (October 24, 2024) — The American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), representing more than 244,000 occupational therapy practitioners (OTPs) and students, will celebrate World Occupational Therapy Day, a special day marked by The World Federation of Occupational Therapists (WFOT), the international voice of the occupational therapy profession which is comprised of 111 national occupational therapy professional organizations worldwide.
World Occupational Therapy Day, held annually on October 27, is an important date in the occupational therapy community to promote and celebrate the profession internationally.
The theme for this year’s celebration, “Occupational Therapy for All," reflects the important role the profession plays in facilitating the ability of individuals, communities, and populations to participate in the activities that they want, need, or are expected to do in their daily lives. It also speaks to the importance of inclusion in the profession.
“World OT Day has always been a reminder that we are more than one person practicing occupational therapy. We are a global community enriching people’s access to health and wellness all over the world. As we encounter new challenges and pain points in this complex and beautiful profession such as workforce shortages, practitioner burnout, and increasing cognitive and physical demands of the job of OT, this year’s theme is profoundly important,” said AOTA President Alyson Stover, MOT, JD, OTR/L, BCP.
Stover adds, "‘Occupational Therapy for All’ means that OT is for us. Let’s use this as a challenge to be intentional about using occupational therapy to achieve our own health and wellness. Thank you to everyone who had the courage and the boldness to choose OT. I hope you take some time on this day to allow OT to choose you.”
In honor of this special day, between October 23-31, 2024, AOTA is offering the entire OT Community free access to select educational materials typically available to AOTA members only.
These resources include:
- The October issue of AOTA’s flagship publication OT Practice Magazine.
- Select AOTA Official Documents guiding the practice of OT.
- Continuing education articles on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Justice, Access, and Belonging.
- Webinars on topics such as Artificial Intelligence in OT Practice.
- Resources on disaster preparedness and risk reduction.
“At AOTA our mission is to advance occupational therapy practice, education, and research through standard setting and advocacy on behalf of our members, the profession, and the public,” said AOTA CEO Katie Jordan, OTD, OTR/L, FAOTA. “This year’s theme, ‘Occupational Therapy for All’, is near and dear to our hearts, as we work to ensure that every corner of society understands, values, and promotes the practice of OT. Today, we proudly celebrate all occupational therapists, occupational therapy assistants, and students, and the power of our profession.”
Media: To interview one of the American Occupational Therapy Association’s experts, please contact AOTA media relations at 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 and beyond. Occupational therapy practitioners facilitate participation in everyday living for people of all ages. The Association educates the public and advances the profession of occupational therapy by providing resources, setting standards including accreditations, and serving as an advocate to improve health care. Based in North 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, visit www.aota.org
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