Leadership and governance

The ASD provides a mechanism for the expression of student insight, and offers a means whereby students can have effective input into AOTA affairs. The ASD meets multiple times per year. The Assembly of Student Delegates Steering Committee (ASDSC) is a standing committee of the Board of Directors, serving the ASD membership by synthesizing student perspectives to the Representative Assembly, the Commission on Practice, the Commission on Education, and all other bodies of AOTA as needed.

The BPPC is responsible for maintaining and reviewing Association governance documents and recommending changes to the appropriate body for their consideration. In addition, the committee keeps a record of rulings/interpretations of the Association's governance documents. The Chairperson of the committee is appointed by the AOTA President. There are five additional appointed members to the committee, one of whom is the Secretary of the Association, and one who must be an OTA.

The Special Interest Section Council (SISC) guides the work of the Special Interest Sections (SISs). Each of the 9 SISs provides a broad home for practitioners and students to exchange information about evidence-based practice, legislative issues, and research. The SISs allow you to leverage your common practice setting towards building or re-solidifying your professional networks.

SIS volunteers come from elections, appointments, and micro-volunteering opportunities. SIS volunteers on standing committees or in council roles are elected or appointed into their positions. All other volunteer opportunities within the SISs are categorized as micro-volunteering opportunities.

The VLDC is responsible for promoting member participation and engagement, volunteer leadership development, and volunteer participation initiatives of AOTA. The VLDC identifies and recruits diverse and qualified candidates for elected and appointed positions, and oversees the nomination and selection process for the Association's annual awards and recognitions. The VLDC serves as a resource to members and various leadership groups within AOTA to foster and enhance its professional activities and priorities. The Chairperson of the committee is elected by AOTA members. There are six additional appointed members to the committee with consideration given to representation in the areas of advocacy, education, practice, professional development, research, leadership, and management. At least one member must be an OTA.

The CCCPD develops and maintains guidelines and tools that support the ongoing professional development of practitioners, including official documents such as the Standards for Continuing Competence and the Guidelines for Reentry Into the Field of Occupational Therapy.

The Commission on Education (COE) identifies, analyzes, and anticipates issues in occupational therapy education; generates education-related policy recommendations; and works in conjunction with the Academic Education Special Interest Section and Academic Leadership Councils to provide guidance and resources.

The Commission on Practice (COP) serves AOTA by promoting the quality of occupational therapy practice and developing practice standards for occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants relative to provider and consumer needs.

The Ethics Commission (EC) has two primary responsibilities: to develop and enforce the Occupational Therapy Code of Ethics and ethics standards, and to provide educational resources for practitioners, students, and consumers.