Engage federal policymakers from home

The future of occupational therapy will be affected by decisions of the U.S. Congress. Raise your voice to ensure Congress is representing you the way you want to be represented.

There are many ways this can be accomplished, but none better than during a Congressional recess when the Members of Congress are back at home to hear from you and campaign. You can always contact your legislators using AOTA's Legislative Action Center(www.aota.org/takeaction), but there are other ways to participate in advocacy!

Invite Your U.S. Representative and Senators to your workplace, educational institution, or another site to see OT in action 

This activity will make the most lasting impression on your Members of Congress. A tour or visit will enable them to see what you do and how you help so many of their constituents.  This is your opportunity to demonstrate how important OT is to your clients who also happen to be constituents of the Senator or Representative. 

Our Guidelines for Site Visits walks you through this process.

Don't forget to tell us how your visit went! by using our Congressional Visit Report Form.

Attend a Town Hall or other meetings with your Members of Congress

During Congressional recesses, your Senators and Representative usually schedule local meetings (Town Halls) to meet their constituents. To learn of such meetings in advance, contact the office of your U.S. Senators and Representative and ask to be notified when Town Halls are planned for your area. Also, watch for announcements in local media. By attending such events, you can build a relationship with your legislators by asking specific questions related to issues of concern to you and other occupational therapy practitioners.

Schedule a face-to-face meeting with your Members of Congress

You can also schedule a meeting with your Members of Congress or their district staffers when they are back at home in the state/district. You can do this on your own or as part of a group of other local OT practitioners.  Such meetings are ideal opportunities to directly engage with Members of Congress and/or their staff without traveling to Washington, DC.   

Learn more about how to conduct an effective Congressional meeting.

Write or call your Members of Congress

You can write or call your Members of Congress and share your views on legislative issues important to the occupational therapy profession at any time. Use our Legislative Action Center to send advocacy messages to your legislators and to find their direct contact information.

Encourage others to write

You can magnify the local voice of occupational therapy by encouraging other OT practitioners in your area to contact Congress. Set aside time at meetings or in class to connect with Members of Congress via email. Ask members of your state association to join the effort at meetings or conferences, and ask your co-workers to join the effort.

Participate in the political system

AOTA Members can visit the AOTPAC section of the website for information on supporting candidates, getting involved in campaigns, and other ways to participate in the electoral process.

Something to keep in mind

Your voice is critical to maintaining key funding streams for occupational therapy and for protecting access to quality services provided by qualified professionals. Don't be left out! Make your voice heard for your profession.

Remember, when your members of Congress are home, they are:

• There to learn their constituents' views on important issues,
• There for you
• There to hear from you and all of their constituents