Community

Special Interest Sections

AOTA's Special Interest Sections (SISs) support your practice-specific connections in multiple ways. Connecting with SISs is included in your AOTA membership. When you join or renew, select 1 to 3 sections that relate to your professional interests, and connect with all 9 sections on the CommunOT online forum.

Join an SIS for formal and informal professional learning opportunities

Check out the programs organized by the SISs.

Explore the events calendar

Practice chats

Beginning in 2020, AOTA's SISs began offering these informal opportunities to connect about practice-specific topics. Often featuring special guests and speakers, practice chats are planned and led by SIS volunteers. Check out the events page for information on upcoming practice chats.

Journal clubs

Steeped in research-based practice, quality, and knowledge translation, journal clubs offer space for a deep dive into best practices. Journal clubs are planned and led by SIS volunteers. Check out the events page for information on upcoming journal clubs.

Communities of Practice (CoPs)

Our CoPs allow you a powerful way to network and learn through a social environment. CoPs enable rich, topic-focused discussion related to your professional passion. Each SIS is home to one or more CoP. Learn more about the CoPs.

Communities of Practice

CommunOT conversations

CommunOT, our online forum, is filled with discussion, expertise, and connection that enhance your practice and broaden your professional network. The SISs have discussion spaces on CommunOT. Find the links to your SISs' CommunOT space on your SIS page, or through the "Meet the Sections" directory below.

Meet the sections

The 9 SISs broadly categorize membership by practice settings. Check out the individual pages for additional information.

Academic Education SIS

AESIS members are interested in OT education and include fieldwork educators and coordinators, faculty, and students.

Children & Youth SIS

CYSIS members work in programs under Parts B and C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and with infants, preschoolers, children, and adolescents. CYSIS also has a focus on early intervention and school programs.

Developmental Disabilities SIS

DDSIS members help facilitate the inclusion of individuals with developmental disabilities in home, school, work, and community life.

Home & Community Health SIS

HCHSIS members practice in home health, adult day services, senior housing, wellness programs, community mental health centers, home modification, and accessibility consultation.

Mental Health SIS

MHSIS members support individuals, groups, or populations across the lifespan who are at risk for or are currently diagnosed with a mental health challenge.

Productive Aging SIS

PASIS members work with the occupational needs of older adults and relate to the full continuum of care for the aged.

Rehabilitation & Disability SIS

RDSIS members support individuals with physical dysfunction resulting from a wide range of conditions, including hand rehab and driving rehab.

Sensory Integration & Processing SIS

SIPSIS members focus on the neurobiological, sensory, and praxis foundations of occupation and play for individuals with disabilities, across the lifespan.

Work & Industry SIS

WISIS members assist individuals to engage and reengage in work across the lifespan, understanding the relationship of work to human development, motivation, and performance.

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SIS volunteerism builds your network

Each SIS 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.

Micro-volunteering opportunities

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Let's connect

As a member, you can interact with all 9 SISs on CommunOT. Whether you're interested in networking with peers in your practice area, connecting about cross-setting research, or exploring a new career, CommunOT enables you to maximize your membership.

Connect today on CommunOT

SIS call for student interns

The SISC invites current OT/OTA students to apply for the internship program. Interns serve in 1-year terms and internship opportunities exist within each of the 9 SIS standing committees. Find the internship description and application in the Volunteer Center in CommunOT. Applications are due by April 30, 2023.

Meet the SIS Council chairperson

The nine SIS chairpersons hold dual roles—they lead their individual SIS and together, support the overall direction for the SIS program. The Council is chaired by Bridgett Piernik-Yoder, PhD, OTR, FAOTA.
The SIS Council chairperson is an elected role that begins with a 1-year term as chairperson-elect followed by a 3-year term as chairperson. Bridgett's chairperson term runs 2023-2026.

Meet the SIS Council

The SIS Council (SISC), informed by each individual SIS and in partnership with AOTA staff, leads the direction of all of the SISs. The SISC is comprised of the 9 SIS chairpersons and is led by the SISC chairperson. In some cases, CoPs may be housed with the SISC instead of a particular SIS.

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