Grassroots advocacy in state associations-A case example for MAOT’s advocacy SIG

When a new wave of legislators begins their terms at the federal and state levels, there is a call to action for occupational therapy practitioners (OTPs), as they have a unique role and duty as agents of social change. OTPs have an opportunity to collaborate and advocate for changes to laws, regulations, and policies that will positively impact health, education, and other areas that affect the populations that they serve (Carrier & Beaudoin, 2020). It is through advocacy efforts at a grassroots level that OTPs can also support outcomes such as community living and access to services, as outlined in the fourth edition of the Occupational Therapy Practice Framework: Domain and Process (OTPF-4; American Occupational Therapy Association [AOTA], 2020). With evolving and dynamic influences on the profession and education, concerns such as increasing diversity in the profession, ensuring equitable reimbursement for occupational therapy assistants (OTAs), and advocating for occupational therapy’s role in mental health are critical and timely issues for the profession to support. Advocating for issues such as these may feel daunting and overwhelming, yet there are opportunities to increase learning and overall involvement in advocacy at the state level. This article aims to highlight the development of a special interest group (SIG) designed to provide attainable strategies that OTPs can use to increase their knowledge, confidence, and overall participation as social change agents in state advocacy associations.