If It’s To Be…. It’s Up To Me!

Pamela E. Toto, PhD, OTR/L, BCG, FAOTAAOTA Board of Directors

Rejected presentation titles: There is no “they” in AOTA

Who are “they” and what do you expect “them” to do for you?

WE are AOTAWe are occupational therapy

Our “Vision”

Powerful Widely Recognized Science-Driven Evidence-Based Globally Connected Diverse *Essential and Effective*

External Challenges Reimbursement

Competition from other professions

Rapidly changing needs of our consumers

Internal Opportunities Ambassadors Salespersons Leaders Magicians Artists Scientists

…in addition to

being clinicians!

PassionA man’s passion proclaims his destiny

and anchors his life.So fall in love with something.

It will decide everything.Destiny is not a matter of chance

But a matter of choice. Ray Werner

Find your passion in occupational therapy

OT 101: Strategies for Everyone

Distinct and Essential Focus on Participation

Everyone now focuses on “function” Practice OCCUPATION

Avoid “short-selling” the value of occupational therapy “Common sense” Lack of evidence Deference of clinical judgment to

other professionals

Seen and Heard Act and Lead

Resist “going along with the crowd” if you feel otherwise

Seek opportunities to represent OT and the greater rehabilitation/healthcare team

Names matter Call yourself an occupational therapist or an

occupational therapy assistant Nametags, Business Cards

Be prepared to succinctly describe what you do

Happy to be another face in the crowd... Representation by disciplines other

than occupational therapy Avoiding the “limelight”

More comfortable interacting with clients than decision-makers

More comfortable advocating for others than yourself

Who are "they”?

Define what you do The “elevator”

definition Brief (20 sec) One to two

sentences Word choice

depending on your audience

The “unabridged” version 2 minutes Don’t limit to one

population Use examples Word choice

depending on your audience

“Don’ts” for defining what you do… Don’t be too narrow in focus Don’t describe OT by relating how it

is different from another profession (i.e. physical therapy)

Don’t use too much OT jargon Who else “doffs” their socks except

occupational therapy practitioners? Don’t be too wordy – make your

point!

Expand the “Army” of Occupational Therapy Advocates

Clients as advocates for occupational therapy Must know who provided the service Must understand how the intervention has

impacted their occupations and participation Encourage to promote and talk about the

benefits of occupational therapy Apply to family and friends

Practice ConsistencyAs an occupational

therapy practitioner… The areas you address The services you provide Your assessment and

intervention approachvs.

OT 201: Becoming an Occupational Therapy Leader

Types of Leaders Charismatic Innovative Command and Control Laissez-Faire Pace Setter Servant Situational Transformational

Blanken, R. (2013). Lead with style. Associations Now, 9(1), 47-56.

No style of leadershipis good or bad;

we need all types

OT Leadership Options

Advocacy

Practice

Organization

Science

Leadership: Organization AOTA

Representative Assembly Commission on Practice, Commission

on Education Ad Hoc Committees

State OT Associations State or local representative Conference/CE committee

Clinical Department/Employer

Leadership: Advocacy AOTPAC

Hill Day Fundraising

State PAC NBCOT

Item writer Survey respondent

State Licensure Board

Leadership: Science AOTA

Evidence-based practice guidelines Evidence exchange AJOT

AOTF Clinic

Journal club Implementing EBP assessments and

interventions Collaboration/Data collection with research

Leadership: Practice AOTA

Special Interest Sections Student representatives

Board and specialty certifications OT Practice

Writer Reviewer

State OT Associations Employment Site

If it’s to be, it’s up to me! Powerful Widely Recognized Science-Driven Evidence-Based Globally Connected Diverse

Occupational therapy

Thank youpet3@pitt.edu