Making Strides to Promote the OT Profession
NBCOT has been working to promote occupational therapy as a career choice for younger generations and educating people about the role and significance of occupational therapy practitioners through the Why Choose OT initiative.
Earlier this year, we announced our initiative, Why Choose OT, which is a strategic effort by our board to address the decline in new OTs entering the field and the impact this has on accessing quality OT services by those who need our services most. Our aim is to illuminate OT's vital role in allied health. The campaign is live with a captivating website, growing social media presence, and inspiring stories from dedicated OT professionals. Join us on this journey.
In July, we attended the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) conference in Atlanta, GA. We had the opportunity to speak to thousands of K-12 school counselors about occupational therapy as a possible career choice for their students. In November, we attended the Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minoritized Scientists in Phoenix, AZ. This event hosts historically excluded community college, undergraduate, and postbaccalaureate students in science, technology, engineering, and math. We enjoyed the opportunity to educate these individuals on a career in occupational therapy. We have identified several future opportunities where we can talk to individuals and to those who guide young students through their school years.
Image: Why Choose OT at 2023 ASCA conference Image: Why Choose OT at 2023 ABRCMS conference
We are working on finalizing resources such as presentations geared towards different grade levels from kindergarten to undergrad, and flyers to help communicate the pathway to becoming an occupational therapist or therapy assistant.
Join us in amplifying the message of occupational therapy! Add the 'Why Choose OT' badge to your email signature and help us spread awareness. Visit https://whychooseot.com/promote-ot/ for all the details.
We're eager to hear about your OT journey. Your stories hold immense power and emotion, showcasing the profound impact of this profession. Share your narrative through a 15-minute video call or provide written responses along with a photo upload to inspire others.
Share the impact! Spread the word by amplifying posts and stories from our social media accounts.