Valparaiso Occupational Therapy supports the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA)

The American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) is the professional organization for occupational therapy. AOTA represents more than 230,000 occupational therapists, occupational therapy assistants, and occupational therapy students in the United States and beyond, to advance occupational therapy practice, education, and research. Membership in AOTA is voluntary, but Valparaiso Occupational Therapy supports student and professional membership in AOTA. Our faculty are involved with AOTA in leadership and volunteer positions, presenting at the AOTA annual conference, and as authors within AOTA publications. Our Valparaiso Occupational Therapy students will be strongly encouraged to be actively involved with AOTA as well. AOTA provides students and practitioners with valuable learning and leadership opportunities.

This week, Program Director Dr. Story and Clinical Associate Professor Dr. Carroll are representing Valparaiso University at the AOTA Academic Leadership Council Meetings and Inspire Annual Conference. They will begin their week learning about key issues in occupational therapy education, as well as networking with other OT educators across the country. Both Dr. Story and Dr. Carroll are presenters at this year’s conference. Dr. Story is leading an institute on CarFit, a program that offers older adults the opportunity to check how well their personal vehicles “fit” them and continue driving safely. Dr. Carroll is leading a Conversations that Matter session on Evidence Based Predictors of Postsecondary Success and the role of occupational therapy in supporting these predictors. Dr. Story and Dr. Carroll will also attend education sessions relevant to their teaching and scholarship while also networking with colleagues.

Follow our social media accounts to see highlights from this year’s AOTA Inspire Annual Conference. Dr. Story and Dr. Carroll will be sharing their experiences on Facebook, Instagram (@otvalpo), and Twitter(@otvalpo).

We look forward to the day when we have Valparaiso Occupational Therapy students presenting their Doctoral Capstone work or other scholarship at conference. We hope Valparaiso OT students will become involved with leadership and volunteer opportunities with AOTA. For more information about AOTA, visit aota.org.

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Theresa Carlson Carroll, OTD, OTR/L