Self-Advocacy in OT (Being Self-Assured in Uncertain Times)

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In many ways, the past year has changed how we practice occupational therapy. OTs and OTAs have worked in a variety of settings as we’ve seen new and different needs arise. We have been called to learn new safety protocols, new technologies, and new ways of approaching care. 

At the same time, OT professionals have burned out at higher rates than ever, as facilities struggle with the downturn of resources and a shift in client needs.

This hour-long episode will review opportunities for occupational therapy professionals to rise to the occasion in their workplaces, communities, schools, and professional organizations through a lens of self-advocacy.  

We’re honored to be having this discussion with Amy Lamb, OTD, OT/L, FAOTA. Amy is the immediate past-president of the American Occupational Therapy Association. In our discussion, she will share specific takeaways from self-advocacy literature, as well as best-practice examples of OT self-advocacy. This episode aims to inspire OTs to use principles of self-advocacy to take a stand for themselves, their clients, and the profession during these uncertain times.

Research and Resources

• Advocacy: Championing Ideas and Influencing Others
• The occupational therapist in prevention programs
• Transforming values into action: Advocacy as a professional imperative
• Engagement of occupational therapy organizations with public policy: A qualitative analysis

Learning Objectives

• You will be able to identify advocacy strategies that have been effective in recent advocacy wins.
• You will be able to describe strategies to determine organizational needs and solutions related to self-advocacy.

Agenda

Intro (5 minutes)

Discussion on practical implications for OTs (with guest Amy Lamb) (55 minutes)

Occupational therapy has been tried and tested in 2020 – the need is great and burnout is at an all time high

• How can OTs move through burnout to meet community needs?
• Importance of knowing and communicating the value of OT to combat burnout

Effective strategies seen in the US and around the world as it relates to combating burnout and finding creative solutions to meet client and organizational needs

• Opportunities to express and communicate value in traditional and non-traditional settings
• Teaching, inspiring and mentoring new generations of OT practitioners

Taking our OT lens into higher level needs within organizations

• Organizational needs assessment to identify and create opportunities for communication of self-advocacy
• Tactical approaches for managing barriers to self-advocacy in a variety of settings

Tangible takeaways to increase self-advocacy for OT practitioners

Target Audience/Educational Level

The target audience is occupational therapy practitioners who are interested in taking the first steps towards serving as advocates. The educational level is introductory.

Financial and Non-financial Disclosures

It is the policy of OT Potential to disclose any financial and non-financial interest the provider or instructor may have in a product or service mentioned during an activity. This is to ensure that the audience is made aware of any bias of the speaker.

We here at OT Potential have no financial stake in this topic. Our guest, Amy Lamb, has no financial interest in this topic to disclose.

Speakers

Amy J. Lamb, OTD, OTR/L, FAOTA

Dr. Lamb is the founder of Meraki & Me, owner of AJLamb Consulting, LLC and an Associate Professor of Occupational Therapy at Eastern Michigan University. She is the immediate Past-President of the American Occupational Therapy Association serving in that role from 2016-2019. She has previously served the American Occupational Therapy Association on its Board of Directors as its President-Elect from 2015-2016 and Vice President from 2012-2015. Dr. Lamb is a past chair of the American Occupational Therapy Political Action Committee (AOTPAC) from 2006-2012.  She brings with her the valuable combination of clinical practice as a licensed occupational therapist combined together with health care policy experience at the state and federal levels.  Dr. Lamb’s expertise includes health policy, advocacy, prevention and wellness, leadership development, organizational change, managing professional burnout and professional wellbeing, and occupational therapy as a career.

Dr. Lamb received both her Bachelors of Science in Occupational Therapy and her post professional Doctor of Occupational Therapy from Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska. Her policy experience began in the Minnesota House of Representatives working with the Health Policy committee.  From there she went on to be employed by the Nebraska Occupational Therapy Association as their registered lobbyist from 2000-2008. 

Dr. Lamb’s clinical expertise spans from private practice, school based pediatrics, acute care, home health, hospice, older adults and management.  In 2011, she received the AOTA Lindy Boggs advocacy award for her leadership in advocacy and political action in the profession of occupational therapy. In 2012, Dr. Lamb was selected to join the American Occupational Therapy Association Roster of Fellows.  Dr. Lamb was the 2014 recipient of the Eastern Michigan University College of Health and Human Services Everett L. Marshall Fellow Award for Excellence in Service. Read full bio.

Lauren Sheehan, OTD, OTR/L

Lauren has been an occupational therapist for 10+ years in a neuro-rehabilitation clinical setting, working with individuals with neurologic injuries and illnesses. She also spent a handful of years working in clinical administration and director of rehab roles for both small community hospitals and facilities in large, urban areas.

She has spent the last three years of her career working for rehabilitation technology companies, assisting with product and process development for products that serve stroke patients. She’s currently the Field Clinical Manager for NeuroLutions, a device company committed to developing quality products that incorporate innovation such as BCI (Brain Computer Interface) stroke rehabilitation technology.

She has a passion for supporting individuals with neurologic injury and illness through greater accessibility to technologies that can be used at home to increase function and improve quality of life. Outside of work, Lauren enjoys singing, cycling, and traveling.

This course was designed to meet your continuing education requirements

We designed the courses in the Club to meet the requirements for “online” and “independent/self-study” courses. To verify the requirements from your specific state (within the US), check out our post, OT Continuing Education Requirements. If you are outside of the United States and have questions, please contact us.

We are proud to be an AOTA Approved Provider and to meet the requirements for your NBCOT renewal.

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