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

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.

1. You will be able to identify advocacy strategies that have been effective in recent advocacy wins.

2. You will be able to describe strategies to determine organizational needs and solutions related to self-advocacy.

• Intro

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

  1. 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

  2. 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

  3. 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

  4. Tangible takeaways to increase self-advocacy for OT practitioners

• The Role of an Occupational Therapy Practitioner in Professional Advocacy: a Scoping Review

• Political Advocacy in Occupational Therapy: A Professional Imperative

• Empowering Advocacy: A Theatre Pedagogy Training With Occupational Therapists

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.

OT Potential pays guest speakers an honorarium for their participation, either directly or to an institution of the speaker's choosing at their request. We invite guests whose expertise often comes from practices, programs, or building products in their field. Where a speaker has a financial interest in the subject of a course, we disclose it below so you can weigh it for yourself.

OT Potential's interest in this topic: We have no financial stake in this topic.

Speaker interests: Amy Lamb owns AJLamb Consulting, LLC, which provides consulting on leadership development, organizational change, and professional burnout — the subjects of this course.

Lauren Sheehan, who hosted this episode, is Field Clinical Manager for NeuroLutions, a stroke rehabilitation device company.