To Our Members in Arizona
The following e-mail was sent to AOTA members in Arizona on Wednesday, January 12:
Dear Fellow AOTA Members:
The recent tragic incident in Tucson has affected our entire nation but I wanted to especially reach out to you, AOTA’s members in Arizona, as you and your family, colleagues and fellow citizens respond to the shooting which took six lives and left others seriously injured. No matter how closely or distantly this tragedy affected you, I wanted you to know our sympathies are extended to all of you and especially the constituents of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords. In representing you on Capitol Hill, AOTA works with Rep. Giffords; she understands the issues of concern to our profession, especially as they affect our service men and women and veterans. Our hopes for recovery are with Rep. Giffords and the other victims. As occupational therapy practitioners we know the stress such events place on individuals and communities. But our knowledge and skills also foster resilience and strength to move forward even in difficult times. Our background in mental health and understanding of psychosocial issues gives us the ability to help individuals and communities when faced with such situations. You may wish to read AOTA’s Disaster Preparedness Concept Paper and two articles on occupational therapy’s role in situations like this. The links are below. Know your fellow practitioners are keeping you in their thoughts.
Sincerely, Florence Clark, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA, President, AOTA
Disaster Preparedness Concept Paper (AOTA)
Deconstructing Disaster (OT Practice, March 6, 2006)
Occupational Therapy’s Role in Disaster Relief
