AOTA continues to raise our voice on behalf of the occupational therapy profession

This week, AOTA Board President Dr. Arameh Anvarizadeh, OTD, OTR/L, FAOTA, joined leaders across healthcare professions to speak at a press conference held by Rep. Laura Friedman (CA-30). The topic: The Department of Education’s intention to exclude master’s and doctor’s programs in occupational therapy—among other critical healthcare professions—from the definition of professional programs. Instead, these would be considered graduate programs…programs with a significantly reduced federal tuition cap.

This change would make it more challenging for future providers to afford the training needed to enter the healthcare workforce and could drastically decrease the number of providers. Ultimately, this will harm patients and clients most in need of life-changing occupational therapy services.

As Dr. Anvarizadeh said, “We are not only advocating for the nearly 250,000 occupational therapy practitioners and students, but also for all of our communities that would grapple with higher costs, fewer providers, and less access to care as a result of this misguided action.”

Keep the momentum going. Let Congress know that occupational therapy must be included in the definition of professional programs. We need your voice! Take action.