AOTA strives to inspire the next generation of occupational therapy practitioners
Breaking barriers is not just about reaching new heights—it is about paving the way for future generations of occupational therapy practitioners. During the AOTA INSPIRE 2025 Annual Conference & Expo in Philadelphia, Pa., the AOTA Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Justice, Access, and Belonging (DEIJAB) Committee, with support from the AOTA DEIJAB Integration & Ethics staff were thrilled to welcome 28 high school students from the Science Leadership Academy at Beeber (Philadelphia), The Tatnall School (Delaware), and Poolesville High School (Maryland), to our signature conference event, Paving the Path: Inspiring Exploration of Occupational Therapy.
Expanding Pathways, Empowering Futures in Occupational Therapy
Paving the Path: Inspiring Exploration of Occupational Therapy is a unique conference initiative aimed at igniting an interest in occupational therapy (OT) careers, exploring the academic journeys that lead to them, and addressing the need to increase representation within the OT field. The annual initiative is supported by the Recruitment, Inclusion, Sustainability, and Education (RISE) Pathways Program, a national initiative designed to increase access and opportunities for impact in the OT profession by developing leader-scholars across the United States. The program made possible by a generous donation from The Sandra Hoskins Legacy Foundation, focuses on exposure to OT through a comprehensive approach involving recruitment, education, mentorship, leadership development, and career support.
Paving the Path invites middle and high school students local to the INSPIRE conference site and hosts students for a full day of events. These include engaging in live interactive demonstrations with therapeutic tools, listening to panel discussions from occupational therapy practitioners and students, and participating in a curated tour of the Expo Hall, which offers an opportunity for meaningful interactions with dedicated Occupational Therapists (OT) and Occupational Therapy Assistants (OTA).
According to RISE Scholar, Lisa Johnson, OTR/L, B.Sc. OT, MHS OT, OTD, “It was an event that combined learning and wonder for the participants. They were introduced to an overview of the profession and their inquisitive nature was piqued when they were challenged to determine the purpose for common adaptive devices. Entrance into the Expo Hall was a multisensory experience where the students were able to see, hear, feel, and experience the breadth of our profession.”
The committee asked students about their knowledge and awareness of OT. While some students were not aware of the OT profession, Cameron Jarrett, an 11th grade student from Delaware answered the question, what is OT? “Occupational therapy helps those who may suffer from certain conditions, such as strokes or seizures and also helps people gain the ability to perform everyday tasks.” The event affirmed her decision to pursue occupational therapy in a pediatric setting as a career. In addition to presentations, participants received admission materials and swag donated from occupational therapy academic programs to take home, which fueled the students’ excitement.
Through their participation, the students gained insights into the personal narratives that span from aspiring applicants to active occupational therapy practitioners. Tennessee George Gibbs III, a ninth-grade student from Maryland, reflected on what he learned during the event. "I liked learning how much occupational therapy can aid. It was really interesting to see that occupational therapy can be combined with other areas of study to create new technologies and programs all aiding in just helping people live their lives." Although Tennessee admitted he was tired after the day’s events, he remained engaged throughout the activities. “I was inspired at INSPIRE!”
Breaking Barriers, Building OT Futures
This year’s event culminated with students attending the historic address from incoming AOTA President Arameh Anvarizadeh OTD, OTR/L, FAOTA, the first and youngest Black and Iranian American woman to serve as President. Dr. Anvarizadeh’s address, “Shattering Glass Ceilings: Thriving in the Shadows of Underestimation and Collective Diversity,” focused on how embracing diverse experiences and backgrounds strengthen the profession and the communities we serve.
A Collaborative Effort
This event would not be possible without the dedicated efforts of the DEIJAB Committee’s planning group and former chair, Natalie Chang-Wright, MBA-HCM, COTA/L, ROH. Paving the Path falls under the goals of the Committee’s action plan to diversify the profession. Event lead, Shekiah Flowers Stinson, OTD, M.Ed., OTR/L, CAPS, from Howard University in Washington, DC, remarked, “The Paving the Path: Inspiring Exploration of Occupational Therapy event is a vital component of AOTA INSPIRE, igniting curiosity in young, impressionable minds. By offering a glimpse into the profession of occupational therapy that brings meaning and life to everyday occupations, it opens the door for future practitioners to envision themselves in this dynamic and impactful field.”
Several AOTA members contributed their time to support the event by serving on the panel and providing a wide range of perspectives on entering the profession. In addition, the 2025 cohort of the RISE Pathways Program were also in attendance to inspire the next generation of occupational therapy practitioners.
RISE Scholar Grayson Owen, OTD, OTR/L from Pacifica University (Ore.) observes, “I wish that I had the opportunity to learn about AOTA and the magnitude of the occupational therapy profession while in high school. The Paving the Path program was an incredible opportunity for me to share my passion for occupational therapy with high school students from the surrounding community. I also felt the students in attendance truly left inspired and more knowledgeable about the true meaning and value of occupational therapy. The program provided not only information about the profession in a fun and interactive environment but also allowed time for personal connections to be made. I hope the program continues to build and grow to offer more students in the future the opportunity to learn about the occupational therapy profession while in high school.”
