Volunteer groups

The COE identifies, analyzes, and anticipates issues in education, generating education-related policy recommendations to the AOTA Representative Assembly for deliberation. 

The COP promotes the quality of occupational therapy practice and develops practice standards and documents relative to provider and consumer needs.

Note: the COP relates to the Commission on Practice. The acronym CoP (or CoPs) refers to Communities of Practice, which are activities of the Special Interest Sections. COP and CoP are distinct groups.

The Ethics Commission (EC) is responsible for developing the Occupational Therapy Code of Ethics and Standards of Conduct for the profession, which apply to occupational therapy personnel at all levels and in all professional and societal roles. The EC has two primary responsibilities— the provision of educational resources for American Occupational Therapy (AOTA) members and consumers, and enforcement of the Code.

The CCC develops and maintains guidelines and tools that support the ongoing professional development of practitioners, including official documents such as the Standards for Continuing Competence and the Guidelines for Reentry Into the Field of Occupational Therapy.

AOTPAC is a voluntary, nonprofit, unincorporated committee of members of AOTA. Its purpose is to influence the selection, nomination, election, or appointment of any individual to any federal public office; and of any occupational therapist, occupational therapy assistant, or occupational therapy student member of AOTA seeking election to public office at any level. Duties include providing direction for fundraising and candidate approval. Members of the AOTPAC Board are appointed by the AOTA Board of Directors and must reside within one of five designated AOTPAC regions of the U.S.

The ASD provides a mechanism for the expression of student insight, and offers a means whereby students can have effective input into AOTA affairs. The ASD meets multiple times per year.  The Assembly of Student Delegates Steering Committee (ASDSC) is a standing committee of the Board of Directors, serving the ASD membership by synthesizing student perspectives to the Representative Assembly, the Commission on Practice, the Commission on Education, and all other bodies of AOTA as needed.

The BPPC maintains the governance framework that supports transparent and effective Association decision-making.

The DEIJAB Committee promotes and facilitates AOTA's DEIJAB efforts and provides recommendations to the Board of Directors and other governance bodies on issues and opportunities related to DEIJAB, and assesses progress made toward achieving the goals of advancing inclusion and diversity within AOTA and the profession.

Each SIS is led by a Standing Committee, composed of members of that particular SIS. These elected or appointed volunteers help to contribute to publications, specialty and annual conferences and events, and additional activities of the SISs, including Journal Clubs and Practice Chats. 

The Volunteer Leadership Development Committee (VLDC) helps cultivate the next generation of AOTA volunteer leaders. The committee promotes member engagement, identifies and recruits qualified candidates for elected and appointed roles, and supports leadership development opportunities that strengthen the Association and the profession.

ACOTE consists of occupational therapists, occupational therapy assistants, and public members who represent academia and practice. ACOTE develops and implements accreditation standards to ensure quality occupational therapy education. Members are selected from current volunteers on the Roster of Accreditation Evaluators (RAE). If you’re interested in serving on the RAE, applications are open and volunteers are selected on an annual basis. Learn more and apply.

The SISC, informed by each individual SIS and in partnership with AOTA staff, leads the direction for all of the SISs. The SISC is composed of the 9 SIS Chairpersons and is led by the SISC Chairperson.

Supports Asian American and Pacific Islander occupational therapy practitioners, students, and allies while advancing awareness of cultural considerations in occupational therapy education, research, and practice.

Advocates for and supports Black occupational therapy practitioners and students while promoting their contributions to the profession and broader community.

Promotes accessibility, inclusion, and equitable participation within the occupational therapy profession and in professional organizations and activities.

Advocates for Native American and Indigenous communities while supporting the role of occupational therapy in promoting participation, well-being, and quality of life.

Provides opportunities for Jewish occupational therapy practitioners and students to connect, network, and support one another professionally.

Fosters connection, mentorship, and professional development while supporting Hispanic and Latino occupational therapy practitioners and students.

AAOTG promotes diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging, and cultural humility within the occupational therapy profession. The organization supports occupational therapy practitioners, students, educators, researchers, and advocates of Arab heritage or descent while fostering learning and collaboration across the broader OT community.

BROTHAS is an organization that seeks to cultivate, coordinate, strengthen, and uplift males of the African diaspora within the profession of Occupational Therapy from academics to practitioner. - to advance a greater understanding of African American/African Diaspora (i.e., Black) cultural issues affecting occupational therapy practice, and - to support career opportunities and advancements in occupational therapy by people of African American/African Diaspora (i.e., Black) heritage.

COTAD is a network of occupational therapy practitioners, students, and educators working to advance health equity, diversity, and inclusion across education, practice, research, and policy.