Empowering practitioners through legislative advocacy

Advocacy and policy are critical components of the occupational therapy profession, essential for influencing decision-making, raising public awareness, and promoting regulations that sustain and advance the field (Dirette, 2024). Advocacy empowers occupational therapy practitioners (OTPs) to actively influence and shape policy changes rather than passively accept them (Dirette, 2024). Educating occupational therapy students about health care policy can encourage them to become proactive advocates and leaders in the field (Nagro et al., 2019). Events like Capitol Day—when students meet elected officials and learn about policymaking—are beneficial for building students’ advocacy confidence and fostering a professional identity rooted in active engagement (Dirette, 2024).