National Occupational Therapy Month well under way this April

Just like everyone else, occupational therapists file their taxes in the spring, with the ultimate goal of satisfying the IRS before April 15th —whether or not your tax return gives you something to celebrate, April is and will continue to be, a busy and celebratory month for OTs across the nation.

Why? Because April showers bring reasons to showcase what high paying occupational therapy jobs do best: help patients live their lives to the fullest!

Yep, it’s National Occupational Therapy Month for a couple more weeks; those of you in travel occupational therapy jobs close to Florida are close to the American Occupational Therapy Association’s (AOTA) annual conference in Orlando. If you registered by the extended deadline of April 11th, you’re good to go in a conference beginning on 4/29/10, lasting through the second of May. We’d love to read comments from occupational therapists in attendance, if you would be so kind as to post one after reading our article!

Nowhere near Orlando this month? No big deal. You don’t have to attend the AOTA conference to practice what it preaches. Here are just a few things you—and in this case “you” applies not just to OTs, but OTAs and students—can do to showcase the importance of an inspiring occupational therapist career.

Visit www.promoteot.com to see OT related gifts from AOTA’s new line of products; your purchase goes a long way in showing clients, referrers, and colleagues how much you care—the best part being that proceeds help the AOTA help you!

• Host a little Occupational Therapy Month party in the break room where you work; now that spring cleaning is through, those plates and utensils ought to be easy enough to find! Serve coffee and donuts while sharing stories about how occupational therapy careers greatly benefit the public—little events like these are great at getting the word out!
• Send out April greetings to clients or mentors, expressing the occupational therapy mission statement: to help patients “live their lives to the fullest”; this is AOTA’s platform—OTs  are encouraged, this month especially, to distribute consumer tips that help millions of patients (of all ages) through the hardships of their medical conditions.
• Finally, promote the unique role OTs can play by getting involved with Rebuilding Together (RT). AOTA and Rebuilding Together (RT) have collaborated on home modification projects for low-income homeowners for more than a decade. OTs play a crucial role in this outreach program as members in RT affiliate programs spanning the country.
• Remember that April, a month of painted eggs, tax advantages and sunshine is just a temporary bright spot in a whole year’s worth of showcasing the importance of Occupational Therapy.

We’re certainly going to tell the world what occupational therapy does 365 days a year.