Occupational Therapy Asst. Students Advocate on Capitol Hill
The NOVA Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) Class of 2025 participated in the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) Capitol Hill Day with their U.S. Representatives and U.S. Senators on September 20. This is the 11th year that NOVA OTA students and faculty have participated in this advocacy event. The OTA students asked legislators to support three important pieces of legislation: Strengthening Medicare for Patients and Providers Act (H.R.2474), the OT Mental Health Parity Act (H.R. 8220/S. 1592) and the Expanded Telehealth Access Act (H.R. 3875/S.2880). Over 300 OT practitioners from around the country attended the event helping to promote Occupational Therapy.
The Occupational Therapy Assistant Program is designed to prepare students with entry-level skills to provide occupational therapy services to persons with psychosocial, physical and developmental impairments. Occupational therapy assistants, under the guidance and supervision of a licensed occupational therapist (OT), work with individuals to help them improve their functional capacities to participate in many areas including self-care, work, play/leisure and socialization pursuits. Becoming an Occupational Therapy Assistant is a rewarding career for students interested in a dynamic and creative career in health care. Visit their website here.
Submitted by:
Kathryn Skibek, MEC-Asst Prof. of Allied Health, KSkibek@nvcc.edu