The American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), Bethesda, Md, encourages occupational therapists to celebrate National Occupational Therapy Month in April by showcasing the new branding platform, "Living Life To Its Fullest™," as well as their skills, program, or business.
AOTA’s suggestions include:
Contact a Reporter with a Great Story
Click here for detailed information about reaching out to the media.
Look for Opportunities to Interact with Public Audiences
Prepare a talk about how occupational therapy helps people of all ages live life to its fullest, and offer to deliver an informal speech to community service organizations (ie, Kiwanis, Rotary Clubs, etc) or the local PTA. Contact senior centers and offer to make a presentation on topics such as driver safety, managing daily tasks while coping with arthritis, gadgets for ease and safety in the kitchen, or time and energy saving tips. Distribute appropriate handouts, such as AOTA’s consumer tip sheets.
Make This Your Month to Advertise
If your business or program does not advertise regularly, OT Month is a great time to start. For nonprofits, try using radio and TV public service announcements available on AOTA’s Web site.
Provide a Public Service
Become involved with community service activities like Rebuilding Together or a backpack education event, and use the opportunity to promote the unique role that OT can play.
Throw an OT Month Party
Invite former clients for a celebration of their achievements and how they are living life to its fullest during OT Month. Ask them to bring friends and family. Invite local government officials, including your senator or member of Congress. Serve refreshments, offer a tour, and take lots of pictures. Prepare an article for your in-house publication, and send a press release to your local media outlets. Upload your pictures to OTConnections.
Hold a Contest
Invite pediatric clients and their siblings to complete a coloring sheet depicting aspects of OT. Display the entries and draw the names of several winners. Take photos of the winners and send them with a story to your facility’s newsletter, or even the local media. Alternatively, for older clients, invite them to write short stories about or take photos of what "living life to its fullest," means to them and how OT is helping them or did help them achieve it. Again, display the entries and draw names of several winners. Take photos of the winners and send them with a story to your facility’s newsletter, or even the local media.
Confer Special Honors
Recognize an outstanding administrator, name an employee of the year, or honor a person or client who’s living life to its fullest. Arrange a ceremony or event to present the honor. Produce a certificate. Take photos and send them with a short description to your local media outlets.
Inform Coworkers
Set up your clinic with free coffee and donuts early in the morning or have a brown bag lunch one day each week during the month of April. Inform others in your work setting through cafeteria tent cards, fliers, e-mail or bulletin board notices. Have staff on hand to chat and inform people about how OT helps individuals of all ages live life to its fullest. This is particularly important in areas such as home health agencies where there is a need to expand awareness about OT. Visit http://www.promoteot.com/ for promotional give-away ideas.
Make House Calls
Put together an information packet, including a "Living Life To Its Fullest" one-pager, a fact sheet about your particular program or business, sample consumer information fact sheets, and your business card. Stop by physicians’ offices and local businesses. Introduce yourself to receptionists, and leave your package for owners and managers to review. Make follow-up calls a week later to offer additional information.
Visit PromoteOT.com for OT Month Products
Each year AOTA introduces a new line of OT Month products, featuring clothing, gifts ,and other items to give share with clients, referrers, and colleagues. Also available this year is "Living Life To Its Fullest" items. Visit http://www.promoteot.com/ for more information.
Visit AOTA’s Web site for more information.
[Source: AOTA]
