COTAD Practitioners
Who we are
OT practitioners interested in initiating change locally, at the state level, and at the international level.
What we do
Network with and connect students to practitioners, provide resources to carry out JEDI, anti-racism and anti-oppression work in state associations.
Join us
OT practitioners can join us by becoming a member of COTAD and joining the COTAD Practitioner Committee. See an overview of our programming below.
“I always knew advocating for diversity was important work but now being one of the few therapists to go into the inner city in Newark because other therapists are refusing really emphasizes the need for representation.”
— Jabari Hoyte
Programs
COTAD Mentorship Program (CMP)
The COTAD Mentorship Program (CMP) has been reimagined to provide enhanced support for soon to graduate and new graduates of OTA and OT programs. We hope that the CMP will enrich the personal and professional lives of mentees and mentors as they work together to achieve mutually agreed-upon goals. The CMP is the first formal national mentoring program which serves OT practitioners from underrepresented backgrounds. Read below for additional details on this program and how you can get involved.
ntees
This program is for you as a mentee if …
You are within 6 months of graduating from an OTA, MOT, or OTD program OR if you are a new OT practitioner
You need guidance as you begin your clinical OT practice
You are studying for the NBCOT exam or considering employment offers
You want to be connected to a community of diverse practitioners
You need support with confronting issues of justice, equity, diversity, or inclusion in your OT practice or workplace
Submit your application
to become a CMP Mentee by clicking on the button below:
For seasoned OT practitioners with experience in the field:
Mentors
Your expertise and guidance are welcome. Please join us to mentor underrepresented new OTA and OT graduates as they navigate the NBCOT exam, employment options, and clinical workplace transitions. This program is for you if:
You have at least 3 years of experience as an OT practitioner
You want training to support your growth, effectiveness, and confidence as a mentor
You want to actively participate in supporting a diverse OT workforce
You have lived experience of navigating microaggressions, and other diversity-related issues in your personal or professional life
Submit your application to become a CMP Mentor by clicking on the button below.
COTAD Consort
COTAD Consort (formerly COTAD State) was established in the fall of 2020 to facilitate networking of individuals in the OT profession interested in COTAD and issues related to anti-racism, anti-oppression, justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (A-JEDI).
The goal of COTAD Consort is to provide resources to OT practitioners to facilitate advocacy, allyship, networking and A-JEDI work in the OT profession. Recognizing that it takes not only a village but a nation to advance the work to which COTAD is committed, COTAD committed to and began creating a reserve of materials for this purpose when we began our work almost a decade ago.
Now, through COTAD Consort, this growing library of resources is available for OT practitioners and groups of practitioners to use in the further advancement of DEI and A-JEDI work. Each of these resources centers on actionable steps towards creating change.
The resources below will be available to the public soon, with additional members-only resources available at that time as well.
All About COTAD - guided exploration of the history and mission of COTAD as well as membership perks and volunteer opportunities
Next-Level Leadership, Accountability, & Action - A written template for organizing and running a meeting and/or giving an interactive presentation centered on issues of DEI/JEDI
Moving into Cultural Humility and Cultural Responsiveness as an OT Student or Practitioner - learning about the shift that has occurred over time in preferred terminology associated with cultural humility and cultural responsiveness.