Join COTAD for a roundtable discussion centered on amplifying occupational therapy assistants (OTAs) through discussion on the state of OTA programs. This virtual event will feature the following individuals:

• Jim Foster, OTD, MS, OTR/L

• Nakia Lynn, OTD, MS, OTR/L

• Andre Johnson, COTA/L, OTS

• Natalie Chang, MBA-HCM, COTA/L

• Christine Gunnigle, MS, OTA/L, OTR/L

The roundtable will be a lively discussion about the proliferation and challenges within OTA programs. The event will focus on sustainability, recruitment and retention, and workforce issues.

Attendance is free with registration required. Registration closes 24 hours prior to the event. The Zoom link will be sent to registrations just prior to the start of the event.

This panel discussion will unpack the social responsibilities of occupational therapy practitioners, students, educators, and scientists from global perspectives; explore the intersections of occupational therapy education, occupational therapy practice, equity, and activism; and outline local, regional, national, and international points of collaboration to address enduring societal challenges from an occupational lens. Guest speakers include Diana Honorat, OTD, OTR/L (Haiti & USA); Ashley Ballou, OTR/L (USA); Ann Fordie, MscPH, OTR/L (Ghana); Isla Emery-Whittington, PhD, OT (New Zealand); Lilian Magalhaes, PhD, OT (Brazil); and Juman Simaan, PhD, MSc, OT (Palestine & Scotland).

This discussion is about understanding Whiteness/White supremacy ideology and the ways it shows up in our education, science and professional practice. This discussion will include a keynote from Dr. Frederick Engram, Jr and a panel including Stacy West-Bruce, Varleisha Lyons (formerly Gibbs), and Dave Thomas. All are welcome to attend!

Presenter Bios:

Dr. Frederick V. Engram Jr. is currently an Assistant Professor of Higher Education at Fairleigh Dickinson University. His previous academic appointments include University of Texas at Arlington, Radford University, Virginia Commonwealth University and Northeastern University.

Dr. Engram has previously published his work in Forbes, Diverse Issues in Higher Education, Blavity, and a host of peer reviewed journal articles. Dr. Engram has been featured on NBC, TMZ, People TV, Tavis Smiley and Roland Martin. He also gave a TEDx Dallas College Talk called Black Joy as an Act of Resistance in 2021.

Dr. Engram is known for his work in critically assessing the ways that racism and anti-Blackness impact Africans Americans in both systems of higher education and the criminal justice system. Dr. Engram has published his first book titled, "Black Liberation Through Action and Resistance: MOVE" via Hamilton Books an imprint of Rowman & Littlefield which will debut on November 16th.

He is an HBCU grad - having received his undergraduate degree in criminology from Johnson C. Smith University in Charlotte, NC - and is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity of America, Inc.

Varleisha D. (Gibbs) Lyons PhD, OTD, OTR/L, ASDCS has been an occupational therapist for over 20 years. Dr. Lyons founded and operated a private therapy firm for over 10 years. She developed and founded Delaware’s first occupational therapy program and became the first Black Indigenous American woman to serve as the Scientific Programs Officer at the American Occupational Therapy Foundation. Currently, she is the Vice President of Diversity Equity Inclusion Justice Access and Belonging and formerly the Vice President of Practice Engagement and Capacity Building at the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA). Varleisha continues to lecture internationally and has authored four books, one of which is a bestseller. She has dedicated her time to mentoring underrepresented individuals and desires to help shift others toward growth and healing despite traumatic experiences or diagnoses. Her research spans various disciplines and professions with grant funding in the areas of community-based services and interprofessional education and care. Through such efforts she has guided several into the profession of occupational therapy and supported families across the nation through her volunteer efforts. Her areas of expertise include neuroanatomy, self-regulation strategies across the lifespan, health inequities, and trauma responsive approaches.

Disclaimer:

The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in this presentation belong solely to the author, and not necessarily to the author's employer, organization, committee or other group or individual. Varleisha D. Lyons PhD, OTR/L is employed by the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA). This work is independent of her role and not affiliated with AOTA, Inc.

Dr. Stacy West-Bruce is an occupational therapy practitioner and social worker who has been in OT practice for 23 years. She currently serves as an instructor in the Program in Occupational Therapy at Washington University in St. Louis where she acts as co-chair of the Inclusive OT Education Committee (iOTE) and as faculty fellow with the Center for the Study of Race, Ethnicity and Equity. Her lab is centered on aging in place among under-resourced older adults as well as on diversity, equity, inclusion, justice, and anti-racism in occupational therapy education and practice. She is also interested in occupational access based on social identities such as race, socioeconomic status and gender.

Dr. Dave S.P. Thomas PhD SFHEA is an Associate Professor of Inclusion at Solent University, Southampton, UK. He has edited 4 books, namely: Culturally Sensitive Curricula Scales: researching, evaluating, and enhancing higher education curricula. Palgrave Macmillan. (Forthcoming 2024); Diversity, Inclusion and Decolonisation: Practical tools for improving teaching, research and scholarship (Bristol University Press, 2022); Doing Equity and Diversity for Success in Higher Education Palgrave Macmillan, 2021); and Towards Decolonising the University (Counterpress, 2020); He has authored over 18 peer reviewed articles, 20 book chapters and numerous blogs that has and continue to shape public discourse nationally and internationally. His research is broadly in the areas of inclusion, inclusive leadership, social justice, learning, teaching and curricula development. He has been strategic advisor to a range of British and international higher education institutions on matters relating to equality, diversity and inclusion. He sits on the Board of the Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT) England and is a member of the Health and Care Professionals Council (HCPC) Diversity and Inclusion Forum in England.

Ticket pricing:

• OT Practitioners: $50 (plus ticket fees)

• OT/OTA Students: $10 (plus ticketing fees)

COTAD members: Please check your email for a message from COTAD on Oct. 8, 2023, that contains a one-time use discount code you may use to get member-only pricing!

This session is Part One of COTAD’s Advocacy Training Series which is part of COTAD’s Ten Year Anniversary Celebration. The event will be lead by Dr. Brittany Battle, Assistant Professor in the Department of Sociology at Wake Forest University.

*Note that this event is virtual and has limited capacity for attendance. All event times are listed in Central Time zone.