EVERYDAY ADVOCACY: Year Round Opportuinities, Priorities and Action Plans

1. JOIN MIOTA AND AOTA: gain access to resources, network with others, and keep up to date on best practice

2. WRITE TO YOUR FEDERAL AND STATE REPRESENTATIVES: your voice does make a difference

3. INVITE YOUR LOCAL REPRESENTATIVE TO YOUR PRACTICE SETTING: Invite a representative to your school or place of employment for discussion on advocacy and current topics

4. PRESENT: Advocate for OT through presentations and participation at community events, employment job fairs, options are endless

5. SOCIAL MEDIA: Post a link advocating for OT or repost a link... we know this is the fastest way of communication in today's society

6. SUPPORT THE PAC: AOTA and MiOTA both have a Political Action Committee which financially supports candidates who support OT

7. SUPPORT OTHER ORGANIZATIONS and CAUSES: Other associations, communities of practice, practice areas, and/or support groups 

Click below for more ideas how to advocate for OT:

>Promoting OT

YEAR ROUND ADVOCACY TOPICS 

advocacy@miota.org 

      JANUARY: ACTION  > create a health prevention & promotion program/ class/ event

• Health Fitness - New Year; New Start: Health Literacy Advocacy Toolbox
• Client Education: about their deductible, health benefits, as well as health promotion

    FEBRUARY: ACTION> Register for Lansing Lobby Day AND write to Governor Whitmer.

• Lansing Lobby Day preparation webinar: Thursday, February 10, 2026; 7-8 pm EST (see MiOTA home page to register)
• GOVERNOR LETTER WRITING CAMPAIGN: February 1-7,  write to the governor WHITMER to request support of the Compact Bills - it is vital the governor hears from our OT's, OTA's, and students today this is a crucial time to share the need for the compact in Michigan (send correspondence to: governorsoffice@michigan.gov.)
• Contact your representatives and discuss the meaning of the Compact Bill: Legislator Compact Talking Points

  MARCH: ACTION > Attend Lansing Lobby Day!

• LANSING LOBBY DAY: March 12, 2026; 9-2:30 - join us in Lansing to advocate for our profession, need for the Compact, and opportunity to network with others. Registration is required: LLD Registration
• Reading Month: Create a community event to support literacy and reading, here are a few ideas... create your own or implement these advocacy action events: Reading at the Laundromat (raise funds and partner with Lakeshore and Scholastic to bring books to the laundromat - a community site for opportunities of engagement): Lakeshore and Scholastics Laundromat Reading Opportunities
• Diverse Abilities: Advocate for abilities and highlight areas of engagement in your practice setting and community: Resources for reference - Diverse - Abilities Resources

   APRIL: ACTION > CELEBRATE OT AWARENESS MONTH!!

• ADVOCATING ON THE ROAD: Additional Lobby Day Events... April 13th, 1:30-3:30  WMU Kalamazoo campus and WMU Grand Rapids campus. Opportunities to connect with legislators, colleagues, and participate in advocate actions. Open to all (date and venue subject to change)
• SPRING MiOTA ON LINE CONFERENCE: April 18, 2026 (9-4:30); Save the date!
• Autism Awareness Month: Consider hosting and / or participating in your local autism activity awareness events: Autism Advocacy Tool Kit
• Parkinson Awareness Month: Consider hosting a support group, signing up for a continuing educaiton course, or inviting a speaker to your department/ school this month to speak: Parkinson OT / PT Specialist

   MAY: ACTION > Advocate for OT in one or more of the areas: gardening, arthritis, pediatric feeding, SLP's

• Arthritis Awareness Month: Provide community prevention management event: Arthritis and Gardening Tips
• Mental Health Awareness Month: Sponsor Mental Health First Aid class for the community, your department, your students: First Aid Class Resources
• Pediatric Feeding Disorder (PFD) Awareness Month: advocate for awareness of new PFD ICD-10 coding with your pediatric providers and families with the PFD Coding Toolbox and resources from Feeding Matters

   JUNE: ACTION - Celebrate Dysphagia Awareness Month Celebrate DEIB & Pride Month

• Dysphagia Awareness Month: Did you know OT addresses Feeding, Eating, and Swallowing (FES)? What is defined in your state scope of practice regarding FES? Advocate for the role of OT on the interprofessional feeding team across the life span. 
  • Create an awareness presentation with local providers to increase their knowledge of the role of OT with Dysphagia: OT Role in Dysphgia Management
  • Updates on FES and ways advocate, read: Barlow, K., Romeo, C., Williams, R. (2026). Scope of practice definitions in feeding, eating, and swallowing across the lifespan. OT Practice, 31 (1), 12-15.
• PRIDE Awareness Month: Keeping up to date with accurate and reliable information
  • AOTA provides DEIJAB resources to bring awareness, respect, and ethical practice into everyday occupational therapy actions: AOTA’s Guide to Addressing the Impact of Racial Discrimination, Stigma, and Implicit Bias on Provision of Services
  • Join Coalition of Occupational Therapy Advocates for Diversity COTAD: community of practice space for awareness, discussion, education, change: COTAD Book Club

 JULY: ACTION>

• Juvenile Arthritis Awareness Month: Check out the updated research and advocacy action information. Open the following link to help spread the word and update your co workers:  Juvenile Arthritis Awareness Information.
• Minority Mental Health Awareness Month: Check out the e - learning,  webinars, and guide to better understanding and action for minority mental health. Consider watching these resources as a department, with your students, and sharing with other interprofessional team members to join together. Click her to access the downloadable information: Minority Mental Health Resources
• Cleft Palate and Craniofacial Awareness Month: About 7000 babies are born with cleft lip and/or palate each year. Check out your community for a cleft palate clinic and resources to support families and children. Michigan offers numerous multidisciplinary cleft palate clinics throughout the state to support families and children, inquire with your local pediatrician today and connect with a clinic.   American Cleft Palate Craniofacial Association
• World Brain Day: July 22 is internationally recognized to advocate and educate others on this condition. Check out these resources and highlight the involvement of OT in the journey of those impacted by a brain condition: World Federation of Neurology

   AUGUST:

• Children's Eye Health and Safety Awareness Month:  Check out the resources right here in Michigan for binocular vision disorders, motion sickness, anxiety that is displayed in school and the impact on learning... See how Vision Specialist of Michigan are using micro prism glasses, i.e. VISUAL ORTHOTICS, occupational therapy and physical therapy to help address these issues (check out the screener provided in the link):  Vision Specialist of Michigan

SEPTEMBER:

• AOTA Backpack Awareness Month: Plan a backpack, work bag, or diaper bag event to reach a variety of audiences to share the importance of ergonomics and "bags": Pack Light, Wear it Right!
• National Falls Prevention: National Falls Prevention Awareness Week: September 8-15: Check out the facts, resources, and ways to advocate year round. CDC Falls Prevention Information
• National Suicide Prevention Month: The mental health crisis is overwhelming  for providers in medical, community, and educational settings.  Suicide Prevention Resources: Consider completing mental health first aid as an individual or as a group to empower and equip you with resources to help mange this crisis. First Aid

OCTOBER:

• MiOTA FALL CONFERENCE: October 1-3, 2026 (Save the date)!
• AOTA PAC Day of Giving: October 13, 2026 is a day of giving to the AOTA Political Action Committee. This is an amazing committee to distribute funds to political representatives who support occupational therapy and consumers rights, safety, and access to care. Day of giving (Date subject to change)
• World OT Day: October 27th is a time to celebrate and recognize occupational therapy around the world. Check out this link to connect, network, and join others to increase awareness of OT: World OT Day
• Sensory Processing Awareness Month:  Sensory processing impacts 1/5 individuals across the life span. Educate parents, teachers, and other health care professions this month to increase understanding of this "hidden" disorder. Sensory Awareness Month
• National Disability Employment Awareness Month: As OT/OTA's, we are instrumental in educating, teaching, and preparing individuals with disabilities and employers to increase employment opportunities for all individuals. Employment Resources

 NOVEMBER:

• National Family Caregivers Awareness Month: OT's are vitally important to support caregivers and can provide training
  • Coding and Billing for Caregiver training: Effective January 2023, 97550 (initial 30 min), +97551 (each add'l 15 min), and 97552 (group training) through Medicare and Medicaid, review the guidelines to support best your practices.
  • 10 Ways to Support Family Caregivers
• Veteran's Awareness Month: Use of equine assisted movement therapy to help veterans with PTSD and one of many options OT/OTA's provide to our Veterans: Options for PTSD Management
  • Using Photovoice research as a form of therapy to help veterans: Photovoice and Veterans
• National Diabetes Month:  Supporting our caregivers, families, and clients in all settings: Resources

 DECEMBER:

• International Day of Disabilities Awareness: United Nations Advocacy on Hope and Awareness