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A recent blog post in Parents magazine online, “Therapy Tricks and Tips for Kids with Special Needs” (Parents.com, March 5, 2012) is an excellent example of promoting occupational therapy while enhancing the client-OT relationship. The piece was written by AOTA member Loren Shlaes,...

Do you freeze up when a video camera is pointed in your direction? If so, you’re not alone. I recently participated in a workshop through the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) that offered some great tips for overcoming common mistakes with on-camera interviews. Confidence seems to...

So the craziness that we at AOTA call April is in the rearview mirror. By promoting OT Month, you may have added some media contacts to your Rolodex. What’s the best way to hang on to their interest until your next big project comes along? It’s important to keep...

Are you interested in using a newspaper to promote OT Month but don’t have the time to commit to an interview? A letter to the editor may be a good option for you (and can be written at any time of day!). Friday’s Times-Tribune in Scranton, Pa. includes an excellent example penned by AOTA...

A bag of trash, a freshly-filled pothole, an approaching vehicle—things that most motorists disregard every day on the road can be frightening to someone who has returned from a warzone. These items are among countless anxiety triggers for returned service members behind the wheel. Erica Stern...

Phew! February may have had just one extra day this year, but occupational therapy practitioners across the country have packed a lot into this shortest of months. Here are some highlights of media placements for this month: • The March 2012 edition of Woman’s Day magazine features a Q&A...

So you’ve made the initial connection with that media reporter you’ve been trying to grab the attention of. (See last week’s blog post, “How to become a reporter’s favorite source.”) Great job! But now what? The key to remaining a go-to person for media outlets...

In honor of both OT Month and Autism Awareness Month, I wanted to share an excerpt of an AOTA press release that went to Cincinnati media outlets today. This story is a testament to the important role occupational therapy has with autism spectrum disorder management. Cincinnati, Ohio — When...

If you follow the American Occupational Therapy Association on Facebook or Twitter, chances are you’ve already seen this article. But do you know how it came about? “20 Questions: Heidi Nejezchleb Tringali, OT” is a Q&A that was published Jan. 8, 2012 on The Student Doctor Network...

As a journalist-turned-media relations manager, I’ve been on both sides of media interviews. And while both roles have very different demands, they share two simple cravings: communication and accuracy. Think of an interview as good customer service. If you make a call because you are seeking...

FOX 2 News viewers in St. Louis, Mo., were treated to a special lesson in occupational therapy and Alzheimer’s disease last week. AOTA member Susy Stark appeared on a live segment explaining the findings of five research studies that connect a change in walking gait to Alzheimer’s disease...

While the majority of references to occupational therapy in the media that come to AOTA’s attention are positive reminders of the extraordinary things our members are doing to improve the lives of others, every now and then a bad apple turns up. A colleague (who says she was embarrassed to even...

Why dedicate a week to older driver safety? The concern for older drivers’ safety and independence is greater now than at any time in our history. More than 10,000 baby boomers turn 65 each day, a trend expected to continue for the next 19 years. And by the year 2040, 1 in 5 Americans will be 70...

Good Housekeeping readers may notice a familiar name in the September 2012 issue. Nancy Baker, ScD, MPH, OTR/L, an associate professor of occupational therapy at the University of Pittsburgh, offers tips for combating pain associated with carpal tunnel syndrome. Tips include sleeping with a brace...

Just in time for OT Month, I wanted to share a resource I came across featuring tips to propel occupational therapy into the media. “109 Ways to Make Your Business Irresistible to the Media” (copyblogger.com) was written by Patrick Garmoe, a social media strategist for a Minnesota digital...

Just because OT Month has passed does not mean it’s time to take a break from promoting the profession. If you attended Karen Jacobs’ Slagle lecture at AOTA’s 92 nd Annual Conference & Expo last month, you know that getting the message of occupational therapy out to the masses is...

January was a busy month for occupational therapy in the media! Here are just a few stories worth checking out that feature fellow OTs and members of AOTA: • On January 10, a story titled, Back from war, fear and danger fill driver’s seat , appeared in The New York Times. This story provides...

With the holiday shopping season in full swing, AOTA has been working to provide consumers with tips for getting the most bang for their buck. When it comes to purchasing holiday toys, the variety can be overwhelming. Ou toy tip sheet offers ideas to keep in mind when debating a purchase. Tips are geared...

AOTA Board Member Dr. Sudip Bose is in town this week and as part of his visit, he made himself available to help promote OT . Needless to say, we took him up on his offer and packed two days with media appearances. Dr. Bose discussed occupational therapy’s role with PTSD, in a live interview...

“Choose a job that you love and you will never have to work a day in your life.” This saying could not be more accurate for anyone who has chosen a career in occupational therapy. I came across this story, “One Class at a Time: Cooking Up Success” by the Central Illinois News...

On Dec. 19, 2012, an NPR-affiliate aired an interview on the topic of the rising age of first time parents. During the first 5 minutes of the segment, an interviewee provided several inaccurate statements about the field of occupational therapy. Many AOTA members alerted us to this unfortunate error...

Believe it or not, promoting the profession can be as simple as telling your own story. Talking about your daily routine and the extraordinary people you encounter each day as an occupational therapy practitioner or educator is an easy way to educate the public about OT. Paige Gover, an occupational...