Read on to learn more about how the Northern Arizona University (NAU) COTAD Chapter has made a difference in the lives of students and community members! Our NAU COTAD Chapter officially began less than a year ago and in the time since then we have worked on collaborating with community partners, building relationships within our own program and creating resources for our profession. We have built a relationship with our school's leadership to increase awareness on the importance of having student organizations such as COTAD at our campus and resources available to students like ourselves. T ..read more

Calling all mentors! Did you ever receive assistance, advice, or support from a professional mentor during your academic or professional career? If so, now is your chance to give back and help the next generation of OT practitioners become the best they can be. Read on to learn about the impact you could have as a mentor in COTAD’s Minority Mentorship Program. The blog post below is from Crystal Mandudi, OTS in reference to her experience with her mentor Ebonee Crow, OT. Ebonee Crow, OT (Mentor) Crystal Mandudi, OTS (Mentee) Last summer while searching for prospective OT programs, I found a ..read more

The new Research Connections series will feature original research by occupational therapy practitioners related to the experiences, culture, strengths, challenges, and/or health outcomes of underrepresented and minority populations. Title: The Occupational Participation of Latinx Cancer Survivors and their Family Caregivers Living in Long-Term Survivorship Author: Ricardo D. Ramirez, OTD, OTR/L Ricardo (Ricky) D. Ramirez is a recent graduate from the post-professional Doctor of Occupational Therapy program at the University of Illinois at Chicago whose doctoral work focused on working with L ..read more

This post was originally written by COTAD Website & Courier Editor, Lauren Jones on her blog Gotta Be OT. As I sit here in the quiet of a Sunday morning in the comfort of my home, I’m in quite a state. A state of numbness, a state of shock, a state of anger, a state of resignation, a state of…wonder. Wondering if things in America will ever be different for black and brown people. Wondering if this morning is the last time I’ll talk to my dad on the phone and tell him I love him before getting That Call. Wondering if there’s any hope for a world in which black and brown people are treate ..read more

COTAD is a 100% volunteer led and operated 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. We can provide training materials, virtual and in-person events, and scholarships thanks to generous donations from our supporters, institutions, and members. However, as our reach expands and our programs grow, we will need more people and more funding to achieve our goals. To this end, we are launching a new, affordable membership program that will allow us to provide consistent, high-quality programs and continue to reach more people around the world so that clients of diverse abilities and backgrounds will recei ..read more

Although the end of April is approaching, OT Month isn’t over yet! If you’re still looking for ways to celebrate, check out the list below for six simple ways you can share your love for OT online and in person this month and in the future. Share your story: Use the hashtag #OTMonth to advocate for OT and highlight the diversity and value in our profession on social media. Invite current students, colleagues, and educators to do the same. Make a difference as a mentor:Submit your application to become a mentor in COTAD’s Minority Mentorship Program for OT students and practitioners from und ..read more

Since mid-2019, a dedicated team of occupational therapy students and new grads collaborated to create the 1st Annual COTAD Community Event to benefit Rosie’s Place, a women’s shelter and community center in Boston, MA. The event was a huge success, raising over $1,351 for the shelter and donating about 1,364 toiletries, games, and tools – enough to make hundreds of wellness kits for women in need. Throughout this process, the OT students and practitioners working on this project gained valuable professional skills, such as communication, time management, and event coordination. They also re ..read more

Although we weren’t in Boston, we remained connected with OT practitioners from all over during our first-ever online conference with 225 registrants! The COTAD Live! online conference was an all-day event, featuring our 6th Annual COTAD Breakfast keynote speaker Dr. Varleisha Gibbs, PhD, OTD, OTR/L, breakout group discussions, and dialogue about current challenges and opportunities related to diversity and inclusion in occupational therapy. Keynote Speaker Dr. Varleisha Gibbs There were also several surprises during the online event, such as the announcement of the winners of the 2020 COTAD ..read more

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