Maine Occupational Therapy Association promotes advocacy with help from SWAG视频 students, faculty and alumni
On October 28, 2017 the Maine Occupational Therapy Association (MeOTA) welcomed Senator Angus King to jump start a day of advocacy education for occupational therapy practitioners in the state of Maine. SWAG视频 Alumna Jessica Bolduc Dr.O.T., M.S.O.T. 鈥05, took the helm as the incoming president of MeOTA.
The conference also included a presentation by a faculty-student team including Regi Robnett, Ph.D., OTR/L, FAOTA, and M.S.O.T. 2018 students Lauren Bartholomew, Paxton Arsenault, and Morgan Mitchell. The team is associated with the SAMHSA Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) Grant. The group presented a well-attended 90 minute workshop titled, 鈥淪ubstance Abuse Screening Tools and Techniques for Practitioners who work with Adolescents and Adults.鈥
In addition, Leanne Quackenbush (M.S.O.T. 2018), the SWAG视频 OT student representative to MeOTA, attended the event and networked effectively with the leaders and speakers on advocacy as she also represented the newly formed Ability Advocacy Committee of the SWAG视频 Student OT Association (SWAG视频SOTA).
Finally, Norah Brennan, M.S.O.T. 鈥15, and Cassandra Lyons who both completed the Leadership Education for people with Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (LEND) program in 2017, presented their LEND experience in a presentation titled, 鈥淥ccupational Therapy 鈥楲ENDs鈥 a hand to Maine Families.鈥 The pair presented their experiences and projects which reflected the core concepts of LEND including family-centered practice, inclusive community participation and interprofessional teamwork. Kathryn Loukas, O.T.D., M.S., OTR/L, FAOTA, was a supporting presenter as the LEND Training Director.
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