American Occupational Therapy Foundation

American Occupational Therapy Foundation AOTF envisions a vibrant science that builds knowledge to support effective, evidence-based occupation

The American Occupational Therapy Foundation (AOTF), founded in 1965 as a charitable 501(c) (3) non-profit organization, uses fiscal and human resources to expand and refine the body of knowledge of occupational therapy and promote understanding of the value of occupation in the interest of the public good. AOTF is committed to generating the evidence through which occupational therapy practitioners will be recognized as experts in everyday living, and as the principal contributors to systems and programs designed to promote healthy communities. Your support provides the necessary resources to enable AOTF to advance research, enhance leadership, and foster excellence in education and practice. The Foundation values its many partnerships and in particular takes pride in its joint projects with the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA). AOTF enthusiastically endorses and supports the profession’s Centennial Vision through its scholarships, grants, recognitions, publications and other programs supporting leadership and research development. Occupational therapy will continue to flourish as a 21st century profession through its commitment to being innovative, science-driven and evidence-based. AOTF serves this end by sponsoring programs that encourage strong linkages between practice, education, and research.

Investing in OT evidence is investing in improved client outcomes. Hear it from the esteemed WashU Medicine Occupational...
12/26/2025

Investing in OT evidence is investing in improved client outcomes. Hear it from the esteemed WashU Medicine Occupational Therapy Program Professor and 2019 Academy of Research inductee, Susan Stark, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA, on why confident care delivery comes from knowing your practice is evidence-based.

Support OT research in 2025 to improve practice and health outcomes in 2026 and beyond.
💙 Make a gift: https://www.aotf.org/Support

12/23/2025

Happy Holidays from us at the American Occupational Therapy Foundation (AOTF)! Whether you're spending time with family, taking a well-deserved break, or reflecting on your achievements this year, we hope your holiday season is filled with warmth, hope, and the spirit of caring that defines ✨❄️

❔Want to know what your   donation supports?Swipe to learn how the Intervention Research Grant builds the essential evid...
12/22/2025

❔Want to know what your donation supports?

Swipe to learn how the Intervention Research Grant builds the essential evidence needed to scale innovative research projects - like the The Ohio State University School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences AquiOTic Research Lab.

🎯Our students' goal is to raise $100K to fully fund the next breakthrough project, and they're over halfway there!

Donate by Dec. 31: https://www.aotf.org/stcatherinechallenge

A scoping review by Thawisuk et al. (2025) examines robotic rehabilitation in   recovery. While devices like exoskeleton...
12/19/2025

A scoping review by Thawisuk et al. (2025) examines robotic rehabilitation in recovery. While devices like exoskeletons show promise for improving motor function, a critical gap remains: motor gains don't always translate to independence in everyday tasks like dressing, cooking, or self-care.

Read the full article at OTJR: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/15394492251347160

🎁'Tis the season to celebrate the incredible occupational therapy practitioners in your life! Whether you're shopping fo...
12/18/2025

🎁'Tis the season to celebrate the incredible occupational therapy practitioners in your life! Whether you're shopping for a friend, colleague, student, or just treating yourself, we've got inspiration for every gift budget. What would you add to the list? 💙

If you're interested in giving the gift of OT research, check out OTJR: The Occupational Therapy Journal of Research subscriptions: https://journals.sagepub.com/home/otj

Join us on April 24 in Anaheim, California, where Dr. Kevin B. Johnson will discuss how AI can assist individuals in nav...
12/17/2025

Join us on April 24 in Anaheim, California, where Dr. Kevin B. Johnson will discuss how AI can assist individuals in navigating their everyday routines, roles, and environments.

🎟️ Reserve your Breakfast with a Scholar seat now! Add to your American Occupational Therapy Association - AOTA INSPIRE Conference and Expo registration:
https://inspire.aota.org/about/registration

Our   students are just over halfway there! So far, students from 60+ universities across the country have come together...
12/16/2025

Our students are just over halfway there! So far, students from 60+ universities across the country have come together to raise over $50,000 to support evidence-based OT practice that improves lives and client outcomes.

📢 But they still need your help! There are two weeks left in the challenge, and our students still need to raise more to reach their $100,000 goal and fully fund an Intervention Research Grant (IRG) that advances innovative early-stage OT research. Thank you to American Occupational Therapy Association - AOTA and NBCOT® - OTR® & COTA® Certification for your support!

🌟Support your school, donate by Dec. 31: https://www.aotf.org/stcatherinechallenge

New research by Vander Veen et al. (2025) reveals a critical gap in fitness-to-drive screening after stroke! While the S...
12/15/2025

New research by Vander Veen et al. (2025) reveals a critical gap in fitness-to-drive screening after stroke! While the Stroke Driver's Screening Assessment and Trail Making Test-B show strong predictive validity, the studies validating these tools have predominantly included men over 55 from high-income countries. With women, younger adults, and individuals from low-income nations significantly underrepresented in this research, we need more inclusive validation studies to ensure culturally informed, equitable driver screening practices.

Read the full article at OTJR: https://ow.ly/RXiY50XBooQ

Now more than ever, funding for early-stage occupational therapy research is critical to improving both practice and cli...
12/13/2025

Now more than ever, funding for early-stage occupational therapy research is critical to improving both practice and client outcomes. Unfortunately, many grant opportunities overlook these innovative projects.

At the American Occupational Therapy Foundation (AOTF), we fill this gap in occupational therapy research by building the essential evidence needed to scale projects addressing some of the most pressing topics. University of Missouri Occupational Therapy's Winnie Dunn, PhD, OTR, FAOTA, shares how AOTF's grants helped her develop the Sensory Profile, which is now used internationally in research and practice settings. Together, we can drive positive change in occupational therapy!

🤲💙Donate today to fund the future of OT research: https://www.aotf.org/Support

Now that you have your   for 2025, check out our AOTF Wrapped to help us celebrate a very special 60th anniversary year!...
12/12/2025

Now that you have your for 2025, check out our AOTF Wrapped to help us celebrate a very special 60th anniversary year!🎉

Thank you to all of our board members, donors, partners, volunteers, staff, and supporters for your unwavering commitment to advancing evidence-based practice in OT. Your passion drives everything we do, and we wouldn't be able to accomplish any of this without you. 💙🌟We can't wait for what's in store in 2026!

#2025

Voss et al. (2025)'s study of 355 injured workers found that depression, anxiety, and fear of movement significantly inf...
12/10/2025

Voss et al. (2025)'s study of 355 injured workers found that depression, anxiety, and fear of movement significantly influenced both rehabilitation duration and successful return-to-work outcomes. The findings emphasize the critical need for OTPs to address psychological factors alongside physical interventions when supporting injured workers on their path back to employment.

Read the full article at OTJR: https://ow.ly/Qo1n50XAWFK

Artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping how we document, communicate, learn, and make decisions in healthcare—but i...
12/09/2025

Artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping how we document, communicate, learn, and make decisions in healthcare—but its impact on occupational therapy remains to be defined. In this session, Dr. Kevin B. Johnson, a pediatrician, informatician, and national leader in digital innovation, will explore how AI can strengthen OT's core mission: supporting people as they navigate the real routines, roles, and environments of daily life.

🎟️ Reserve your seat now! Add this ticketed event to your American Occupational Therapy Association - AOTA INSPIRE Conference and Expo registration:
https://inspire.aota.org/about/registration

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12300 Twinbrook Pkwy. , Ste. 520
Rockville, MD
20852

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The American Occupational Therapy Foundation (AOTF), founded in 1965 as a charitable 501(c) (3) non-profit organization, works to advance the science of occupational therapy. AOTF is committed to generating the evidence through which occupational therapy practitioners will be recognized as experts in everyday living, and as the principal contributors to systems and programs designed to promote healthy communities. Your support provides the necessary resources to enable AOTF to advance research, enhance leadership, and foster excellence in education and practice. The Foundation values its many partnerships and in particular takes pride in its joint projects with the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) and the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) . AOTF enthusiastically endorses and supports the profession’s Centennial Vision through its scholarships, grants, recognitions, publications, and other programs supporting leadership and research development. Occupational therapy will continue to flourish as a 21st century profession through its commitment to being innovative, science-driven, and evidence-based. AOTF serves this end by sponsoring programs that encourage strong linkages between practice, education, and research.