American Occupational Therapy Foundation

02/04/2026

Research shows peer mentorship is most effective when a mentor and mentee share a similar neurotype. Yet most university programs are designed around neurotypical standards, leaving autistic students without the support they need.

At NYU Steinhardt Occupational Therapy, the American Occupational Therapy Foundation (AOTF) 2026 Academy of Research Inductee, Kristie K. Patten, PhD, OT/L, FAOTA, is transforming how autistic individuals are supported in education through the National Science Foundation (NSF) funded Making Mentors program.

This innovative program pairs autistic college students with autistic high school students through peer-to-peer mentorship to help them navigate their educational journeys.

At NYU Steinhardt - Department of Occupational Therapy, the American Occupational Therapy Foundation's (AOTF) 2026 Academy of Research Inductee, Kristie K. Patten, PhD, OT/L, FAOTA, is transforming the way autistic individuals are supported in education through the Making Mentors program.

This innovative program pairs autistic college students with autistic high school students through peer-to-peer mentorship to help them navigate their educational journeys.

🎥 Learn More:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YyYkOZGqT68

A mentorship program at NYU empowers college students with autism to mentor high school students who also have autism.

02/03/2026

Despite an exponential growth of female athletes across professional sports, less than 10% of research focuses on women and their bodies.

That's why former Olympic rower Dr. Kate Ackerman co-founded the Women's Health, Sports & Performance Institute, which is investing more than $50 million to help close the gap for women in sports medicine research.

As the leading organization promoting occupational therapy research, we know that effective practice requires evidence-based research that reflects the populations we serve.

Learn more as you get ready to cheer on your favorite female athletes at the Winter Olympics this weekend!

The Women’s Health, Sports & Performance Institute, co-founded by Dr. Kate Ackerman, a former Team USA rower, hopes to close the gap on the "chronically understudied" area of research.

02/03/2026

alert! In a recent study by Wheatcroft et al. (2025), expert OTPs reached consensus on how to teach novice clinicians cognitive rehabilitation skills after , prioritizing video demonstrations, case studies, and hands-on practice to build clinical reasoning and improve patient outcomes.

Read the full article at OTJR: https://ow.ly/16MZ50XY2LL.

02/02/2026

This , the American Occupational Therapy Foundation (AOTF) recognizes the exceptional contributions of Black occupational therapists who have shaped the science and practice of occupational therapy. Swipe to discover three pioneering leaders from American Occupational Therapy Association - AOTA 100 Most Influential People in Occupational Therapy and how they've impacted OT history.

01/30/2026

A systematic review by Stratou et al. (2025) shows that occupational therapy interventions, including cognitive remediation, group therapy, and functional skill training, significantly improve attention, memory, and executive function in adults with schizophrenia.

Read the full article at OTJR: https://ow.ly/cX1g50XY8Cf.

01/30/2026

🎥 Watch our new video to learn more about our 2026 Breakfast With A Scholar speaker, Kevin B. Johnson, MD, MS !

Stay tuned next week to hear why he's so excited to speak with the occupational therapy community about how AI can help strengthen OT's core mission: supporting people as they navigate the real routines, roles, and environments of daily life.

🎟️Reserve your seat by Feb 23: https://inspire.aota.org/about/registration/

01/29/2026

🔍🧠 Are you a research doctoral candidate passionate about using occupational therapy in the treatment of serious mental illness?

Advance your career today with our Bonita Kraft Doctoral Student Scholarship — offering $5k to support your research project.

View eligibility and application instructions:https://www.aotf.org/Grants/Bonita-Kraft-Occupational-Therapy-Doctoral-Student-Scholarship
📆 Apply by Feb. 20

01/29/2026

The alignment between coaching and occupational therapy is unmistakable, yet we still require frameworks for implementation across practice settings.

Join coaching experts at our State of the Science Symposium to chart the path forward for integrating coaching into occupational therapy practice.

Add to your American Occupational Therapy Association - AOTA INSPIRE early bird registration by Feb. 23: https://inspire.aota.org/about/registration/



University of Missouri Occupational Therapy Jefferson College of Rehabilitation Sciences - Thomas Jefferson University

01/28/2026

Are you prepared to unlock up to $5,000 for your OT education? Begin by organizing everything on our application checklist 📋to submit your single application and be considered for all eligible scholarship opportunities.

📆 Apply by Feb. 20: https://www.aotf.org/Scholarships/How-to-Apply

01/27/2026

would like to congratulate Dr. Kristie K. Patten on her induction to the American Occupational Therapy Foundation's (AOTF) Academy of Research for the year of 2026! 🎉 Induction into the AOTF Academy of Research is a distinguished honor that recognizes sustained excellence and significant contributions to scholarship and research in the occupational therapy profession. This recognition reflects Dr. Patten’s outstanding scholarly achievements and her meaningful impact on advancing occupational therapy knowledge and practice.

Learn more about Dr. Patten's work at: https://steinhardt.nyu.edu/people/kristie-patten

01/27/2026

Join us in congratulating the 2026 Research Excellence Award Recipients! 🎉

➡️ Swipe to see this year's scholars who are advancing the science of occupational therapy at all career levels — from early-career researchers to distinguished professionals with a lifetime of achievement.

⭐ View full list of leadership and service award recipients: https://www.aotf.org/About-AOTF/Awards-and-Honors/AOTF-Award-Recipients



WashU Medicine Occupational Therapy Program
University of Minnesota School of Kinesiology
CSU Department of Occupational Therapy
Quinnipiac University School Of Health Sciences

01/23/2026

AOTF is proud to collaborate with dozens of state associations nationwide to offer scholarships that help aspiring OTs and OTAs achieve their educational goals! 🗺️Check to see if your state is on the map.

Is your state not on the list? Don't worry - you're still eligible for many of our available options! Submit a single application to be considered for all qualifying scholarships.

🎓View the full list of available scholarships: https://www.aotf.org/Scholarships/Available-Scholarships
🗓️ Deadline: Feb. 20



Washington Occupational Therapy Association Occupational Therapy Association of Oregon Utah Occupational Therapy Association Arizona Occupational Therapy Association (ArizOTA) NMOTA - New Mexico Occupational Therapy Association Texas Occupational Therapy Association - TOTA Oklahoma Occupational Therapy Association Kansas Occupational Therapy Association Louisiana Occupational Therapy Association Arkansas Occupational Therapy Association - AROTA Missouri Occupational Therapy Association Illinois Occupational Therapy Association Wisconsin Occupational Therapy Association Ohio Occupational Therapy Association, Inc West Virginia Occupational Therapy Association Virginia Occupational Therapy Association Florida Occupational Therapy Association North Carolina Occupational Therapy Association South Carolina Occupational Therapy Association NJOTA -New Jersey Occupational Therapy Association New York State Occupational Therapy Association (NYSOTA) New Hampshire Occupational Therapy Association Massachusetts Association for Occupational Therapy (MAOT)