Involvement in professional organizations can provide valuable learning opportunities, experiences, and connections while giving students a chance to learn from their peers and future colleagues

 

Currently, I am a member of the American Occupational Therapy Association, Ohio Occupational Therapy Association, Student Occupational Therapy Association, and Coalition of Occupational Therapy Advocates for Diversity. 

 

The Student Occupational Therapy Organization (SOTA) allows occupational therapy students throughout the country to engage in political advocacy, community service, fundraising, and professional development. SOTA provides many service learning opportunities to students, which allow them to engage in educational volunteer experiences at organizations such as Gliding Stars, Knock-Out Parkinson's, and the Toledo Sensory Room. As a member of this organization, I have been given numerous opportunities to interact with other students to exchange information concerning volunteer events and valuable continuing education courses. This organization has also allowed me to develop closer relationships with members of my cohort to provide feedback and support to one another. 

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As the Sensory Room Coordinator of SOTA, I am responsible for organizing and facilitating monthly events in the Toledo Sensory Room at Promedica's Finnegan Family Autism Center. I also recruit and approve students to volunteer at these events after they have completed the orientation materials that I distribute. My position requires me to coordinate with the Finnegan Family Autism Center to determine the days that I can open the sensory room for community use. Additionally, it is my responsibility to create and provide information about the sensory room to the surrounding community and potential volunteers.

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The Coalition of Occupational Therapy Advocates for Diversity (COTAD), is a nonprofit organization that addresses issues of systemic racism and oppression, healthcare inequity, and educational decolonization. As a member of COTAD, I attend meetings with members from other universities to share ideas and discuss goals we have as an organization. I helped start the COTAD chapter on the University of Toledo's campus and served as one of the Co-chairs for the organization during the first semester of its creation. Responsibilities for this position included sharing resources with my cohort, creating the goals for our chapter with the other co-chair, and recruiting others to join the organization. 

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