OT Month: 20+ Ideas to Celebrate and Promote Occupational Therapy
April is OT Month in the US and 27 October is World OT Day. Low-cost ideas to celebrate occupational therapy and promote it to the public.
April is National Occupational Therapy Month in the United States, designated by the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA). AOTA usually holds its annual conference and expo in the spring too. Other countries have their own celebrations, and occupational therapists everywhere celebrate World Occupational Therapy Day on 27 October. These are the right times for all OTs to celebrate, and to promote and market occupational therapy.
National, state and city associations should involve every therapist in awareness campaigns, because many people still don’t know what occupational therapy is.
- April
- National Occupational Therapy Month (US, AOTA)
- October
- Occupational Therapy Month (Canada, CAOT)
- World Occupational Therapy Day, 27 October (WFOT)
- November
- Occupational Therapy Week (UK, Royal College of Occupational Therapists)
Check your national association for local dates and each year's theme.
In this article, we share the best ways to celebrate and promote OT.
Best ways to promote OT
There are many ways to promote OT; some are expensive and some cost almost nothing.
| Expensive (associations, hospitals, groups of OTs) | Inexpensive (any individual OT) |
|---|---|
| Advertising on TV, radio, newspapers and online | Social media posts and short videos |
| Awareness stalls at other professions' conferences | Explaining OT clearly to everyone you meet |
| Blogging and writing articles | |
| Community service and free screening camps | |
| Wearing OT apparel; car stickers | |
| Talk shows, school seminars, conference presentations and medical school lectures |
Expensive ways to promote OT
1. Advertising. We all know how ads shape our thinking about products, and how they help a small company become a brand. Similarly, an OT association or council can advertise on television, in newspapers and online. OT Month and World OT Day are official occasions that therapists can use for marketing and promotion.
2. Conference stalls. An OT association or centre can take part in other professions’ conferences to build links between related fields, for example an OT awareness stall at a pediatricians’ conference. This can improve referrals in the future, and young doctors at conferences learn the role of OT in their field, such as pediatrics.
Inexpensive ways to promote OT
1. Social media. Everyone knows the power of social media, and its reach is beyond imagination. You can use an OT logo or poster as your cover or profile photo, share quality articles about OT, and make short videos, with your clients’ written consent, showing how OT helps.
2. Communicate OT. Occupational therapists are the best people to explain OT to others. When someone asks, “What do you do?”, say clearly, “I’m an occupational therapist.” If they ask, “What’s that?”, tell them what OT is and its role in different areas. Keep a one-line answer ready, for example: “I help people of all ages do the everyday things that matter to them, after an illness, injury or disability.” Share business cards mentioning OT and your specialty, and add “OT” after your name in your email signature. Clients’ caregivers and parents are also great ambassadors for OT and its benefits.
3. Turn your car into a mobile billboard. Mobile advertising isn’t just for delivery vans. You can print removable stickers for your therapy centre, mentioning occupational therapy as the main service, and add your website on the rear windscreen. Wherever you drive or park, you’re promoting your profession and practice with little effort.
4. Blogging and writing articles. Writing articles on OT topics is an excellent promotional technique. Well-written articles provide free advertising and build a positive reputation, especially on established websites and in newspapers. You can also send articles to newspapers and magazines; if they’re useful to the general public, they may publish them.
5. Join the community and contribute. Community service is a good way to promote your field and practice. For example, at an old-age home run by a charity you can teach residents about self-care, leisure activities, kitchen and bathroom modifications and adaptive devices. It builds goodwill and can attract media coverage.
6. Organise free camps. Many hospitals offer free check-up camps. You can offer a free screening or OT consultation at your centre, and hand out OT leaflets to clients, caregivers and parents.
7. Wear OT apparel. Wearing OT T-shirts and jackets at the mall, in the park and at your centre creates a buzz about OT. Show everyone that you’re an occupational therapy practitioner.
8. Talk shows and podcasts. TV and radio channels sometimes invite therapists, physicians and surgeons to discuss conditions like autism, dementia, cerebral palsy and ADHD. Podcasts and live streams are open to everyone. If you get the opportunity, grab it.
9. Present at conferences. Medical conferences and continuing education programs are attended by many doctors. Ask the coordinators for a slot to present on the role of OT in their area, for example the role of OT in dementia at a neurology conference.
10. Organise seminars. Reach out to schools and give high school students a talk on OT as a career and its job prospects. Some may choose OT in the future, and all will at least understand it.
11. Medical school lectures. OT is largely a referral-based practice; the more doctors know about OT, the more referrals follow. Offer lectures on OT and its practice areas to medical students, and invite them to visit your therapy centre to see what an occupational therapist does and the difference between occupational therapy and physical therapy.
Ways to celebrate OT Month: ideas and activities
OT Month and World OT Day are the right times to celebrate occupational therapy. Here are some celebration ideas and activities.
| Idea | How to do it |
|---|---|
| 1. Say thank you | We celebrate things we enjoy, and you celebrate OT because you enjoy doing it. Thank everyone who helped you on your journey: teachers, parents, clients, caregivers, and colleagues such as PTs, speech therapists and nurses, with a card, a flower or a bouquet. |
| 2. OT lunch or dinner | Go out with colleagues. It strengthens relationships, builds the team and gives you time to share ideas. |
| 3. Share info online | Share good articles about OT and change your profile picture for the month. |
| 4. Decorate | Balloons, ribbons and stickers in your therapy unit. Children at your centre will love it. |
| 5. Personalised gifts | Pens, bags, badges, T-shirts, diaries or phone covers with an OT logo or your clinic's name. |
| 6. Play party or group session | Pediatric OTs can invite the children they treat; geriatric OTs can plan a group session for older adults, with games like pass the parcel or musical chairs. |
| 7. Outdoor activity | Take a group of children to a park for swings, slides and sensory awareness activities. |
| 8. Cake | If nothing else is possible, cut a cake with your clients and colleagues. |
| 9. Fancy dress | Invite children to come as their favourite superheroes and plan play activities. It builds social interaction and role play, and leaves parents with a great impression. |
| 10. Return gifts | A keychain or coffee mug with the OT logo keeps reminding people about OT. |
So, do whatever you want, wherever you want: just celebrate our own occupational therapy profession. Happy OT Month! If you have a great idea for celebrating, share it with us through our contact page.
Frequently asked questions
When is OT Month?
When is World Occupational Therapy Day?
How can I celebrate OT Month at work?
How can occupational therapists promote their profession?
Written by
Payal Mehta, OT
Payal Mehta is a practising occupational therapist and co-founder of Occupational Therapy OT. She writes on pediatrics, sensory integration, and mental-health practice.
All articles by Payal →This article is for general education and is not a substitute for individualized assessment or treatment by a licensed occupational therapist. Always seek the guidance of a qualified professional for specific concerns.
