Executive Committee Blog

2018 was an active year for ACOTUP’s Board of directors (BOD) and its executive committee. Important initiatives that deserve to be highlighted are the operationalization of the 2016-2021 strategic plan and a joint position statement on inclusive education for occupational therapy education for persons with disabilities.

In 2018, ACOTUP BOD finalized the strategies and tactical plan details that would support the three identified strategies;

• Strengthen and advocate for the Canadian occupational therapy academy;
• Provide leadership in the preparation of scholarly practitioners for society’s current and future occupational needs;
• Streamline and focus ACOTUP’s operations to promote scholarly dialogue and action.

Strategies and tactics are largely moved forward through the various committees, including the executive committee and dedicated ACOTUP members. Coordination and monitoring of the strategic plan is under the responsibility of the BOD and the executive director. The organizational chart below illustrates these links.

Another important initiative is the joint position statement from ACOTUP and CAOT which endorses the World Federation of Occupational Therapists’ (WFOT) position statement on inclusive OT education. The joint statement proposes a set of recommendations for Canadian occupational therapists and educators and several initiatives that should be considered to promote inclusive learning environments, including fieldwork. The joint position statement can be accessed here: https://www.acotup-acpue.ca/english/sites/default/files/Position-Papers/10.18.02.12a%20EN_PS_InclusiveOTEd_PersonsWithDisabilities_2018.pdf

Overall, an important mandate of the BOD and the executive committee is to invest time and energy to maintain and establish collaborative partnerships with key stakeholders, such as the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists (CAOT), the Canadian Occupational Therapy Foundation (COTF), the Canadian Society of Occupational Scientists (CSOS) and the Association of Canadian Occupational Therapy Regulatory Organizations (ACOTRO). Examples of these partnerships can be reflected in the participation of ACOTUP as an observer in a working group examining the training of OT assistants, and participation with ACOTRO and CAOT on the development of a core set of set of competencies. Recognizing the importance and benefits of fieldwork performed across geographic boundaries yet, acknowledging the differences in needs and demands from the 14 programs, the BOD has been supportive of CUFE in identifying how best to optimize out of catchment fees. In 2019, the BOD expects to lead a thorough analysis of the current situation and a proposal that will respect each program’s specific challenges.