WFOT:
A year of celebration
A
fter 60 years of pro-
moting occupational
therapy as an art and
science internationally, the
World Federation of Occupa-
tional Therapists (WFOT) is
planning a year-long celebration
to mark this incredible
milestone anniversary.
Activities and events will
include a celebration at the
WFOT Council meeting in
March 2013, and the provision
of information and resources to
recognise and increase the
understanding of the WFOT's
work and the value it brings to
the profession.
One of the planned activi-
ties will see WFOT partner with
the Faircourt Media Group to
produce a publication aimed at
celebrating the 60th anniversary.
The provisional working title is
“WFOT – Just the Beginning.”
It will cover the history of the
organization and occupational
therapy, along with highlighting
the profession, its achievements
and outlining what the future
may hold.
WFOT plans to have the
publication distributed around
the world to occupational
therapists, students, assistants,
education providers, the general
public and 80 national occupa-
tional therapy organizations. It
will be made available in both
print and electronic formats.
Advertising rates for the
planned publication can be ob-
tained by contacting the Faircount
Media Group at 813-675-3805.
TheWFOTmission includes
supporting the development, use
and practice of occupational ther-
apy worldwide, demonstrating its
relevance and contribution to
society. Globally representing
over 380,000 OTs, 100,000 OT
students, and 50,000 OT assis-
tants,WFOT’s 80 member organ-
izations stretch fromArgentina to
Australia, Europe to Zimbabwe,
and Japan toMexico. Canada has
been a member since 1952, with
13,040 practicing occupational
therapists. Currently, both the
president and the vice-president
positions on theWFOT executive
are held by Canadians – president
Sharon Brintnell, professor and
director at the University of
Alberta, and vice-president
Susan Baptiste, professor at
McMaster University.
Every four years, WFOT
holds an international congress.
The 16th International Congress
of the World Federation of
Occupational Therapists will
be held in collaboration with
the 48th Japanese Occupational
Therapy
Congress
and
Expo. The event is scheduled
for June 18-21, 2014 in
Yokohama, Japan.
To learn more about the
other upcoming 60th anniver-
sary celebrations and the work
of the WFOT, please visit
www.wfot.org
.
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