08/17/2021

RA Update

The August 2021 RA meeting had 2 voting items. Both were adopted.

The first was to accept the new Code of Ethics Enforcement Procedures.

The second was to Rescind Attachments A & C  of the Ethics Commission Standard Operating Procedures.

For the Fall 2021 RA Meeting here are following activities and timelines:

Requests for Actions due: September 3^rd.

Online Town Hall Session with members: November 1^st.

RA Meeting via Zoom: November 15^th.

My term as the Arkansas Representative ends June 30, 2022. Please consider running for the next term. It runs for 3 years and starts July 1, 2022. If you are interested, please contact the RA staff at: RA@aota.org.

Cindy Meyer,

Arkansas Rep to the AOTA Representative Assembly.

ARRep@ra.aota.org

05/10/2021 

Summary of AOTA Spring 2021 Representative Assembly Meeting

Approved Motions:

• ·       Revised position statement on Importance of Interprofessional Education for Occupational Therapy
• ·       New position statement on Role of Occupational Therapy in Pain Management
• ·       Rescind position paper on Obesity and Occupational Therapy
• ·       Discontinue development of position statement on Occupational Therapy and Community Violence
• ·       Develop a position statement on Role of Occupational Therapy in Critical Care
• ·       Develop a professional policy on Safe Patient Handling and Mobility (SPHM)
• ·       Develop an official document in support of Interprofessional Collaborative Practice
• ·       Review official documents related to Community Violence
• ·       Develop a professional policy on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Affirmation
• ·       Develop a societal statement condemning the use of conversion therapy
• ·       Present the National Mentorship Ad Hoc Report to the AOTA Board of Directors and request a feasibility study
• ·       Request for a Dry Needling Task Force interim report

Approved Requests for Action:

• ·       Development of a position paper on occupational therapy's role in sustainability and climate change
• ·       A work group will provide a briefing paper regarding if formal future action needs to be taken.
• ·       Development of guidelines for intraprofessional collaborative practice to include occupational therapists (OTs) and occupational therapy assistants (OTAs)
• ·       A work group will provide a briefing paper regarding if formal future action needs to be taken.

Not Approved Requests for Action:

• ·       Development of a position paper on occupational therapy’s role in gun violence prevention
• ·       This topic can be considered in the community violence position statement.
• ·       Development of an official document on occupational therapy’s role in oral health

Respectfully,

Cindy Meyer, OTR/L

Arkansas Representative to the AOTA Representative Assembly

12/1/2019

The motion regarding adopting a single point of entry into the occupational therapy profession, for occupational therapists, at the level of: entry-level doctorate – was defeated. If you are interested in submitting a motion for the Spring Face-to-Face meeting, please go to the following link for more information: https://www.aota.org/AboutAOTA/Get-Involved/RA.aspx. Motions are due by January 29, 2020. Thank you, Cindy Meyer, Arkansas Representative to the AOTA Representative Assembly

Respectfully,

Cindy Meyer, OTR/L

Arkansas Representative to the AOTA Representative Assembly

© 2023 Arkansas Occupational Therapy Association, a 501(c)6 non-profit organization. All Rights Reserved. P.O. Box 133, State University, AR 72467

What does the AOTA Representative Assembly do? What does the RA do? The Representative Assembly (RA) is the professional policy-making body of the Association – the “Congress” of the AOTA. And YOU (members of the RA) are the link – to getting your constituents to act on professional issues and concerns. The functions of the RA include being responsible for policies affecting the direction of the profession; this includes: Formulating, debating and voting on motions Charging RA officials, RA bodies, officers of the Association, or the Board of Directors to fulfill approved motions Establishing and charging ad hoc committees Electing RA officials and standing committee chairs Who is my AOTA Representative? Cindy Meyer, OTR/L South AR Community College If you would like to file an Action request, please follow the flowchart on the Process for Submitting Requests for RA Action. You can also contact the me at ARRep@ra.aota.org.

What is the role of the AOTA Representative? To communicate with members in their election area and serve as the liaison between members and the Assembly/Association. To participate in meetings and other forums (OT Connections) To assist constituents with influencing policies (develop/write motions) To encourage Association membership To work collaboratively to ensure transition of new reps (recruitment, election, orientation, and mentoring) NOTE: The Representative’s focus is on making decisions for the good of the profession and the Association – not just individual members or election areas Where can I find more information? AOTA Representative Assembly FAQ's Connections at RA Forum