Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists

COTF launches new logo
COTF is proud to present its new logo — clearly reflecting our mission to advance the understanding of occupation and its enablement by funding scholarship to build capacity and research to build knowledge.

Evidence to Action Campaign is on its way
The campaign to fund the development and sharing of evidence in occupational therapy was launched at a reception in March 2002. COTF thanks the following individuals for their leadership and financial support. As of April 30, $13,265 has been donated or pledged.

Presidents’ Circle
Karen Brunsch
Deb Cameron
Karen Goldenberg
Barb Graff
Linda McIlwain
Caroline Tapp-McDougall

Governors’ Circle
Anna Ballon
Sue Baptiste
Jane Davis
Rachel Gibbons
Iris Greenspoon
Anne Larson
Betty Mitchell
Helene Polatajko
Lorna Reimer
Marg Shaw
Anne Strickland
Karen Yip

Members of the occupational therapy community were invited to contribute to the campaign through a special mail appeal in May. Individuals responding to this appeal will be recognized in a future issue of OT Now.

New Brunswick Association creates provincial fund

In April, the NBAOT launched a $5,000 fundraising campaign to create a provincial research, scholarship and education fund. COTF will match donations to the fund, dollar for dollar, until it reaches $10,000. 

NBAOT President Sandra Sims, COTF President Deb Cameron, NBAOT Past President
Jocelyn Campbell and COTF Executive Director Pat Leece display
NBAOT’s first installment at the CAOT Conference held in Saint John, NB.

Upcoming competitions
July 31                 Legion Gerontology Fellowships (2 x $5,000)
August 31            OSOT Research Education Award (1 x $1,000)
September 1        NSSOT Education Award (1 x $500)
September 30      Doctoral scholarships (2 x $1,000)
                            Master’s scholarships (2 x $1,000)
                            Thelma Cardwell Scholarship (1 x $2,000) 
                            Goldwin Howland Scholarship (1 x $2,000)

Congratulations paediatric part-time scholarship recipients

A wonderful surprise!
Josiane Santha
Josiane is enrolled in the part-time Master’s studies at Dalhousie University and works with infants and children as an evaluator and therapist. She has developed a special interest in children and families living with autism and other pervasive developmental disorders. Her project focuses on the impact of autism on mothers’ occupations, health and well being. Implications for practice include the role of occupational therapy in prevention with families as clients.

That’s great news!
Beata Batorowicz
Beata works in the Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) Clinic at Thames Valley Children’s Centre in London and is enrolled in part-time studies at the University of Western Ontario. She is interested in how AAC intervention assists children in becoming competent communicators. Her study will examine competence of children using AAC devices and strategies for functional written communication with reference to physical access, independence and technology. Outcomes of this study will increase understanding of clients’ and caregivers’ perceptions and guide clinicians in making recommendations.

Marita Dyrbe Inaugural Award

Thanks for the great news!
Bice Amoroso
Bice is a therapist in the Neuropsychiatry Program at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto. Her work is focussed on enhancing the quality of life of people with severe mental illness, cognitive and neurological challenges. Bice’s project is a single-case qualitative study used to explore the life story of one person with a mental illness who works at Northern Initiative for Social Action in Sudbury. The study has improved the understanding of the meaning of occupation in the lives of persons with mental health issues. Funding was provided to support Bice’s presentation of her research findings at the WFOT Congress in Stockholm.

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