Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists

NATIONAL OT WEEK • OCTOBER 20-26 • 2002

Step out the door and tell people about occupational therapy — in 3 different ways!

1. A GREAT CAREER CHOICE
Consider visiting your local schools to talk about occupational therapy or drop off some career information for their libraries or guidance centres.

We are developing strategies that you can use to help inform high school and university students about occupational therapy.  We even have some suggestions for reaching elementary school students.

On the CAOT web site (by mid-summer) you will find examples of what others have done successfully, a powerpoint presentation that you can adapt and promotional materials for your audience to keep and to remember occupational therapy.

Help attract the best possible applicants to our university programs.

2. A MUST ON YOUR EXTENDED HEALTH CARE BENEFITS PLAN
The more people who request occupational therapy services within their extended health care benefits, the more insurance companies will cover it.

Are OT services covered on your plan? Many occupational therapists have worked with their unions and employers to have occupational therapy listed on their own extended health care benefits plan. Other occupational therapists have encouraged their clients to send in letters requesting our services.

Click here for sample letters. These can be easily adapted to your needs.

The Insurance Lobby Toolkit (available on-line this Fall) will also provide you with background information and ways to plan your strategies to increase the number of extended health care benefit plans covering occupational therapy.

3. ESSENTIAL TO MEDICARE
Educating decision makers and funders regarding the value of occupational therapy will help to ensure Canadians have access to our services.

Use the annual report to demonstrate occupational therapists’ roles in the eight priorities of health system renewal.

Consider using the principles of universal design and falls prevention techniques to demonstrate your role in health promotion and primary care in everyone’s community.

Other ideas...

Client appreciation day!
Build your relationships outside the profession during OT Week. Take a moment for a cup of OTea with some of your referral sources. Invite other potential customers and watch how your existing sources do the selling for you.

Not enough time to plan a reception?
Deliver a gift basket with several types of OTea along with other goodies that you know will be appreciated!

Don’t forget to add the Take A Moment poster/ brochure to encourage them to balance their lifestyles!

Calling all golfers!
CAOT has new golf shirts for you and your clients. They make excellent door prizes too!

Organize a golf game, wear your golf shirt and hand out some sports bottles and OTees.

Have fun and be remembered!

Resources to help you!

Coming to the CAOT web site... watch the Home Page
1. 10 Steps to a Successful OT Week.

2. Sample news releases, public service announcements, graphics/ ads for download, consumer tips.

3. Promotional materials: T-shirts, buttons, pens, window decals, etc.
Check out this year’s new products.

Invest in the Skills for the Job of Living Marketing Kit

Available from the Alberta Association of Registered Occupational Therapists; tel: (780) 436-8381. CAOT also has a limited number in stock for shipping with your promotional materials order.

WWW.OTWORKS.CA
Watch for the new and improved OT Works web site in time for OT Week!
Better graphics, quizzes, consumer tips and more career information than ever before. Refer to this web site in all your promotional activities.

Not your ordinary issue!
The September issue of OT Now is written and designed to increase people’s understanding of occupational therapy.
Order your extra copies now!

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