Ontario Society of Occupational Therapists
110 Sheppard Ave. E., Suite 810 M2N 6Y8 Toronto, ON, Canada

Take good care as you shovel snow this year! Occupational therapist Martha Sanders demonstrates the best ergonomic approach to shovelling to protect your body! Watch: https://bit.ly/3u5kV7V

Calling all researchers and researcher/clinician partnerships! The OSOT Research Fund provides 2 annual grants to support OT research in Ontario, the Occupational Therapy Research Grant (up to $1,000) and OSOT Strategic Priorities Research Grant (up to $10,000 in 2021). The application deadline is May 1, 2021. Visit osot.on.ca/OSOTRF for more details.

Is the pandemic and winter challenging your health and well-being? The Do Live Well framework is a new Canadian tool developed by occupational therapists to capture evidence linking a range of activity patterns to health and well-being outcomes. It is based on the idea that what you do every day matters. It is a positive health promotion approach designed to empower individuals to recognize changes in activity patterns and health, and to identify ways to restore or revitalize their patterns of activity engagement. Learn more: https://bit.ly/2MSPpJJ

Whatever your family looks like, wherever you may all be...

Everyday Heroes Kids connects parents and caregivers to all accredited pediatric professionals and organizations in the areas of health, mental health and education with the goal of encouraging earlier intervention for better outcomes. Founded by a team of professionals who are parents of children with a variety of health or educational needs, the team believes that connecting families with the appropriate pediatric care should be easily accessible. Learn more at ehkidshealth.com

As 2021's first work week commences....we wish our members the VERY BEST for the year ahead. View whole message at https://conta.cc/3oacG7h

Happy #ValentinesDay to occupational therapists across Ontario!

To assist health service providers in the selection of virtual care solutions appropriate for clinical use, Ontario Health has established a provincial standard & launched a verification process for virtual care solutions. Learn more at https://otn.ca/providers/verified-solutions/

Ontario announces 13 new Ontario Health Teams. The goal of OHTs - patients experience easier transitions from one provider to another, including, between hospitals, home care providers or long-term care homes, with one patient story, one patient record and one care plan. Is your organization part of a new OHT? View the listing of new OHTs - http://ow.ly/M5VB50CpOPb

On this day in 1989 the Convention on the Rights of Children was adopted by the UN. Let's celebrate & promote The Convention, which sets out a number of children’s rights including the right to life, to health, to education and to play, as well as the right to family life, to be protected from violence, to not be discriminated, and to have their views heard. As we work to eradicate racism, oppression & inequality...our children need our attention.

CONGRATULATIONS & WELCOME TO OUR 2020 OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY GRADUATES! We're delighted to welcome approximately 350 new occupational therapists to the profession this fall. Wishing you all much success and fulfillment in your careers!

Occupational therapists are closely monitoring needs in Ontario's long-term care homes. During the pandemic & always, access to OT services helps address important health status issues & resident quality of life. Learn about OT in long-term care homes - http://ow.ly/jym150CWWGM

Happy New Year from the Ontario Society of Occupational Therapists! Wishing you a brighter 2021 that will enable participation in all the occupations in your life that are important and meaningful.

St. John's Rehab celebrated this #OTMonth in style! OTs and team members across roles purchased OT month themed shirts, wearing them to work each week in support of #OTMonth. To recognize the challenges everyone has faced this year, the #OTMonth planning team decided to spotlight their interprofessional team members. Weekly themed messages were sent to colleagues across clinical and support roles, thanking them for their collaboration. How are you celebrating #OTMonth? Email us at [email protected] to share!

Thinking of our Ontario occupational therapy students! This article shares the emotional distress and loneliness that can go hand in hand with remote studying. As Student OTs experience classroom and fieldwork differently this year the advice of OSOT Life Member and U of T Professor Emeritus, Judith Friedland is worth paying attention to! See http://ow.ly/D4Z850CmrJV

We hope you are enjoying some holiday time, albeit, a different holiday time for sure. A few holiday facts from Stats Canada....

Looking for an OT job or wanting to attract quality applicants? Visit OSOT's Career Posting page at www.osot.on.ca/Careers

OSOT's When and How to Initiate Tube Weaning webinar is now available to watch on our Archived Webinars page. Complimentary for members! Watch now at www.osot.on.ca/ArchivedWebinars

Join OSOT colleagues this Saturday for a COMPLIMENTARY celebration and exploration of leadership in our profession. Dr. Jill Birch's keynote MEETING THE CHALLENGE OF CHANGE: OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST LEADERSHIP IN A DISRUPTIVE WORLD will inform, inspire and empower! Free but you must register at http://ow.ly/eBKt50CnDZR

Occupational therapists are mental health professionals and can support you as you adapt to the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. Trying to manage work changes, working remotely, managing family demands, and more? Ask to see an occupational therapist! Learn more at www.OTOntario.ca. View infographic at www.osot.on.ca/mentalhealth

Rather than focusing on a person’s diagnosis, occupational therapy focuses on highlighting an individual’s perseverance to return to the activities that are most meaningful to them. #Perseverance #PersonFirst #Holistic Learn more at www.otontario.ca

The early bird deadline to register for the OSOT 2020 Virtual Conference: Rising to the Challenges of Change is November 3rd! OSOT members attend the full conference for $175. Learn more at www.osot.on.ca/conference #OSOT20

Today is #WorldOccupationalTherapyDay! This year’s theme is Reimagine doing which celebrates the expertise of occupational therapy for reimagining participation in occupations that provide value and meaning to everyday life. The Guide to World Occupational Therapy Day provides a good overview of the many things going on to celebrate and promote the profession today! Learn more: https://bit.ly/3omtyZd

Keeping seniors safe! Occupational Therapists can help! Learn more at www.OTOntario.ca.

OSOT is hosting the three part series, Seating and Mobility: from evidence to practice, November 18-20 during the 2020 Virtual Conference: Rising to the Challenges of Change! Session topics include: Seating and Positioning: Translating Assessment Findings, Power Up! A Clinical and Functional Review of Power Add-On, and Tilting the Odds: Manual Tilt to Improve Rehabilitation Outcomes. Choose to attend one or more sessions. OSOT members attend the full conference for $175 by registering before November 3rd. Learn more at www.osot.on.ca/conference #OSOT20

OSOT's Virtual Visits for Seating and Mobility webinar is available to watch on our Archived Webinars page. Complimentary for members! Watch now at www.osot.on.ca/ArchivedWebinars

Shout out your OT pride with OSOT’s non-medical custom facemask! With 2 moisture wicking cotton layers and a third removeable filter layer, this mask is comfortable and promotes OT. Includes adjustable nose bridge. Learn more at www.osot.on.ca/Products

Learn more about occupational therapy and how occupational therapists help make the everyday possible at www.OTOntario.ca

OSOT's 2020 Virtual Conference is November 17-21, 2020! Join us for the Managing Chronic Pain in Primary Health Care Introduction workshop sponsored by Westech Health Care on November 18. OSOT members attend the full conference for $175 by registering before November 3rd! Learn more at www.osot.on.ca/conference #OSOT20

Occupational therapists at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre are celebrating #OTMonth with new jackets and custom masks to help patients and staff identify them and raise the profile of OT! How are you celebrating #OTMonth? Email us at [email protected] to share!

OSOT members receive a 50% discount on select BrainFx cognitive assessment tools until October 31, 2020. An ongoing 20% member discount will continue after that point. Learn more at www.osot.on.ca/BrainFx