Policy & Advocacy

OT6153 Professional Identity III: OT as a Change Agent

“Advocacy is empathy, compassion and community at work.” - Janna Cachola

Amidst the hustle and bustle of the semester, I felt grateful to have the opportunity to advocate through my coursework in this class. This process was particularly meaningful to me because I am deeply passionate about speaking out on issues I care about and advocating for those whose voices have historically—and continue to be—silenced. Therefore, having advocacy embedded into my academics was exhilarating for me as I explored how to advocate on a professional level. Advocacy on a professional level felt slightly different from the advocacy I am used to and practice in my daily life. At first, I was unsure of how to appeal to different stakeholders who, at times, can be somewhat far removed from the heart of the issues at hand. In this way, advocacy in the professional realm felt disconnected from the humanistic parts and more focused on material aspects such as money. However, this only fueled the fire within me and made it even more clear how important my role is in connecting these systems, legislators, etc. to the heart of these issues, making more meaningful change. While developing the language and skills to collaborate with stakeholders, I found unique ways to inspire empathy and compassion shifting the focus on community rather than individualism.

Advocacy in Action

Throughout the semester, I took action in a variety of ways including through academic assignments as well as personal action steps.

JH - Juvenile Justice Reform Policy Brief Presentation

Letter of Advocacy - Health Policy Brief

Health Policy Brief

The topic I covered for my health policy brief assignment was Juvenile Justice Reform. This topic was really meaningful for me as I am passionate about reframing how society perceives individuals who have been labeled as ‘criminals’ and advocating for better treatment for youth who encounter the juvenile justice system in the US. My research process started by spending a significant amount of time listening to the perspectives and lived experiences of youth who had come into contact with the juvenile justice system to gain insight into how this impacted them and how improvements can be made. Throughout my research process, I kept these individuals and their stories at the forefront while I learned about the different policies that have shaped how youth are treated in the juvenile justice system. In particular, I learned about how the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act (JJDPA) and the Juvenile Justice Reform Act (JJRA) set the standards within the juvenile justice system and played a key role in the prioritization of community-based alternatives to detention. Connecting this to occupational therapy, I identified how there exists a huge opportunity for OTs to establish themselves in these settings to advocate for better treatment through trauma-informed care and by promoting meaningful participation in occupation. As I became more familiar with existing advocacy groups and organizations, I discovered that the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP)—a branch of the U.S. Department of Justice—plays a major role in overseeing the implementation of policies and regulations established under the JJDPA and JJRA. Therefore, for the advocacy letter portion of this assignment, I decided to write to Kathryn Barry who is the deputy associate administrator within the youth justice and system innovation division of the OJJDP (See left) to advocate for the inclusion of OTs within the juvenile justice system, especially in community-based alternative programs.

Advocacy Letter in Support of Department of Education

Advocacy is more important now than ever, especially in light of the concerning decisions and changes being made by the current administration so far in 2025. While there are many issues to advocate for at the current moment, I decided to focus on advocating for support towards the Department of Education. I contacted Senator Alex Padilla, Senator Adam Shciff, and Representative Jared Huffman through AOTA’s legislative action center to urge them to continue to fight to support the Department of Education as the current administration attempts to shut it down. I got an encouraging response back from each of them, pledging their commitment to fighting to ensure that children receive the funding, and therefore, education they need to succeed. As an OT student that is possibly interested in working in schools, I have been able to observe the merits and limitations of our education system in practice. Without funding and a guiding oversight from the department of education, there will be serious repercussions for the health, well-being, and occupational engagement for children in the United States.

AOTA Legislative Action Center - Letter of Support for Dept of Ed

Weekly School Walk-Outs

Throughout this semester, I had the privilege of being able to participate in a “weekly school walk out” every Wednesday. Organized by an instructor at DUC, this is a peaceful protest of the numerous harmful actions the current administration is orchestrating on a weekly basis. I want to acknowledge that participation in this weekly walk-out was truly a privilege as (1) I am in attendance at a school that is supportive of the right to protest and exercise free speech and (2) not all feel safe doing so at this moment due to the administration’s attacks on many different communities and populations. The weekly walk-outs were deeply meaningful to me in that I could share my frustrations and passions with a group of people who felt similarly. It was also a space to share information and resources with each other. On a reserved patch of lawn on campus, I participated in voicing my concerns through group chants as well as through discussion. I was inspired by the organizer’s bravery in leading these weekly walk-outs and I wish to one day lead action in this way myself in my community and place of work.

In-Class Advocacy Event

One of the in class activities I participated in this semester was a mock tabling event where my peers and I took turns walking up to each other’s table to learn about the issue that person is advocating for. I chose a topic I am deeply passionate about which is ending mass and illegal deportation & inhumane treatment of immigrants. The deliverable I prepared for this event included a flyer which outlined how the current administration's actions have led to often illegal arrests of immigrants who are then relocated to overpopulated facilities, especially in Texas, with inhumane conditions. I also included different actions steps an individual can take, including a few different organizations and campaigns to join.

Advocacy Skills I Have Gained

Through the Policy Brief and Letter of Advocacy and Advocacy event, I was able to build a variety of communication skills that I did not have before. Specifically, I practiced understanding my audience and tailoring my message in a way that speaks to them. For example, during the advocacy event, I developed a strong opening phrase to hook the audience in a way that no matter their stance on immigration, I could unite them on this issue. The phrase was, “No matter what your stance is on immigration in the US, I think we can all agree that the current administration is not achieving what they have set out to do”. I followed this by explaining that many immigrants are not being deported but instead are being arrested illegally, without due process, and held in inhumane, overcrowded facilities. Although the severity and nature of this issue in and of itself should have been enough to convince others to take action, the urgent and passionate tone of my voice helped to effectively influence and inspire others to take action. I feel more confident tailoring my language in a way that is persuasive towards my audience and providing action based language to encourage engagement from my audience. As I continue to develop these skills, I hope to improve my ability to network with organizations who also share my same values and passions. This is crucial in order to amplify the message you are advocating for and to build momentum that leads to meaningful change.

Personal & Professional Advocacy Identity

I am really looking forward to continuing to develop my advocacy skills and taking these skills with me into my professional practice. This semester has really helped provide me with the confidence to effectively communicate with different stakeholders and advocate for OT as a profession. No matter what setting I work in as a practicing OT, these skills are always going to apply as interprofessional collaboration is a huge part of our role. Having participated in these activities and assignments where I practiced communication and produced deliverables gave me the courage, language, and initiation and leadership skills to effectively advocate for others. I envision myself leading initiatives and forming groups that inspire innovative and meaningful change in my community and workplace.

Future Advocacy Engagement Plans

To continue the advocacy work I have done throughout the semester, I plan to join either an online or in-person advocacy group that is advocating for an issue I am passionate about. This could be related to support for the department of education, immigration rights, mental health, and more as there are many different topics I am passionate about. Joining an advocacy group will help keep me informed about what is going on, connect with others who share my same passion, and help to inform what action steps I should take. I also plan to continue my advocacy work through my role in OTAC. Although we are still in the process of jump starting an official group on campus and have yet to establish official roles, I am excited to have this opportunity to take group action and practice advocacy within the context of our profession.

Advocacy as a Lifelong Practice

While large movements and acts of advocacy are certainly a catalyst for change, I believe that small acts of advocacy on a daily basis can be just as powerful. When systemic change is not occurring, we can all gather in community and mobilize to make change happen and our voices louder. I envision myself practicing advocacy on a daily basis for my clients, my profession, and the systems I work within. This may look like advocating for a client to continue to receive OT services, to be referred to other therapies, or empowering them to advocate for themselves when it comes to their health care. I anticipate I will need to advocate for my profession on a daily basis as many do not have knowledge of OT’s exact role. Therefore, I will need to have the language to articulate our role in a way that is easy to understand and that is tailored to their perspectives that that person is coming from while still communicating what makes us as OTs unique. Similarly, when advocating for the systems I will work within, I will need to communicate merits and limitations in order to continue to make improvements to the program/organization and provide quality and meaningful care for the clients.

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