E32: Celebrate National School Backpack Awareness Day with AOTA

In this episode, we welcomed Katie Riley, the Assistant Director of Communications & Media at the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), to interview our very own moderator, professor Karen Jacobs. As a past AOTA president, professor Jacobs shared her story with the initiative of AOTA’s National School Backpack Awareness Day. She also introduced how students and parents can get involved in this year’s Backpack Awareness Day (September 16) during quarantine. About AOTA: The American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) is the national professional association established in 1917 to represent the interests and concerns of more than 213,000 occupational therapy practitioners and students of occupational therapy and to improve the quality of occupational therapy services. Members reside in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and internationally. Occupational therapy practitioners facilitate participation in everyday living for people of all ages. AOTA’s major programs and activities are directed toward promoting the professional development of its members and assuring consumer access to quality services so patients can maximize their individual potential.AOTA educates the public and advances the profession by providing resources, setting standards including accreditations, and serving as an advocate to improve health care. The moderator of the podcast is Dr. Karen Jacobs ([email protected]), who is the Associate Dean, Digital Learning and Innovation, a Clinical Professor and the Program Director for the on-line post-professional doctorate in the occupational therapy program at Sargent College. Marial Williams ([email protected]), a Boston University entry-level occupational therapy doctoral student, composed the music for the podcast.