US Occupational Therapists for Environmental Action

Inspired by the work of the Centre for Sustainable Healthcare, a group of occupational therapists in the United States started Occupational Therapists for Environmental Action (OTEA) in mid-2021. Spanning the country from New York to California, these American occupational therapy practitioners and students are working to raise awareness of and take action to mitigate the impact of climate change on human health and occupations. 

At the moment, OTEA is working on several projects, including:

• A student needs assessment to explore current occupational therapy students’ understanding of the relationships between climate change, human health, and occupation. This information will be used in the development of educational resources.
• Clinical vignettes on incorporating sustainability into practice in a variety of different practice settings.
• Tips and tricks for reusing or locating used durable medical equipment.
• A policy statement for the American Occupational Therapy Association to formally acknowledge and address the role of climate change on human health and practice, client populations, and occupational injustices. A task force will vote to either pass or reject this soon.

Though there is much more to be done, OTEA is dedicated to making positive changes for a sustainable future and for the benefit of present and future generations.

Learn more about OTEA at their website: https://www.otenvironmentalaction.com/