 |  | 2009 Capitol Hill Day
On October 5, 2009 six occupational therapy students from the Program travelled to Washington D.C. for the American Occupational Therapy Association’s Capitol Hill Day. Each year AOTA has a Capitol Hill Day to bring occupational therapists together to advocate for policy and legislative decisions important to the practice of occupational therapy. This year more than 300 occupational therapists, occupational therapy assistants, and students descended on the Capitol to meet with legislators from their home states and districts and support the need for occupational therapy consideration in the current healthcare reform.
Washington University OT students, Sola Aiyegbusi (OTD ’11), Ashley Brock (MSOT ’10), Rachel Dargatz (OTD ’10), Danielle Doria (OTD ’12), Kirsten Halsan (MSOT ’10), and Rosie Thede (OTD ’12) met with Senators and Congressional members from five States (California, Colorado, Illinois, Missouri, and Ohio). Students were able to hone their advocacy skills by learning more about the current legislative issues affecting occupational therapy, meetings with their legislators, and networking with other students and practitioners.
More students from across the nation, including some WUOT students, are planning to visit Capitol Hill again on November 20 of this year as a part of AOTA’s Student Conclave in Baltimore November 20-21. For more information and resources on legislative issues relevant to occupational therapy, visit AOTA’s Legislative Action Center.
 
 
1) Kirsten Halsan (back to camera) and Ashley Brock meet with Amy Lamb, AOTA's Political Action Committee chair
2) Amy Lamb and Rosie Thede in front of the Capitol Building
3) Rosie Thede and Rachel Dargatz at the Hart Senate Office Building
4) Kirsten Halsan and Ashley Brock in front of the Capitol Building
5) Rosie Thede, Danielle Doria, and Sola Aiyegbusi in front of the Capitol Building
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