Florida Occupational Therapy Association

03/17/2026

🌴✨ SAVE THE DATE! ✨🌴

The 2026 FOTA Annual Conference & Exhibit Hall is officially on the calendar — and you won’t want to miss it!

📍 Set in beautiful St. Augustine, Florida, this year’s conference will bring together occupational therapy professionals from across the state for a weekend of learning, networking, and inspiration.

University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences
1 News Place
St. Augustine, FL 32806

🗓 Saturday & Sunday�November 7–8, 2026

💡 What to expect:�✔️ 14 Live CE’s�✔️ Inspiring speakers & educational sessions�✔️ Dynamic exhibit hall�✔️ Networking with OT professionals from across Florida

Mark your calendars and start planning now — we can’t wait to see our OT community come together again! 🙌
🔗 More information: www.flota.org

02/26/2026

FOTA Hill Day and Legislative Advocacy Update⁣⁣
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Hill Day Sponsorship and Legislative Progress⁣⁣
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On December 3, 2025, FOTA sponsored a Hill Day focused on advancing legislative priorities for the profession. We are pleased to announce significant progress: Representative Anderson has agreed to sponsor our dry needling bill in the House of Representatives, while Senator Calatayud will champion the bill in the Senate. Our primary objective for this legislative session is the successful passage of these bills, which would allow dry needling to become part of our scope of practice. Our lobbyists have dedicated considerable effort to securing sponsors and communicating the significance of this issue for both therapists and their clients.⁣⁣
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We encourage every member of our profession to stay involved, share feedback, and participate in advocacy efforts. By working collaboratively, we can address emerging challenges, such as Medicaid reimbursement issues, and continue to move our profession forward. Your involvement not only strengthens our legislative impact but also ensures that the needs of therapists and their clients are heard and addressed.⁣
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Thank you for your commitment and engagement. Together, we look forward to a successful and impactful year ahead.⁣
⁣
Sharon Rosenberg, CHT, OTR/L⁣
Debora Oliveira, PhD., OTR/L⁣

02/26/2026

Participants Needed for Research Study⁣
⁣
Perceptions of Simulation-Based Education Among⁣
Healthcare Instructors: A Qualitative Study⁣
⁣
Who Can Participate⁣
Participants must meet all of the following criteria:⁣
• Be a current healthcare faculty member in a graduate-level healthcare program⁣
• Have at least one year of experience designing, facilitating, or debriefing simulation- based education⁣
• Be involved in simulation-based learning using any modality (e.g., high-fidelity manikins, standardized patients, virtual or hybrid simulation)⁣
• Be at least 18 years of age⁣
• Be able to participate in a virtual interview conducted in English⁣
⁣
What Participation Involves⁣
• If you choose to take part, you will be asked to complete a one-on-one recorded semi structured interview lasting approximately 60 minutes consisting of 18 questions.⁣
• Interviews will take place via a secure online platform at a time convenient for you.⁣
⁣
Voluntary Participation⁣
Your participation is completely voluntary.⁣
Confidentiality⁣
⁣
All information you share will be kept confidential.⁣
Interested in Participating?⁣
⁣
Please contact: Jacqueline Achon⁣
Email: Jachon@usa.edu⁣
University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences

02/25/2026

AOTA elections are underway, and they have not yet reached quorum for any of the Representative Assembly races. That means we need OTs and OTAs who are AOTA members in your state to vote now, and we are counting on you to help spread the word.

If you are in one of the following states or territories, this message is especially for you:
California, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Michigan, Missouri, New York, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, and Utah.

Please rally your colleagues today and remind them that students vote separately for ASD roles, so this call to action is specifically for OT and OTA members voting in the standard RA race.

If there are any questions, members can reach out directly to governance@aota.org for support.

Let’s show up, mobilize our networks, and make sure our voices are counted. Thank you for lifting as we climb.

https://www.aota.org/.../elected-and-appointed.../elections

02/24/2026

AOTA Members, don’t forget! Polls are open for the 2026 🗳️

Your vote carries our profession forward. Don't miss this chance to make your voice heard! Voting closes just before noon (11:59 am EST) on Wednesday, February 25. Cast yours now at aota.org/elections

02/05/2026

AOTA members: The 2026 polls are now open! We encourage you to read the candidate position statements on our website before you cast your vote. Polls close just before noon (11:59 am EST) on Wednesday, February 25.

Learn more and vote at aota.org/elections 🗳️

02/04/2026

NEWS: On February 3, Congress extended Medicare telehealth waivers that will allow occupational therapy practitioners to provide services via telehealth through December 31, 2027.

These waivers had expired at midnight on Friday, January 30, as they were tied to budget negotiations which resulted in a brief partial government shutdown. AOTA continues to urge Congress to establish a permanent telehealth policy—which would make OTPs permanent Medicare telehealth providers and prevent further disruption.

Learn more: https://bit.ly/3ZKeGrk

01/29/2026

We are excited to share an upcoming Advocacy Hour hosted by Nova Southeastern University – Tampa Bay Regional Campus COTAD Chapter. ⁣
⁣
Event Details:⁣
📅 Date: January 29, 2026⁣
🕐 Time: 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM (previously 1:30 to 2:30 pm)⁣
📍 Location: Virtual via Zoom⁣
https://nova.zoom.us/j/89560606097?pwd=C0wrpKhnRFDJZDMtOWX8VhiLF7oAMc.1

12/17/2025

FOTA Connect December 2025

Registration link: https://shorturl.at/1Zd8O

11/29/2025

FOTA Hill Day is Almost Here — Have You Registered?

Join Florida’s OT community on December 3, 2025, at the Florida State Capitol in Tallahassee for FOTA’s Annual Hill Day! This is your chance to meet with state lawmakers, participate in an energizing OT rally, network with more than 200 OT practitioners and students, and advocate for the future of our profession.

Why Attend?
* Understand how state policy impacts OT practice and patient care
* Meet directly with legislators and staff — no advocacy experience needed
* Connect with OT colleagues from across Florida
* Help elevate the visibility and importance of OT in healthcare
Your voice is essential in advancing occupational therapy. Don’t miss this opportunity to support policies that strengthen our profession and improve access to care.

📅 Date: December 3, 2025�
📍 Location: Florida State Capitol (400 S Monroe St, Tallahassee, FL)�
👥 Who’s Invited: OT practitioners, students, and supporters�
🔗 Registration: https://forms.gle/VetxjJbVZLFQq3ex8

Questions?�Govaffairs@flota.org�Sharon Rosenberg – 850-322-7936 | Sharon.nrosenberg@gmail.com�Deb Oliveira – drdso04@gmail.com

11/25/2025

Join Florida’s OT community on December 3, 2025, at the Florida State Capitol in Tallahassee for FOTA’s Annual Hill Day! This is your chance to meet with state lawmakers, participate in an energizing OT rally, network with more than 200 OT practitioners and students, and advocate for the future of our profession.

Why Attend?
-Understand how state policy impacts OT practice and patient care
-Meet directly with legislators and staff — no advocacy experience needed
-Connect with OT colleagues from across Florida
-Help elevate the visibility and importance of OT in healthcare

Your voice is essential in advancing occupational therapy. Don’t miss this opportunity to support policies that strengthen our profession and improve access to care.

Date: December 3, 2025
Location: Florida State Capitol (400 S Monroe St, Tallahassee, FL)
Who’s Invited: OTA/OT practitioners, students, and supporters

Registration link: https://shorturl.at/Hpb0y

11/25/2025

The Department of Education (ED) is moving forward with new rules that will fundamentally change how graduate students finance their education.

Under the rule ED will propose, master’s and doctoral occupational therapy programs are not classified as professional programs, but instead as graduate programs. “Graduate programs” will have a $20,500 annual limit, with a $100,000 total cap, while programs defined as “Professional programs” will have a $50,000 annual limit, and $200,000 total cap. This means that future OT students would be subject to a significantly lower loan limits.

Occupational therapy master’s and doctoral programs not listed as “professional programs,” limiting federal loan options under new borrowing caps.