Occupational therapy practitioners ask, "What matters to you?" not, "What's the matter with you?"

Occupational therapists are healthcare professionals that work with people of all ages who need specialized assistance to lead independent, productive, and satisfying lives due to physical, developmental, social, or emotional problems.

The Occupational Therapy Program at Sacred Heart University is a national leader in preparing future practitioners with 95 students presently enrolled in their first or final year of their master’s degree studies.

On March 30 – April 2, SEVENTY of these students need your help so that they can make their way to Philadelphia for the American Occupational Therapy Association Conference and Centennial Celebration. This is a historic event commemorating the profession’s 100th Anniversary with more than 1,600 educational sessions that bring together students, professors and practitioners to learn, teach and celebrate.

The Conference registration cost for each student is $299. The Sacred Heart Occupational Therapy Department provides every SHU OT student that attends the conference a reimbursement grant of $250, which leaves a $49 funding gap per person. Students also fund their own transportation, hotel accommodations and meals, so they carry a significant financial burden to participate in this invaluable educational event. 

Every dollar that is donated to this campaign, which is being organized and promoted by the Student Occupational Therapy Association (SOTA), will benefit SHU OT students. The $3,500 campaign goal would provide enough funding to meet the $49 financial need for all 70 students that plan to attend the conference.

Should the campaign not reach its stated $3,500 goal, the funds will be equitably distributed as prorated reimbursement grant awards for all conference attendees. Should the campaign exceed the fundraising goal, the funds will be utilized for future OT student educational purposes at the discretion of the Occupational Therapy Department leadership.

Thank you for your generous consideration  

 About the Student Occupational Therapy Association  The Student Occupational Therapy Association (SOTA) at Sacred Heart University is a student-run association. Membership is open to all first and second year students enrolled in the Graduate Program in Occupational Therapy. SOTA engages in educational, social, service and fundraising activities and seeks to promote Occupational Therapy. Students also have the opportunity to participate in the American Occupational Therapy Association and the Connecticut Occupational Therapy Association through attendance at their annual conferences and by representation of a student delegate elected by the SOTA members. SOTA and the Pre-OT Club are advised by an occupational therapy program faculty member.

 About the American Occupational Therapy Association The American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) is the national professional association established in 1917 to represent the interests and concerns of occupational therapy practitioners and students of occupational therapy and to improve the quality of occupational therapy services.

Current AOTA membership is approximately 60,000, including occupational therapists, occupational therapy assistants, and occupational therapy students. Members reside in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and internationally. AOTA represents 213,000 occupational therapy practitioners and students in the United States.