AWARD MINIMAL REQUIREMENTS

[Note: * Indicates only one award shall be given per year]

AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN THE ADVANCEMENT OF OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY

Nominees shall have made a significant contribution to the advancement of occupational therapy. Their efforts could include, but are not limited to: political support, pioneer work, or an outstanding leadership role.

• Members—An individual or group whose services or contributions are clearly beyond those of normal professional duties or responsibilities.
• Non-members—An individual or group whose services or contributions have markedly benefited occupational therapy.

​DISTINGUISHED FIELDWORK EDUCATOR AWARD 

• The nominee shall have at least a five-year history of providing consistent fieldwork education to OT/OTA students.
• The nominee(s) shall exemplify leadership in fieldwork education in six or more of the following categories:
  • Works in collaboration with the academic institution/an academic fieldwork coordinator to structure fieldwork experiences specific to the individual learning needs of students
  • Uses creative and innovative supervision models that effectively support the demand for fieldwork education
  • Provides fieldwork experiences in creative and innovative practice settings to effectively support the demand for fieldwork education
  • Participates in continuing education related to supervision, teaching, and evaluation of learning or mentoring with a commitment to remaining current with the content of the entry-level curriculum and developments in the field
  • Proactively collaborates with other professionals, serving as a team member role model, and provides students with experiences outside of occupational therapy but within the clinical/professional/community setting
  • Contributes to occupational therapy beyond the fieldwork site such as conducting in-services, guest lecturing at an occupational therapy academic institution, assisting with admission interviews, etc.
  • Serves as a positive role model and encourages fieldwork student engagement and participation within professional associations
  • Promotes evidence based practice within fieldwork experiences including assessment and intervention

DR. LELA A. LLORENS AWARD OF EXCELLENCE FOR DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION

• The nominee(s) shall be an OT and an OTA member who is in good standing of the Association & their state organization at the time of the nomination and presentation of the award.
• The submission must highlight how the nominee has utilized Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Justice, Accessibility and Belonging (DEIJAB) principles to address the needs of marginalized, under resourced and/or underrepresented persons, groups, and populations.  The professional activity must show how it has addressed issues related to health disparities, health equity, the social determinants of health, and/or institutional, structural, or systemic racism in healthcare, education, community practice, clinical practice and/or the occupational therapy profession.  It must be related to initiatives, programs, or strategies that provide systemic change and/or advances DEIJAB principles in scholarship, leadership and/or advocacy, program or policy development, education, community practice, clinical practice and/or the occupational therapy profession. 
• Nomination submissions must address at least one of the following categories:
  • Scholarship: Evidence of scholarly activities (i.e., discovery, integration, teaching and learning, application) that clearly identify the advancement of DEIJAB principles in the occupational therapy profession and has had a lasting impact through dissemination into clinical practice, curriculum development or enhancement, education, and professional development. 
  • Leadership, Advocacy & Policy:  Evidence of leadership, advocacy and policy initiatives or interventions that significantly promote and/or advance DEIJAB initiatives and highlight and/or improves health, well-being, and a sense of belonging.
  • Occupational Therapy Practice: Evidence of lasting impact on the practice and delivery of occupational therapy services to marginalized, underrepresented and/or under-resourced persons, groups or populations as evidenced by the dissemination of DEIJAB principles in culturally responsive occupational therapy clinical or community practice.  
  • Program Development and Capacity Building: Evidence of a program(s) that address the needs of marginalized, underrepresented and/or under-resourced populations utilizing DEIJAB principles.  The program must show how it has used the social determinants of health to positively impact and/or improve the health and wellbeing of persons, groups, and populations.

DISTINGUISHED EDUCATOR AWARD

• The nominee(s) shall be an OT and an OTA member who is in good standing of the Association & their state organization at the time of the nomination and presentation of the award.
• The nominee(s) shall be an educator in an ACOTE-accredited entry-level degree program.
• The nominee(s) shall demonstrate sustained experience as an OT/OTA educator.
• The nominee shall demonstrate evidence of, including but not limited to:
  • Excellence in teaching and learning through the incorporation of best-practices in adult education (e.g., assessing learner outcomes, engaging students in the classroom, use of innovative teaching approaches, and using evidence-based teaching approaches for adult learners).
  • Commitment to evidence-based practice (e.g., teaching evidence-based content, training students to understand and apply evidence, or empowering students to contribute to the profession's body of evidence).
  • Impact on the lives of students beyond the classroom.
  • Impact on broader regional, professional, or institutional communities (e.g., service learning, continuing education, development of new programs or services, or advocacy).
  • Recognition from a variety of sources including fellow educators, students, administrators, and community members.
  • Development of professional leaders
  • Mentorship of fellow educators
  • Sustained commitment over time

ELEANOR CLARKE SLAGLE LECTURESHIP AWARD *

• The nominee shall have made a significant contribution to the body of knowledge of the profession. This will be manifest in the development or refinement of professional philosophy, theory, and/or techniques that enhance clinical or educational practice and/or involvement in outstanding research activities. 
• The nominee shall have shared his or her knowledge and inspired others through written publications and oral presentations.
• Both scholarly contribution and volunteer organizational leadership will be considered. 
• The individual selected for this award shall be notified by the President of the Association and shall, in turn, convey his or her acceptance before public announcement. 
• Recipients of this award will present The Eleanor Clarke Slagle Lecture during the AOTA Annual Conference & Exposition in the following year.
• The awardee shall be announced by the President of the Association or the previous Slagle lecturer, at the Annual Conference & Exposition the year before the lecture is to be presented. 
• An inscribed plaque, highlighting the awardee’s contributions and the year selected, and a monetary gift shall be presented by the President of the Association at the AOTA Annual Conference & Exposition the year the lecture is given.
• If the awardee is not a member of the Roster of Fellows or Roster of Honor, he or she will be designated as such and will be presented with the appropriate certificate at the time the Eleanor Clarke Slagle Lectureship Award is announced. 
• The name of the awardee as well as the text of the lecture shall be published in AJOT®.
• The name of the awardee and the year selected shall be located and displayed in the Association headquarters.

EMERGING & INNOVATIVE PRACTICE AWARD

• The nominee(s) shall demonstrate exemplary leadership in the development and implementation of emerging and/or innovative practice(s) in one or more of the following categories:
  • Children and youth,  new technologies, clinical interventions, health promotion and wellness, community-based practice, mental health, rehabilitation, health and disability, productive aging, and/or work and industry​
• The nominee(s) shall demonstrate notable impact on the profession through:
  • Dissemination of professional knowledge that clearly demonstrates evidence-based outcomes
  • Building the leadership and entrepreneurship capacity of self and others

GARY KIELHOFNER EMERGING LEADER AWARD *

• ​The nominee(s) shall be an OT or OTA who has been an Association member in good standing for no less than three consecutive years upon nomination and presentation of the award and is not more than seven years from formal graduation.
• The nominee(s) shall exemplify extraordinary leadership in one or more of the following categories:
  • Development of an emerging practice area (i.e., innovative models of community-based OT practice, embracing new technologies in treatment provision, health promotion and wellness, etc.)
  • Advocacy (i.e., regulatory, legislative, policy and reimbursement issues; advocacy for a client need within the community, promotion of occupational therapy, etc.)
  • Service to the professional association on a state and/or national level
  • Demonstrated contribution to the Centennial Vision
  • Significant contribution to the body of occupational therapy knowledge
  • Notable impact on the profession by building the leadership capacity of others (i.e. instilling the desire for leadership in others or growing leadership in their community)
  • Volunteerism which has met a significant need while inspiring others

HEALTH ADVOCATE AWARD

Nominee(s) shall have made significant contributions toward the advancement of health promotion and/or health care. These contributions may include, but are not limited to:

• Legislation
• Political support of health promotion and/or health care
• Financial contributions
• Leadership in improving health promotion and/or health care

INTERNATIONAL SERVICE AWARD

The nominee(s) shall demonstrate exemplary leadership/practice in one or more of the following categories:

• Development of international professionalism
• Diversity and culture
• Environmental sustainability for the support of human well-being
• How global health informs occupational therapy practice
• International collaborative research
• Occupational needs of displaced people
• Occupational therapy in disaster preparedness and response
• Protection of human rights
• Recruiting occupational therapists from international communities
• Tele-health
• Universal design
• Vocational rehabilitation
• Development and enhancement of Occupational Therapy education programs in under resourced countries to build capacity for sustainable practice
• The nominee(s) shall demonstrate notable impact on the profession through at least one of the following at an international level:
  • Positively influencing health, welfare, education and vocational needs
  • Advocating for occupational therapy
  • Serving as a liaison or collaborator with other international organizations
  • Holding a leadership position within WFOT or other international organization
  • Disseminating experiences or knowledge via presentations or publications (nationally or internationally)

INTERPROFESSIONAL COLLABORATION AWARD

• Individuals or teams are eligible for this award as long as at least one member of the team is an OT or OTA who is in good standing of the Association at the time of the nomination and presentation of the award.
• The nominee(s) shall demonstrate exemplary leadership in the development and implementation of interprofessional practice, education, or research incorporating the Interprofessional Education Collaborative (IPEC) competencies:
  • Communication
  • Teamwork
  • Roles and responsibilities
  • Values and ethics
• The nominee(s) shall disseminate their interprofessional education or practice model and/or results through presentations or publications.

LINDY BOGGS AWARD​*

The nominee(s) shall have demonstrated outstanding contributions in one or more of the following categories (AOTA staff are not eligible for nomination):

• Assuming an active role in training and organizing OT practitioners to have an impact on federal or state legislation, regulations, and/or policies.
• Educating legislators or other key government officials about the purpose and function of occupational therapy.
• Responding to requests for action from the Public Affairs Division of the Association.
• Acting as an advocate for consumers of health care and educational services.
• Playing an active role in state activities related to the American Occupational Therapy Political Action Committee (AOTPAC) and/or state political action committees.

OT AWARD OF MERIT ​*

• The nominee shall have demonstrated an outstanding and extensive contribution to the profession of occupational therapy that enhances health, well-being, and participation in life. 
• The nominee shall have served as a leader within occupational therapy and society, fostering growth and development of the profession and the Association. Both scholarly contribution and volunteer organizational leadership will be considered. 
• If the recipient of this award is not a Fellow he or she shall be designated as a Fellow of AOTA and will be presented with the Certificate for Roster of Fellows at the time the Award of Merit is announced.
• The name of the awardee and the year selected shall be located and displayed in the Association headquarters.

OTA AWARD OF EXCELLENCE *

• The nominee shall have demonstrated an outstanding and extensive contribution to the profession of occupational therapy that enhances health, well-being, and participation in life. 
• The nominee shall have served as a leader within occupational therapy and society, fostering growth and development of the profession and the Association. Both scholarly contribution and volunteer organizational leadership will be considered.
• If the recipient of this award is not a Roster of Honor member, he or she shall be designated as a member of the Roster of Honor of the Association and will be presented with a Roster of Honor Certificate at the time the Award of Excellence is announced.
• The name of the awardee and the year selected shall be located and displayed in the Association headquarters. 

OUTSTANDING MENTOR AWARD *

The nominee(s) shall demonstrate excellent mentoring in one or more of the following categories:

• Advising and guiding the mentee effectively
• Advocacy (i.e., advocating on behalf of the mentee, etc.)
• Teaching the mentee specific skills/strategies or providing resources/opportunities for independent learning
• Communicating effectively and facilitating the mentee’s progress towards achieving professional development goals
• Serving as an inspiring role model for the mentee

OUTSTANDING STUDENT ADVOCATE AWARD *

• Nominee(s) shall be full-time student(s) in an accredited OT or OTA program at the time of nomination.
• In the event of a group nomination larger than six individuals, at least half of the group must be members in good standing of AOTA at the time of nomination and upon receipt of the award.
• Nominee(s) shall have evidence of notable advocacy activities outside of class assignments (e.g., volunteering, campaigning, education, projects). This may include, but is not limited to:
  • Developing and distributing advocacy, educational, and/or informational materials
  • Initiating and promoting advocacy activities that support local, state, or national level professional issues
  • Initiating and promoting advocacy for the health and wellness needs of consumers
  • Organizing fellow students and/or others for participation in advocacy efforts at the local, state, or national level
  • Providing testimony at the local, state, or national level
  • Involvement in AOTPAC fundraising efforts
  • Demonstrating leadership in improving health promotion and/or health care
  • Active involvement in an OT public awareness campaign

RECOGNITION OF ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

The OT or OTA nominee(s) shall have evidence of notable contributions in a focused area of practice (e.g., clinical, teaching, administration). Both scholarly contribution and volunteer organizational leadership will be considered.  This may include, but not be limited to:

• Development and application of practice models, methods of evaluation, or treatment strategies that enhance service to consumers.
• Development and application of academic, fieldwork, or continuing education models, programs, or methods that enhance OT or OTA education and clinical practice.
• Participation in research activities that benefit occupational therapy practice.
• Involvement in advocacy activities that enhance the profession and benefit its consumers.
• Development and application of administrative methods that enhance practice.

ROSTER OF FELLOWS

• Recognizes occupational therapists who through their knowledge, expertise, leadership, advocacy, and/or guidance have made a significant contribution over time to the profession with a measured impact on consumers of occupational therapy services and/or members of the Association.
• The OT nominee(s) shall have made a significant contribution to the profession by utilizing special skills and/or knowledge on behalf of members, consumers, public/community at large, and/or other organizations.  Both scholarly contribution and organizational leadership will be considered. 
• Awardee(s) will be presented with a certificate designating the member as being named to the Roster of Fellows. 
• A person receiving this award may identify himself or herself by using “FAOTA” after his or her signature. These initials shall be included in the identifying information that follows his or her name in the registry as evidence of this honor.

ROSTER OF HONOR

• Recognizes occupational therapy assistants who through their knowledge, expertise, leadership, advocacy, and/or guidance have made a significant contribution over time to the profession with a measured impact on consumers of occupational therapy services and/or members of the Association.
• The OTA nominee(s) shall have made a significant contribution to the profession by utilizing special skills and/or knowledge on behalf of members, consumers, public/community at large, and/or other organizations. Both scholarly contribution and volunteer organizational leadership will be considered  
• Awardee(s) shall be presented with a certificate designating the member as being named to the Roster of Honor. 
• A person receiving this award may use “ROH” after his or her signature. These initials shall be included in the identifying information, which follows his or her name in the registry as evidence of this honor.

TERRY BRITTELL OTA/OT PARTNERSHIP AWARD

• The nominees shall have demonstrated evidence of collaborative and unique OTA/OT partnership in the profession of occupational therapy. 
• The nominees shall be recognized by their peers as having made a significant and unique contribution by their partnership to the profession in such areas as research, practice, and education. Demonstration of the unique partnership contribution may include, but is not limited to:
  • Development of a practice model or method of evaluation and treatment with significant application.
  • Development of academic or continuing education models, programs, or methods utilizing the OTA/OT partnership to enhance the education of occupational therapy practitioners.
  • Participation in research activities that benefit the profession and reflect the OTA/OT partnership.
• The nominees shall be recognized by their peers as having made a significant impact on the profession through their OTA/OT partnership by collaboratively demonstrating and sharing their expertise and knowledge through publications and presentations at the state, regional, or national level.
• Up to three Terry Brittell OTA/OT Partnership Awards may be presented in a given year.

Rev. 08/2024

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