WOTA works to improve the practice environment here in Washington so that OTs and OTAs can focus on what they do best. A major benefit to membership in WOTA is that you’ll have a voice at the table during discussions of importance to OT practice. We work with stakeholders to represent OT appropriately in discussions about important issues in our profession, from implementation of the Affordable Care Act to telemedicine.
WOTA’s Legislative Committee is charged with coordinating legislative advocacy efforts. Robin Huesca, committee chair, is an OT who loves policy. She leads WOTA’s largest, most active committee. WOTA works with Kate White Tudor, our lobbyist, to identify legislative priorities that affect the practice of OT in the state. Then, we work to address those priorities. Please see the presentation below to learn more about the importance of advocacy in Washington State. The presentation includes detailed instructions for how to identify and contact your state representatives.
The legislative committee meets via teleconference once every one to two months to discuss legislative and advocacy priorities and to formulate plans of action. We also help coordinate the annual “Hike the Hill” event in Olympia, where OT practitioners and students meet with legislators face to face to promote OT.
If you have a question for us regarding the practice environment, please contact us and we’ll get you to a resource who can help you.