LATEST NEWS  

ILOTA 2025 Executive Board Special Election for Director of Finance-Elect Office

Attention ILOTA Members! Subsequent to the closing of the original Executive Board nominations window last summer, we received a new nomination for the Director of Finance-Elect position. We are now opening the voting for this Special Election for ONLY the Executive Board Director of Finance-Elect. Deadline to vote is January 21, 2025. Learn more and vote here.

 

2024 ILOTA Annual Conference In-person Portion: It's a Wrap!

THANK YOU to everyone who contributed to make our 2024 ILOTA Annual Conference In-person Portion a HUGE success on November 22nd and 23rd! Especially to our speakers, attendees, and volunteer committee members. And a special THANK YOU to our Sponsors and Exhibitors! 

 

ILOTA Wins AOTA Award from the Affiliated State Association Presidents (ASAP)

We are honored to have been recognized by AOTA and the the Affiliated State Association Presidents (ASAP) during the 2024 AOTA INSPIRE conference. We enjoyed an amazing membership growth of 54% due to our expansive continuing education curriculum in 2023-24, and AOTA and ASAP awarded us with the Continuing Education award. Read more here!

 

ILOTA Member-only CE Discount Partnerships

Did you know that ILOTA members can take advantage of significant discounts for online CE courses through MedBridge, ERI - Education Resources, Inc., and Aspire OT? Learn more and access the CE discount codes in our member-only area here. Members will need to log in.  (Not a member? Join today!)

 

Highlights of the New Illinois OT Practice Act

We are pleased to introduce you to our new Illinois Occupational Therapy Practice Act. It passed both the House and the Senate unanimously, and was signed by the Governor in July, 2023. It went into effect on January 1, 2024. For now, we have posted the highlights on our ILOTA Legislative Updates webpage here, including a 5-page PDF describing key sections. UPDATE: The new Illinois OT Practice Act Rules are now available here.

 

ILOTA Membership Survey Results: Now Available to Review and Download

In the fall of 2023, we launched a comprehensive "2023 ILOTA Member / Non-Member Feedback Survey" that was sent to over 7,000 members and non-members. Nearly 400 people took the time to share their thoughts and feedback on ILOTA's programming, membership benefits, and services. (If you were one of the respondents, thank you!) We are now pleased to share with you the 41-page PDF entitled, "ILOTA 2023 Feedback Survey Report". The easy-to-read report can be scanned for highlights and trends, or you can delve into the data, statistics, and charts. You can access the PDF here. 

 

New: Doctoral Capstone Resources

Are you interested in learning more about entry-level occupational therapy doctoral capstones? We've placed some excellent (free) resources on our webpage under the "Education" menu tab at the top. Or just go to the page directly here!

 

UPCOMING EVENTS  

ILOTA Live Virtual Event on Wednesday, January 22, 2025: "CVI for the Curious OT Practitioner"

Join us for the next in our series of ILOTA Live Virtual Events at 7:30 pm on Wednesday, January 22, 2025: "CVI for the Curious OT Practitioner". Do you serve individuals with Cortical Visual Impairment? Do you think that some of your students or clients may have CVI . . . but you’re not sure, or not sure what to do? Welcome to the club! This workshop is designed for the Occupational Therapy Practitioner who has heard of CVI and wants to take a deeper dive into the details. Approved for 1.5 CE credits. (EI credit also applied for.) $37 Members, $74 Non-members. (Not a member? Join today!) Learn more and register here.

 

Registration for our 2025 ILOTA Student Conclave is Now Open!

We are excited to announce that we are returning to an in-person, one-day ILOTA Student Conclave on Saturday, February 15, 2025, at Midwestern University in Downers Grove, Illinois. Our schedule is jam-packed with programs like "NBCOT® National Certification Exam: Information You Need to Know", "How to Market your Experience on the Job Hunt", Six Breakout Sessions, Optional One-on-One Resume Reviews, and (free) Professional Headshot Photos. $35 ILOTA Student and Practitioner Members, $60 Non-members. (Not a member? Join today!) See the complete course schedule, list of speakers, and sponsorship opportunities here. 

 

ILOTA Therapeutic Modalities for Occupational Therapy Practitioners: Electrical and Thermal Course - January 2025

Incorporating thermal and electrical modalities as an adjunct intervention within a treatment plan can enhance patient outcomes.  This comprehensive hands-on course will emphasize the application, theory, and evidence behind the use of both thermal and electrical modalities in clinical practice. UPDATE: We reached our course limit, so registration is now closed. Course is limited to the first 24 registrants. 16 contact hours of CE credit. $440 Members, $575 Non-Members. (Not a member? Join today!) Learn more here.  

 

UPDATED - ILOTA Pre-OT Mentorship Program - New Dates for 2024!

The ILOTA Community Outreach Committee is excited to introduce the ILOTA Pre-OT Mentorship Program. This program has been designed in an effort to advocate for the equity, inclusion, and diversity of the Occupational Therapy profession. We aim to support the AOTA Vision 2025 by providing prospective OT/OTA students with informational resources and first-hand experience relative to OT. Learn more about the 2024 program here.

What is ILOTA?

The Illinois Occupational Therapy Association (ILOTA) is the official representative of the occupational therapy profession in the State of Illinois. ILOTA acknowledges and promotes professional excellence through a proactive, organized collaboration with occupational therapy personnel, the health care community, governmental agencies, and consumers.

Vision, Mission, Core Values, Strategic Focus Areas, and Strategic Plan

Our Vision is: "ILOTA is the premier occupational therapy resource in Illinois." And our Mission is: "ILOTA is a multifaceted organization committed to promoting and advocating for the occupational therapy profession and supporting practitioners and students in the pursuit of quality and ethical services in Illinois." Learn more about our Core Values and Strategic Focus Areas, and view our 2024-2027 ILOTA Strategic Plan here.

Why Join ILOTA?

We invite you to join over 1,200 of your colleagues by becoming a member of our association. Producing valuable continuing education programs, facilitating professional networking opportunities, and advocating for our profession are just a few hallmarks of our legacy. View our membership benefits and dues options.

ILOTA UPDATES

Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (JEDI) Special Interest Section (SIS) Upcoming Meetings

The JEDI SIS has several upcoming monthly Zoom meetings that are free and open to anyone: COTAD Connections Meetings and the JEDI SIS Committee Meetings. Read more and view the schedule.

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Launch of the "Dear JEDI" Column in The Communique Newsletter

What is Dear JEDI?: Dear JEDI is a column within the ILOTA quarterly Communique where question(s) from OTPs and OT/OTA students regarding JEDI in everyday practice and learning environments will be answered. Submit your questions here.

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Access Recordings of Past ILOTA Live Virtual Events

Did you know that we have posted nearly 20 ILOTA Live Virtual Events from 2021 and 2022? Most of these recordings are available for free for members and non-members. Click on the image above or here to see the complete list.

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Help Promote OT in Illinois with Video Clips

ILOTA is currently working on developing promotional and educational videos and content about OT from Illinois OTs, OTAs, and students!  We would love contributors from as many practice settings and geographical regions of Illinois as possible, so please consider contributing! Read more...
 
Impact of COVID-19 on our Community

ILOTA recognizes the impact of Covid-19 (coronavirus) on individuals, families, the nation, and our world as we all adapt to these uncertain times. For the latest updates, please visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).