ABC Therapeutics Occupational Therapy Weblog

At the recent ALC meeting of the AOTA, there was a question about why we are seeing a drop in student interest in OT programs. There seemed to be a hesitancy to look internally and critically at the real reasons so I decided to do my best to answer that question. Label me as a reluctant futurist. +++++ Occupational therapy stands at a pivotal moment. For years, we’ve operated with an assumption that the future of the profession should be bigger, more academic, more credentialed, and more “doctorate-forward.” For a while, that vision aligned with workforce need and cultural momentum. But lately, the data tell a more complicated story and I believe that many of us in education and professional governance have been unwilling to confront directly. Here is the uncomfortable truth: The rapid proliferation of OT programs, especially entry-level doctorates, is no longer being driven by workforce demand, public need, or educational innovation. It’s being driven by institutional survival, tuit...