Our Mission
To empower and mobilize occupational therapy leaders to engage in practices that increase justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI); liberation, anti-racism, and anti-oppression for a transformative occupational therapy profession.
Our Vision
A future in which occupational therapy is accessible, inclusive, and effective for all.
Our Approach
We’re a coalition focused on working together across various identities, social issues, and advocacy approaches. Through consensus decision making, we work together across challenges facing various marginalized groups in occupational therapy.
The History of COTAD
The Coalition of Occupational Therapy Advocates for Diversity (COTAD) formed in 2014 through collaboration that occurred between participants of the AOTA Emerging Leaders Development Program. Beginning as a small cadre of advocates, COTAD began developing resources, presence, and community within occupational therapy. In 2017, COTAD initiated the Chapters program engaging occupational therapy students from across the US in the work. Now established as a non-profit organization, over the years, COTAD has built resources, hosted events, and cultivated networks of action-oriented advocates. Since 2020, has grown tremendously, now with over 140 student chapters across the United States and growing numbers of individual advocates, we move together to ensure occupational therapy is a profession rooted in anti-oppression, liberation, and celebration of all lived experiences
COTAD Has a Plan
