When I first got an email from Karen Jacobs, OTR/L, EdD, CPE, FAOTA, announcing the Occupational Therapy Global Day of Service on Feb. 25, I was intrigued. Community service as a way to raise the profile of occupational therapy among the public? I needed to find out more.

After speaking with her, I was convinced Jacobs, clinical professor at Boston University and Eleanor Clarke Slagle lecturer for the American Occupational Therapy Association, had hit on a great idea. Not only is the occasion designed to encourage community service, but participation also will generate monetary donations to UNICEF courtesy of corporate sponsor Slack Inc. (publisher of occupational therapy texts, including many written or edited by Jacobs) and promote occupational therapy in the process. A trifecta of good intentions.

Jacobs hit on the idea while crafting her upcoming Slagle lecture titled “PromOTing Occupational Therapy: Words, Images and Actions.” She had devised other promotional campaigns, such as providing a presentation explaining the profession for OTs to give to local Rotary organizations, but few OTs jumped at the opportunity.

Many OTs explained they were nervous about public speaking. But Jacobs realized because OTs are masters of action, another tactic may be more effective.

After noodling about the concepts of occupational therapy, social marketing, social media and promotion, she hit on the idea of tying the promotion of occupational therapy to social issues in general. OTs the world over will not necessarily only provide occupational therapy services pro bono Feb. 25. Rather, OTs will avail themselves of service opportunities in their areas and identify themselves as occupational therapy practitioners and students. Perhaps they will give a quick pitch as they sign up or participate.

For example: “I’m an occupational therapist. I’m giving blood today as part of the OT Global Day of Service. Blood is essential to life, and OTs help people accomplish the essential tasks in their lives by helping them maximize their abilities while minimizing their disabilities, whether physical or psychological.”

Some may create their own opportunities and let recipients know about occupational therapy in the process by wearing a T-shirt with the AOTA slogan “Living Life to Its Fullest.” Some may organize neighborhood cleanups and let participants know that a clean environment helps promote activities in the community that people want and need to do — and OTs can help people participate in those activities more fully.
Check out the oodles of other suggestions Jacobs has on her website: promotingot.org, including mentoring, activity days for underserved children, tutoring and safety checks for those aging in place. The possibilities are limited only by participants’ creativity.

“We are a profession that has an important contribution to promoting health and well-being through occupation,” Jacobs told me. “Unfortunately, not everybody understands what occupational therapy is. I’m hoping [through OTGDS] that the public will have a better understanding of OT on an individual level, on a community level and on a population level.”

Although occupational therapy has been around since before World War I, it’s one of the best-kept secrets in rehab. When I was an OT (I no longer practice occupational therapy — I just write about it), I spent a lot of time trying to explain to the general public that I wasn’t finding employment for people — I was using meaningful activity to help people adapt to the job of living after a physical impairment.

As a self-employed pediatric OT in San Jose, Calif., my friend Nicole Kristal, OT/L, MS, still struggles with misperceptions about the profession. When I told her about the Global Day of Service, she said she likes the idea. “I think that’s a really unique way to get our name out in the community,” she told me. ““I think if we’re out there doing a service for the community, we create a more personal connection and give people a face and a story behind what OT is.”

The publisher sponsor also likes the idea. In an email, John Bond, senior vice president of Health Care Books and Journals for Slack, told me: “Slack Inc. is thrilled to be working with someone of Karen Jacobs’ stature on such a grand, exciting and noble endeavor. We fully support the Occupational Therapy Global Day of Service project and look forward to its success.” Slack is offering promotional support through email and social media, and has pledged to donate $1,000 after Feb. 25.

Bond’s colleague Brien Cummings, an acquisitions editor at Slack who has worked with Jacobs, concurred. “We see it as a unique opportunity to promote social participation and to generate some financial support for UNICEF,” Cummings told me. “We encourage as many people as possible to participate this year, and we hope that it grows exponentially in the years to come.”

Jacobs’ plan is to make this an annual event, eventually moving the date to World Occupational Therapy Day in October. At press time, it still is at the grassroots level, with several dozen participants registered at promotingot.org.

“But people are spreading the word,” Jacobs said. “I’m getting emails, Facebook postings, Twitter feeds. It hasn’t gone viral yet, but I’m hoping it will. We already have some ‘super fans’ who are spreading the word.” She said knows of OTs in Australia, Slovenia, Brazil, Canada, the U.K., India, Mississippi, Utah, New York, Massachusetts and Ohio who plan to participate.

“I’m passionate about this. I’m just trying to use the tools that are out there to help people better understand occupational therapy and help us have a global presence,” Jacobs said.

What about you? Does the OT Global Day of Service sound intriguing? Sign up! I think this global service flash mob of sorts could generate some headlines for occupational therapy while helping some great causes around the world.

Anne Federwisch is a freelance writer, former OT and frequent contributor to Today in OT.