CONTINUED FROM PAGE 16 we provide to our clients better which in turn makes occupational therapy a stronger profession .
When it comes to volunteering , making occupational therapy stronger is the byproduct . Advocating for the client is the main goal .
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE STUDENTS THAT GET INVOLVED WITH ILO- TA AND THOSE WHO DO NOT VOLUNTEEr
Brenda isn ’ t sure what the difference is between those students who get involved with ILOTA and those who don ’ t . Maybe the real question to ask is , “ what hooks a person to follow that passion of volunteer work ?” For Brenda , it is all about leadership . When you lead someone , whether that ’ s as a mentor , professor or therapist , how do you open up people ’ s minds to different opportunities ?. Brenda has done this with students when suggests certain programs to them and she plans to do the same thing by volunteering with ILOTA . Brenda recalls that back when therapists could do Hill Day in person , it was all about mentoring students and showing them how to talk about advocacy .
FOR THE STUDENTS THAT DO NOT GET THE SPONTANEOUS OPPORTUNITIES ( THOSE PRESENTED BY PROFESSORS , ETC .) IS IT ABOUT INSTILLING THAT CONFIDENCE TO BE A LEADER ?
Brenda remarks that it can be about leadership , but it can also be about meeting people halfway . There are some people who do not want to be on the board . But they may want to write letters to their legislators . There are many ways to volunteer that fit in with a person ’ s schedule . They can help with continuing education and volunteer at annual conferences . If they are specialists , they can help with SIS ( Special Interest Section ) groups .
DO YOU THINK THERE ARE A LOT OF RESOURCES FOR STUDENTS THAT WANT
TO VOLUNTEER ?
Volunteering is not just for students . It is also for practitioners and everybody in the profession . You can find opportunities by networking with people . Brenda also mentions that there needs to be a balance between the information presented to you and the information that you actively seek out . Before social media , Brenda remembers that organizations would do membership drives to mail out the memberships to people . There was one time that she spent a whole Saturday stuffing envelopes for one of these drives !
WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS FOR THE FUTURE AT ILOTA ?
Brenda ’ s main goal is to carry out her activities associated with her role as director of advocacy . She wants to make sure that we stay on top of all of our legislative and reimbursement needs . Some of the initiatives that she has include :
• Medicare reimbursement rate for outpatient , a long standing issue for occupational therapy practitioners in Illinois
• EI coalition
• Community practice to change language
• Licensure rule changes
• Practice act changes
• Making sure occupational therapy has a voice in all these initiatives
What this all surmounts to is making sure that occupational therapy does not lose its ground so we can make sure that clients don ’ t lose their services .
HOW DO YOU CREATE A WORK / LIFE BALANCE FOR YOURSELF ?
17 Illinois Occupational Therapy Association | 2022 ISSUE 1
Work-life balance is a lifelong skill that Brenda is still working on . It is a skill that she tries to manage , but it can be very hard with all of her responsibilities . There are panels and meetings to go to which can mean that she needs to get up early to start her work .
Even when there are days when work is overwhelming , Brenda likes to ask herself one question , “ does it bring me joy ?” When you volunteer sometimes it can be hard work , but sometimes it can be joy . And when something brings you joy , it ’ s not hard to find the balance .
When asked if work / life balance is a lifelong skill , Brenda states that it is something we are starting to focus on more . She believes that COVID has helped to describe the need for balance a bit more . A good question to ask is “ when did we really start talking about selfcare ?” Health care professionals talk about self-care with our clients but how much do we talk about our own self-care ? It ’ s time that we start to define self-care and work / life balance and Brenda believes that we will see this in the newer generation being more vocal about this need for balance in life and work .
WHAT ARE YOUR INTERESTS OUTSIDE OF WORK ?
Brenda ’ s main interest outside of work is traveling . Before COVID , she used to travel abroad . However , with some adjustments she still is able to do the traveling she loves . In the past year when COVID was better , she planned some mini trips to reconnect with people and college friends . When she ’ s not traveling , Brenda likes to bike , take walks , go to museums , and go out to dinner .
DO YOU HAVE ANY STORIES OF COLLABO- RATIONS ON THE ILOTA BOARD THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE ?
Throughout her time as an occupational therapist , Brenda has had
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