Sep 28, 2026 · 54 min · 11 segments
The Uncommon OT Series is officially celebrating **five years**! What began as a space to highlight occupational therapy beyond traditional roles has grown into a community of practitioners…
Satvika GargGuest
Lawrence LiffGuest
Patricia MotusHost
I think it's a very important question because this is something that people come to me with all the time where they'll come and ask me, Is AOTF doing anything for me? Because I don't think my work is important enough.

And one thing that I always say is and encourage practitioners to do is not to self-select out of opportunities.

One of the biggest misconceptions is that research funding or scholarly opportunities are only for people working in academic centers or universities.

It happens in communities, schools, public health technology, policy, private practice, and other settings.

If your work is addressing participation, health, accessibility, equity, or occupational engagement, there's a very good chance it belongs in the conversation.

In fact, there are several AOTF opportunities that are specifically designed to engage practitioners from diverse backgrounds and practice settings.

Our programs like Community Engaged Research Grant support meaningful partnerships between researchers and communities.

Our hand-in-hand research grant encourages collaboration between clinicians and researchers to answer practice-relevant questions.

Then there are initiatives like Engage Summit where AOTF brings together researchers, clinicians, educators, and community partners to build collaborations that will help move the profession forward.

We recognize here at the foundation that strong research is strengthened by diverse perspectives, authentic partnerships, inclusive participation.

Some of the most important ideas in occupational therapy are emerging from practitioners who are working in non-traditional settings.

And we want your voices represented in the conversation that build the evidence that shapes the future of our profession.

But overall, the one big thing that I want to say is do not select yourself out of these opportunities as soon as you see them.

And if you don't fit anywhere, reach out to the person in charge and ask them, Why I don't fit? Is there a possibility that there could be an opportunity coming out where somebody with my profile can fit? Because I get those emails every now and then.

And you know how that helps? It helps us here at AOTF to build opportunities when we get those questions.

If I'm getting multiple emails from practitioners asking, oh, I really want to be part of research, but I don't know how and where to start.

I think it's a very important question because this is something that people come to me with all the time where they'll come and ask me, Is AOTF doing anything for me? Because I don't think my work is important enough.

And one thing that I always say is and encourage practitioners to do is not to self-select out of opportunities.

One of the biggest misconceptions is that research funding or scholarly opportunities are only for people working in academic centers or universities.

It happens in communities, schools, public health technology, policy, private practice, and other settings.

If your work is addressing participation, health, accessibility, equity, or occupational engagement, there's a very good chance it belongs in the conversation.

In fact, there are several AOTF opportunities that are specifically designed to engage practitioners from diverse backgrounds and practice settings.

Our programs like Community Engaged Research Grant support meaningful partnerships between researchers and communities.

Our hand-in-hand research grant encourages collaboration between clinicians and researchers to answer practice-relevant questions.

Then there are initiatives like Engage Summit where AOTF brings together researchers, clinicians, educators, and community partners to build collaborations that will help move the profession forward.

We recognize here at the foundation that strong research is strengthened by diverse perspectives, authentic partnerships, inclusive participation.

Some of the most important ideas in occupational therapy are emerging from practitioners who are working in non-traditional settings.

And we want your voices represented in the conversation that build the evidence that shapes the future of our profession.

But overall, the one big thing that I want to say is do not select yourself out of these opportunities as soon as you see them.

And if you don't fit anywhere, reach out to the person in charge and ask them, Why I don't fit? Is there a possibility that there could be an opportunity coming out where somebody with my profile can fit? Because I get those emails every now and then.

And you know how that helps? It helps us here at AOTF to build opportunities when we get those questions.

If I'm getting multiple emails from practitioners asking, oh, I really want to be part of research, but I don't know how and where to start.
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