Author and Submission Guidelines

Thank you for your interest in contributing to OOTA’s newsletter, a publication dedicated to sharing insights, innovations, and best practices within the field of occupational therapy. We welcome submissions from occupational therapy practitioners (OT/OTA), researchers, educators, students, and other professionals passionate about advancing the professions of occupational therapy.

Our Mission:

The purpose of the OOTA Newsletter is to foster a collaborative space to educate, empower, connect, and strengthen the occupational therapy community and advance the profession across Ohio. We aim to deliver content that is informative, relevant, and engaging to our diverse readership.

Topics of Interest:

We encourage submissions related to, but not limited to, the following areas:

Clinical Practice:

- Evidence-based interventions and techniques
- Case studies and client success stories
- Innovative approaches to assessment and treatment
- Addressing specific populations (e.g., pediatrics, geriatrics, mental health, rehabilitation, etc.)
- Ethical considerations in practice (Diversity, equity, inclusion, justice, accessibility, belonging, etc.)

Professional Development:

- Continuing education (opportunities, retrospectives/reflections, summaries, etc.)
- Career advancement and leadership
- Advocacy and policy issues
- Interdisciplinary collaboration
- Burnout prevention and self-care

Research and Innovation:

- Summaries of current research findings
- Emerging technologies and their applications
- Quality improvement initiatives
- Program development and evaluation

Education:

- Teaching strategies and resources
- Student perspectives and experiences
- Fieldwork and mentorship
- Curriculum development
- Capstone (links to surveys, capstone summaries, literature reviews, etc.)
- Fellowship and residency experiences

Community and Global Perspectives:

- Community-based occupational therapy
- International occupational therapy practices
- Addressing health disparities and promoting accessibility
- Community events and retrospectives

Submission Guidelines:

Originality:

All submissions must be original and not published elsewhere.

Format:

Submissions can be submitted in multiple formats, however Microsoft Word (.doc or .docx) format is preferred.
Use clear and concise language.
Include subheadings to organize your content as appropriate.
Cite sources in APA format (click here to access APA 7th Ed. citation guidelines).
Optional (but encouraged!):
- Brief author biography (50-100 words)
- Professional headshot

Length:

Article length is flexible, but typically ranges from 500-1500 words.
Shorter pieces, such as tips, reflections, or book reviews, are also welcome.

Images and Graphics:

High-resolution images and graphics are encouraged.
Ensure you have permission to use all images.
Provide captions for all images and graphics.

Submission Process:

Please submit your article via the form on OOTA’s Newsletter page, also accessible through the button below.
Alternatively, articles may be submitted via email to OOTA staff – ootastaff@gpsforgrowth.com
- If you choose this option, please include “Newsletter Submission” in the subject line.

Review Process:

All submissions must be received at least 1-month prior to publication (OOTA’s Newsletter published quarterly, the second Tuesday of the month in January, April, July, and October).
All submissions will be reviewed by the editorial team for relevance, clarity, and accuracy.
Authors may be asked to revise their submissions based on feedback from the reviewers.
OOTA’s Newsletter Committee reserves the right to edit submissions for style, grammar, and length.
- PLEASE NOTE: Any article edited by OOTA’s Newsletter Committee will be sent back to the original author for their review and approval.
OOTA’s Newsletter Committee reserves the right to reject submissions.

Copyright:

Authors retain copyright of their work.
By submitting your work, you grant The Ohio Occupational Therapy Association the right to publish and distribute your article.

Contact:

For any questions or inquiries, please contact ootastaff@gpsforgrowth.com.

We look forward to receiving your contributions and working with you to share valuable knowledge with the occupational therapy community in Ohio and beyond!