When it came time to choose a project for OT 7400: Teaching and Advocacy, four Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OT) students worked with faculty, professional organizations, policymakers, and community partners to expand access to Vermont Student Assistance Corporation (VSAC)'s forgivable loan program for future students. Their efforts helped secure eligibility for five-year forgivable loans through VSAC, marking a significant step toward expanding access to occupational therapy education in Vermont.
“They recognized that if occupational therapy students can't afford to go to school, it becomes harder to address workforce shortages and meet the needs of communities across Vermont,” said Ela Dupont, who teaches the course.
The project reflects the goals of OT 7400, which combines classroom learning with real-world advocacy experience. The course equips students with skills in advocacy, teaching, marketing, and health literacy, providing hands-on opportunities to develop and apply strategies that promote occupational therapy. Students learn to engage clients, healthcare providers, policymakers, and community stakeholders in support of the profession.
As part of the course, the students researched workforce trends and educational costs, identified funding opportunities, built relationships with partners across Vermont, and developed a compelling case for including occupational therapy in VSAC's forgivable loan program. They then applied the World Federation of Occupational Therapists' eight-step advocacy framework to design and implement a real-world advocacy campaign, ultimately helping secure a policy change with statewide impact.
By securing eligibility for five-year forgivable loans through VSAC, the students expanded access to occupational therapy education. By reducing financial barriers for future students, the initiative has the potential to strengthen Vermont's occupational therapy workforce, support recruitment and retention efforts, and improve access to care across the state.
"Although they knew this change probably wouldn't benefit them directly, they were thinking about future students and the future of the profession,” Dupont said.
Beyond its impact on future students, the project also provided valuable professional experience for the students involved.
"Learning how to advocate helps prepare students to advocate for the patients, families, and communities they'll serve throughout their careers," said Dupont. "Developing the confidence to speak up when something needs to change, whether it's for an individual patient or for the profession as a whole, is one of the most important skills they can build."
Meet three of the students who helped move the project forward and learn what they gained from the experience:
Ella Kropf
Future Interests: Inpatient or Pediatric Occupational Therapy
When Ella and her classmates set out to support the future of occupational therapy in Vermont, they focused on an issue that affects many students: the rising cost of education. Through conversations with policymakers, occupational therapy professionals, and community partners across Vermont, the team helped raise awareness about workforce needs and the importance of investing in future practitioners. Along the way, Ella gained valuable insight into how policy change takes shape and how collaboration can help move ideas forward.
“This project showed me that even small advocacy efforts can make a difference,” says Ella. “It’s a lesson I hope to carry with me throughout my career as an occupational therapist.”
Kam Bartlett
Future Plans: Become a licensed occupational therapist in Vermont and continue serving the communities that have inspired his passion for the profession.
Growing up in Vermont, Kam witnessed firsthand the healthcare access challenges that many rural communities face. That perspective inspired him to get involved in efforts to strengthen the state's future occupational therapy workforce. Through the project, he gained a deeper appreciation for the role advocacy plays in creating lasting change, both for individual clients and for the profession as a whole.
"This experience reminded me that advocacy is an important part of occupational therapy, whether you're supporting one client or working toward broader change," says Kam. “Seeing the success of this project reinforced the impact that advocacy can have and motivated our team to continue advocating for our profession and the communities we serve. Change begins with individuals who are willing to believe in their purpose, put in the work, and persevere even when the outcome is uncertain.”
Kristin Clark
Future Interests: Neurological Rehabilitation, Hand Therapy, and Community Health
Because she hopes to work with underserved populations, Kristin views advocacy as an important part of occupational therapy practice. She believes that expanding support for occupational therapy students can help strengthen Vermont’s healthcare workforce by reducing financial barriers to entering the profession and preparing more practitioners to meet the needs of communities across the state. In the long term, greater access to OT education may also help improve access to occupational therapy services for Vermonters.
"I'm proud to have been part of a project that may help future OT students navigate some of the financial challenges of pursuing this profession," says Kristin.