State and Federal Advocacy Update 2025

This event is FREE for members and nonmembers; 1.0 Contact Hour

About This Course:

Advocacy is a crucial component of OT practice. State and federal legislation impact OT practice in a variety of ways, including access to services, scope of practice, and reimbursement. This course will provide up-to-date information on current legislative issues and review resources available to advocate for our profession.

Course Objectives:

1. Identify the role of the TNOTA advocacy committee, the TNOTA legislative chair, and the TNOTA lobbyist.
2. List a legislative issue currently being discussed at the state level and/or the national level.
3. Locate and access TNOTA advocacy resources on the website.

Presenters: Rosemary Lewis, OTRL, CTP, CBIS; Stephanie Lancaster EdD, OTR/L, ATP; Cindy Blackwell, OTD, OTR/L; and Allie Jones (Capitol & 5th Public Strategies)

Rosemary Lewis, OTRL, CTP, CBIS is an OT practicing in the Cardiovascular and Medical Intensive Care Units at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. She is a Certified Trauma Professional and Brain Injury Specialist and has advanced training in early mobility and rehabilitation for patients on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support. She serves as the co-chair of the Advocacy Committee for TNOTA and is an associate reviewer for the Journal of Acute Care Occupational Therapy.CEU Opportunity: 2.0 CEU hours, Free for members, $40 for non-members.

Stephanie Lancaster EdD, OTR/L, ATP graduated with a degree in occupational therapy from Washington University in St. Louis in 1991. She has worked as an OT educator since 2013 and serves as associate professor in the OT program at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis. She holds an M.S. in Leadership & Policy Studies and a Doctorate of Education in Instruction & Curriculum Design with an emphasis on Instructional Design and Technology from the University of Memphis. She served as the co-facilitator of the TNOTA Pediatric Community of Practice for several years before moving into the role of TNOTA President.

Cindy Blackwell, OTD, OTR/L completed her Doctorate in Occupational Therapy at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Cindy is the current president of the Tennessee Occupational Therapy Association. She is an AOTA Emerging Leader, class of 2014. Cindy has worked in a variety of settings, including public and private schools, home-based services, outpatient pediatric clinics, and academia. Her passion is working with children with disabilities or developmental delays and their families, to help empower them to reach their fullest potential.

Allies Jones serves as Senior Associate at Capitol & 5th Public Strategies. Formerly, Allie led state legislative strategy and government relations as Deputy Chief Governmental Relations and Policy Officer at the University of Memphis. She began her political career on high-profile federal campaigns and has been driving strategic public policy ever since. She has led complex government relations efforts by managing legislative agendas, advancing funding initiatives, and building coalitions across higher education, business, and healthcare sectors. She is a Teach for America alumna and holds a degree from the University of Tennessee.