Hill Day 2026 – Information Meeting

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

About This Course:

Meet with members of the TNOTA Legislative & Advocacy teams to learn more about TNOTA's Hill Day 2026! This course will cover an overview of Hill Day and what participants can expect on the day. We will review some of the main differences in federal vs. state-level legislative advocacy, as well as key issues TNOTA will be watching in 2026 and their impact on occupational therapy. Participants will have the opportunity to give feedback and voice their concerns about state-level issues that matter to you- even if you are not planning to attend Hill Day in person. Asynchronous advocacy engagement opportunities will be discussed, because every advocate's input matters!

Course Objectives: 

1. Participants will understand the purpose and structure of TNOTA's Hill day
2. Participants will identify key state legislative issues that TNOTA will be monitoring in the 2026 session
3. Participants will prepare for Hill Day activities and/or asynchronous advocacy opportunities.

Presenters: Rosemary Lewis, OTRL, CTP, CBIS; Stephanie Lancaster EdD, OTR/L, ATP; Cindy Blackwell, OTD, OTR/L

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.