Linda Stephens is a 1965 graduate of the University of Florida with over 40 years of experience as an occupational therapist in several different settings.  These include hospital, school, preschool, and private practice areas, with most of her professional experience in pediatrics.  She also has special interest in legislation and politics, including working on the passage of the first state legislation to license occupational therapists (Florida, 1975).

She was appointed by the governor to serve on the Georgia State Board of Occupational Therapy for over 8 years, and then became active in advocating for occupational therapy.  Her interest in legislative issues led her to run for public office in 1988 as a representative in the Georgia House of Representatives.  Although she lost the election she feels that the experience was one of the best in her life.  Several years later she was appointed to represent a region as a member of the AOTPAC and served two terms.

Linda retired from active practice in 2010, but is still using her OT skills.  She is currently an intern in the Master Gardner’s program and will become certified next year.  A project that she is developing is a gardening program to use with adults who are disabled and in a day program.