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Occupational Therapy in Political Action in Georgia
Recently I became a citizen of this country. Those who know me are aware I was very excited to vote in my first election. The person I voted for even won!
The most important aspect of voting, however, is we have a say in how our government leads. As we are currently witnessing in the Democratic Primary every vote does count and the same was evident in the last Presidential election.
Another reality of today’s political arena is money is necessary to become elected. We hear of special interest groups and corporations sponsoring politicians with various levels of funding. These folks have the ear of those who are elected. Not to say the elected official will do their bidding but he/she will at least give the time to listen to their argument.
Whether we find this distasteful or not it is how the game is played. We as Occupational Therapists in this state need to be heard by the representatives. If we value the integrity of Occupational Therapy services as they are provided today we must put our money and our time where our mouth is. OTPAG is the fund raising arm of this fight. It is a separate entity from GOTA. Our only purpose is to raise funds to give to legislators that have helped or will help ensure on going Occupational therapy services and related legislation that affects our Clients and Patients.
Please allow us to introduce ourselves as your PAG Co-Chairs.
Kimberly Hightower will be chairing GOTA PAG. She graduated from Brenau University in 2001 and currently she works in the neonatal intensive care unit at Dekalb Medical center. Kim is also the founder and executive director of the Ordered Steps Center for Infant and Child Development, Inc., a 501(c) 3 nonprofit that serves families of children with special needs through education, advocacy and therapy services.
Catherine Meehan will be serving as the Secretary /Treasurer of PAG. Catherine is currently a stay at home Mom of three. She is a graduate of MCG. She worked in brain and spinal cord injury rehab as a case manager, community reentry therapist and in patient therapy respectively at Shepherd Center. She also worked as an in patient therapist at Walton Rehabilitation Hospital. She has been active in the GOTA and OTPAG for a number of years.
We will be planning several fundraising efforts for the coming year. Please help us get in the game and protect the integrity of Occupational Therapy services in Georgia by donating to OTPAG.
Catherine Meehan OTR/L
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