DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES
The goal of the DDSIS is to focus on how OT assessment and intervention
can facilitate the inclusion of individuals with developmental disabilities
in home, school, work, and community life. The DDSIS provides a forum for
practitioners, educators, and researchers to exchange information and strategies
and network with each other by highlighting best practice, current trends,
and research updates.
PRODUCTIVE AGING
The PASIS fosters the professional development and clinical excellence of
occupational therapy practitioners working with older adults. This is achieved
via information and activities in areas of practice, research, legislation,
education, and practice within the continuum of care for the aged in their various
living situations. The PASIS facilitates these goals through: newsletters,
workshop presentations, internet contacts, direct communication with membership,
and liaisons with related external organizations.
MENTAL HEALTH
This section provides a forum for practitioners working in psychiatric hospitals,
community mental health centers, psychosocial clubhouses, home care, partial hospitals,
schools, residential centers, transitional programs, day treatment programs,
well elderly centers, employee assistance programs, and private practice. The MHSIS is
a resource and information network that invites practitioners to share information on
practice models, clinical education, legislative issues, payment systems, research,
state liaison, and recruitment and retention issues.
CHILDREN & YOUTH
This section is dedicated to addressing the needs of school-based practitioners providing
educationally related services to infants, preschoolers, children, and adolescents.
CYSIS promotes education, research, and legislation/policy making that will enhance practice
in the school systems and community. Members are informed of current legislation and practice
trends and are provided with networking and continuing education opportunities.
WORK & INDUSTRY
Work plays a significant role in the life of the individual. The WISIS supports occupational
therapy practitioners' issues and concerns in addressing the work transition continuum through
a wide variety of settings, including rehabilitation, occupational health, injury prevention
and wellness, mental health, gerontology, and physical or developmental disability. Information
provided includes practice, research, and legislation and covers traditional
and emerging delivery systems.
ACADEMIC EDUCATION
In the AESIS, education is viewed as a shared professional concern. Education is not only defined
as academic education, but continuing education, fieldwork education, patient education, and
lifelong learning. AESIS and its subsections and networks provide academicians, aspiring faculty,
fieldwork supervisors, clinicians, and students opportunities to discuss the many issues involved
in occupational therapy education. It also facilitates networking, continuing education opportunities,
and collegial support to help occupational therapy practitioners to be more effective educators and
provides a forum to address the art and science of learning at all levels.
HOME & COMMUNITY HEALTH
The HCHSIS provides a vehicle for exchange of information and experiences unique to this practice setting.
The HCHSIS provides and promotes continuing educational programs, maintains a resource network,
and provides a quarterly publication. Its members benefit from networking on special clinical considerations
and are advised on current legislative, regulatory, and employment issues. The HCHSIS will also consult
with academic programs on home health specific curriculums.
REHABILITATION & DISABILITY
Membership in the RDSIS provides a forum for networking with other professionals, promoting and
sharing information, and accessing clinical resources. The RDSIS also facilitates the development
of continuing education opportunities and professional development based on member needs. The section
serves those who treat populations with diverse physical disabilities, as well as those who treat a
specific diagnostic group. It has a designated Hand Subsection to meet the needs of clinicians who treat
hand problems as part of a physical disabilities population. The RDSIS strives to maintain the holistic
foundation based on functional activity that is unique to OT practice.
SENSORY INTEGRATION & PROCESSING
The SIPSIS offers leadership, resources, and information on sensory integration. It is an occupational
therapy theory and clinical tool based on both research and clinical practice. The theoretical foundation
and clinical applications utilize and acknowledge the relationship between sensory processing and human
adaptation and occupational performance. Sensory integration as a theoretical framework and treatment technique
is applied to a variety of disabilities and across the lifespan.