History & Mission

Mission
The mission of the Network is to create the means for members of the occupational therapy professional community who are committed to advancing understanding of sexual orientation issues to identify, support and mentor one another and to promote research in occupational therapy.

History
The Network began in 1992 at the Houston AOTA conference, when a small group of occupational therapists met to discuss related concerns.  Subsequently, regional groups were organized, and the Network membership grew rapidly.  There were 60 people at the 1st annual Network meeting in Seattle in 1993, where officers were elected and By-Laws formed.  The following year was the CAN/AM conference in Boston and there were 120 members in attendance, with a large and continuing group of members from Canada.  We have held membership meetings at AOTA conference every year since, in addition to regular regional chapter meetings (New England).  We now have a steady membership of about 350, with members from four foreign countries.