Brenda (she/her/hers) is a 47-year-old bilingual occupational therapist providing services through the Committee on Preschool Special Education in a low-income area. Brenda chooses to live a sustainable lifestyle by using a reusable water bottle, minimizing her plastic consumption, using public transportation, and cooking with whole, plant-based and locally grown ingredients as often as possible. For occupational therapy sessions, Brenda uses re-cycled clothing, games, and materials for craft projects. Brenda also works to foster a human-nature connection in her students, by incorporating nature-based learning in multi-sensory ways. In addition to her efforts in her own life and in her job, Brenda advocates in her school district to reduce food waste, increase access to natural light and nature in learning, and follows sustainability and ecological developments from her state organization, AOTA, and WFOT.

Zoe (she/her) is a newly graduated occupational therapist in a post-acute care setting. She chose to work for this particular health company because of its commitment to sustainability. Vendors for this company must identify sustainable products to issue to its patients. Zoe likes that the company deals with diverse vendors such as: small businesses, women-owned businesses, minority-owned businesses and veteran-owned businesses. Zoe uses compostable splints with her patients, which can be reshaped multiple times during the healing process. As a new grad Zoe has the opportunity to work inpatient, outpatient or within the home health setting, as this company offers placement in each of these areas within the hospital.

Chris (she/her/hers) is an Occupational Therapist in a skilled nursing facility. She is committed to taking the subway to work each day to reduce her carbon footprint. She wears reusable clothing that is made from bottles diverted from oceans and landfills. Chris has each patient’s exercise program online. Chris stores her lunch in compostable baggies. She uses an eco-friendly water bottle from a company that gives back a small portion of its profits to environmental causes. She searches for company’s products are Climate Neutral Certified. Chris conferred with the kitchen manager and the administrator regarding transitioning to compostable dinnerware for its residents. Chris took a food systems class and works with the kitchen manager and chef on measuring food waste and finding ways to reuse and or repurpose excess food by donating to food rescue organizations.

Ron (he/him/his) is an African-American home health OT. He utilizes resources from his clients’ homes in therapy sessions, shops at second hand stores for supplemental equipment/materials, and posts home exercise programs and home modification recommendations online whenever possible. Ron completes documentation via electronic medical records software. He uses a hybrid approach with telemedicine and in-person treatment. Several of his clients, however, are not technology literate or do not have access to the internet (especially in rural areas). Ron drives a used hybrid vehicle for in-person visits. Ron is knowledgeable about loan closets for DME and educates his clients about these resources. Many of Ron’s clients are diagnosed with chronic diseases requiring education regarding lifestyle changes in the areas of diet, smoking cessation, stress reduction, and physical activity. Ron stresses the health benefits of transitioning to a plant-based diet, as well as the ecological benefits associated with reducing meat consumption. Ron introduces composting and gardening to many of his clients, citing advantages such as increased physical activity, decreased food costs, and increased engagement with family members. Ron also discusses with his clients the health benefits associated with spending time in nature such as improved mood and decreased stress. Ron advocates for sustainable practices in his home health agency by providing resources for other practitioners.

Janet (she/her/hers) is a home safety assessment/adaptation OT working out of her home. She gets her catalogues online, does all documentation and record-keeping on line to reduce paper use. She recycles old catalogues and removes her name from junk mail lists. She weighs the economic and environmental costs of re-using appliances or replacing them; when shopping for appliances, she shops at the Habitat ReStore for materials and appliances and instructs her clients to do the same. She installs modifications that can be adjusted as the client changes. She uses wood products certified as sustainable grown. She recommends installation of lights and other electrical devices that use less electricity. She evaluates homes virtually. She collaborates with other therapists to share information about clients who have unneeded durable medical equipment or who need durable medical equipment. She installs solar panels and insulates her home office and installs water-use reducing appliances.

Mary (she/her/hers) is a private practice OT. She has installed solar panels, insulated her home office, and installed appliances that reduce water usage. Her documentation and record-keeping is completed online, and she provides online home programs to reduce paper use. She recycles old catalogues and removes her name from junk mail lists. She collects, shreds, and recycles whatever paper she uses, reduces the use of single-use plastics, and recycles other materials. She uses throw-away materials, and shops at second-hand stores or craigslist to obtain small therapy items such as balls, weights, games, scissors and educates her clients to do the same. She collaborates with other therapists to share information about clients who need or have unneeded durable medical equipment. She provides treatment virtually when appropraite and includes sustainable living practices in ADL training. She advocates with her local government to implement sustainable policies and instructs her clients in self-advocacy.

John (he/him/his) is a hand OT working at a rehab center. He gets his catalogues online, does all documentation online and keeps records online to reduce paper use. He recycles old catalogs and gets taken off of junk mail lists. He keeps all records and provides home exercise programs online. He performs treatment virtually whenever possible. He performs research to develop effective splints that use alternative materials to thermoplastics (woodcast, paper, plaster/3 d printer material) or that reduce the use of thermoplastics and that can be modified as client needs change. He uses such devices in his practice and advocates for their use with his colleagues. He educates physicians about the benefits of such devices. He shops at second hand stores or craigslist or fabricates using throw away materials to obtain small therapy items such as balls, weights, games, scissors and educates his clients to do the same. He shops at fair trade websites to obtain creams and lotions. He sets up a therapist pool for sharing scraps/ thermoplastics/tools. He advocates with facility management to consider sustainability in facility management issues such as heating, cooling, purchase of bulk materials such as toilet paper and environmentally friendly cleaning products.

Bob (he/him/his) is an OT professor. He assigns ebook texts and teaches virtually as appropriate, using video to observe and evaluate students during labs. He gives exams online and requires assignment submission online. He performs and publishes research on best practices for delivery of treatment using sustainable means and encourages students to do the same. He collects, shreds and recycles whatever paper he uses, limits single-use plastics and recycles other materials. He lobbies with academic councils to include sustainability in OT teaching curricula. To address community standards, Bob advocates for sustainability in faculty management issues. Bob advocates for management of heating, cooling, and purchase of bulk materials such as toilet paper and environmentally friendly cleaning products.

John (they/them/their) is a 25 year-old certified occupational therapy assistant (COTA) working in an in-patient psychiatric hospital. John makes the personal decision to wear thrifted clothing, ride their bike to work, and support small businesses in their area when they are making purchases. At work, John brings food that does not need to be eaten with plastic silverware and wraps their sandwiches in beeswax wraps. John also engages residents in working on a hospital-based whole-food garden, watering plants around the facility, and taking nature-walks early in the morning for light exposure as much as possible. John advocates for change at a higher level by proposing methods to reduce material waste and organizing food donation from the community garden.

Ron (he/him/his) is an occupational therapist who works in both skilled nursing and academic settings. He is known for being a staunch advocate for the OT profession. One of his primary hobbies is to organize TEDxCountdown events, a TEDx event type that exclusively focuses on climate change and sustainability topics. When COVID was affecting the world, Ron was aware that TEDx event teams around the world were organizing virtual events. He was cautiously optimistic about the idea. So, he performed an extensive needs assessment. This needs assessment included attending virtual TEDx events he could attend in his free time as well as seeking mentorship from experienced TEDx organizers. When he realized organizing virtual events could be within his budget if it were to fail, Ron recruited a few of his co-workers from his academic job to support the essential roles for his TEDxCountdown events- speaker recruitment and coaching, video editing, graphics designing, fundraising, and event planning. As the licensee for these TEDxCountdown events, Ron is responsible for ensuring all components meet TED guidelines, uploading all speaker videos once each event is completed, and submitting new event applications each year.