Advocacy in Pelvic Health: OT CEU Course with Carlin Reaume, Lindsey Vestal and Alyson Stover

In a rapidly changing world, we as OT professionals need collective mobilization like never before. But, it feels like our systems of advocacy are all underfunded and difficult to navigate. Against this backdrop, which can feel discouraging, I think it is critical to shine the light on what I consider one of the greatest OT triumphs of the past decade:
The breakthrough of OTs into pelvic health.
This is a story of grassroots organization, individual thought-leadership, Facebook groups, podcasts, phone calls, and ultimately collaboration on the individual, state and national level.
We are thrilled to have 3 leaders from this movement, Alyson Stover, Carlin Reaume and Lindsey Vestal. Each has played a unique role in this movement and are here to share what they’ve learned from the wins and fails along the way. Ultimately, we hope this story and conversation helps you reflect on your role in advocacy in this new era.
Learn more about our host Carlin Reaume, OTD, OTR/L, DipACLM, PMH-C, PCES: otpotential.com/occupational-...
Learn more about our guest Lindsey Vestal, OTR/L: otpotential.com/occupational-...
Learn more about our guest Alyson Stover, MOT, JD, OTR/L, BCP: otpotential.com/occupational-...
Join the OT Potential Club to take a quiz to earn your 1 hour occupational therapy continuing education unit (AOTA-approved): otpotential.com/ot-potential-...
Website and Social:
Episode page: otpotential.com/ceu-podcast-c...
Podcast page: otpotential.com/ceu-podcast-c...
Linked In: / otpotential
Pelvic floor therapy near me: otpotential.com/blog/pelvic-h...
Episode article:
Pelvic floor dysfunction after childbirth: Occupational impact and awareness of available treatment. journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/...
Timestamps:
00:00:00 Intro
00:04:13 Intro to Alyson Stover and Lindsey Vestal
00:07:45 Alyson's vision for OT in Pelvic Health
00:15:21 Why this practice area has taken off
00:17:44 Lindsey reflections and advice on being a trailblazer
00:22:44 Carlin's reflection and advice on state-level advocacy
00:26:21 Alyson's reflection and advice on federal-level advocacy
00:32:52 How do grassroots movements get started?
00:36:35 How do state level position paper's get off the ground
00:40:05 Pros and cons of state-level position papers
00:42:46 Current landscape of national movement around pelvic health
00:48:27 Why was OT was not included in H.R. 2480 Optimizing Postpartum Outcomes Act of 2023
00:51:47 Hopes for OT advocacy (pelvic health or broader) in the next 5 years
00:56:10 Simplest steps that someone could take TODAY, to become a better OT advocate