Japanese Association of Occupational Therapists“The Third Five Year Strategy for Occupational Therapy (2018-2022)”

1.

BackgroundIn 1985, the Japanese Association of Occupational Therapists (hereafter, JAOT) announced its
very first long-term action plan “The 1st Long-term Action Plan”, and since then, JAOT
formulated “The 2nd Long-term Action Plan” in 1991 and “The 3rd Long-term Action Plan” in
2001. When “The 3rd Long-term Action Plan (2001–2010)” was revised in 2006, it was decided
that the next plan needed to be shortened from ten years (long-term) to five years (mid-term) tokeep up with the rapidly changing medical system, insurance system, and health states ofpeople in our country. In 2008, “The Five Year Strategy for Occupational Therapy (2008-2012)”
consisting of 144 targeted actions was developed. Launched under the slogan “promotion ofcommunity life support, occupational therapy Go Go” (go also means five in Japanese) it aimed
to create a shift between fields of practice with reducing the ratio of occupational therapists in
hospital environments to half and increasing the number of occupational therapists in thecommunity, which includes health, welfare, and education, to make up the other half. This wasthen followed by announcement of “The Second Five Year Strategy for Occupational Therapy(2013–2017)” with 86 targeted actions.

2.

Structure of the strategy
For the current 5 years, JAOT aims to achieve “Contribution to Integrated Community CareSystem”. This strategy consists of 53 targeted actions. Among them, priority items to beaddressed are, "promotion of utilization of occupational therapy in regional-based
comprehensive care toward realization of symbiotic society" and "training of occupational
therapists who contribute to development of symbiotic communities". After 3 years ofimplementation, the strategy will be reviewed to examine the progress of each target action andchanges will be made as necessary.

3.

Targeted Actions*Newly set strategies*Continuing strategies from “The Second Five Year Strategy for Occupational Therapy”

1). Project on the academic development of occupational therapy○Standards on specialized clinical practice of occupational therapy(1).

Publishing a new “Occupational Therapy Guideline (2018)” integrating the contents of“Occupational Therapy Guideline” and “Practice Guidance for Occupational Therapy

1Guideline” (New).
(2).

Proposing a revised “Definition of Occupational Therapy” at the general assembly in 2018
(New).

(3).

Examining the conventional methods of accumulation, analysis and application of casestudies and Management Tool for Daily Life Program (MTDLP) case studies, and proposing a
new direction for academic use of these case studies (New).

〇 Planning and organization of the National Occupational Therapy Congress & Expo
(4).

Proposing a concept for the annual Occupational Therapy Congress & Expo by examining itfrom globalization, specialization, and multi-disciplinary points of view (Continuing).

〇 Publication and collection of scholarly resources(5).

Analyzing the results and evidence of MTDLP and reflecting it in the MTDLP manual andguidelines (Continuing).

〇Academic journals and journal award(6).

Strengthening the review and editorial system of the Asian Journal of Occupational Therapy(Continuing).

〇Other relevant academic activities(7).

Improving and implementation in practice of JAOT’s academic research structure (New).

2). Project on the skill development of Occupational Therapists〇 System and standards of Occupational Therapy education(8).

Publishing and promoting the revised “Occupational Therapy Educational Guideline” and“Occupational Therapy Clinical Training Guidance” (Continuing).

(9).

Developing an educator training program (including MTDLP promotion) and holdingworkshops that corresponds to regulations such as the revised Designation Regulations for
Educational Institutions (New).

(10). Developing a training program (including MTDLP promotion) for practice placement
supervisors and holding workshops that correspond to regulations such as the revised
Designation Regulations for Educational Institutions (New).
(11). Establishing an “Occupational Therapy School Network (tentative)” aligned to the revised
Designated Regulations for Educational Institutions (New).
(12). Trialing “Objective Structured Clinical Examination” (New).
(13). Publishing the revised “Occupational Therapy White-Paper” (New).
(14). Exploring measures to develop Occupational Therapy educational standards that meet2

international standards (New).
〇Operation of continuing education system(15). Proposing a “Continuing Education Guideline (Career Pathway)” (New).
(16). Expanding partnerships with existing graduate programs in order to nurture specialized
occupational therapists (Continuing).
(17). Completing the third phase of continuing education system development, includingIT-digitalizing registration-system for continuing education credits (Continuing).
(18). Examining and implementing e-learning seminars (New).
〇Other relevant undergraduate and continuing education(19). Developing occupational therapists with ability to work globally (Continuing).
(20). Proposing measures to support exchange programs between occupational therapy schools in
Asian countries (New).

3). Project on promoting the best use of occupational therapy〇Integrated Community Care System(21). Proposing strategies to nurture community occupational therapists who can work not only in
integrated medical and long-term elderly care, but also with children and adults withdisabilities (New).
(22). Proposing assessment tools and intervention methods appropriate to different levels ofdementia in order to promote the role of occupational therapy in the integrated community
care system (New).
(23). Indicating the application of MTDLP in prevention services and promoting its use as careprevention for elderly (Continuing).
(24). Proposing measures to promote Occupational Therapists involvement in care prevention anddaily life support services (comprehensive support project) conducted by municipalities(New).
(25). Proposing a future-plan for Occupational Therapy in the Integrated Community Care System
for mental health care from academic points of view in order to contribute (New).
〇Occupational therapy in the area of health and welfare(26). Proposing evidence of effectiveness and role of occupational therapy (therapist) in the area ofwelfare of persons with disabilities (Continuing).
(27). Presenting the outcomes and support model(s) of employment support provided byoccupational therapists, and enhancing interaction with other professions and organizations(Continuing).

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(28). Promoting the role of occupational therapists in government policy making such as Integrated
Community Care, Comprehensive Support Project, and Mother and Child Health, andstrengthening the collaboration between JAOT and occupational therapists working in theareas of health and welfare (New).
〇Occupational therapy in legal systems of children and adults with disabilities(29). Proposing a measure to facilitate the placement of occupational therapists in welfare service
within Child Welfare Act and Comprehensive Supports for Persons with Disabilities Act(Continuing).
〇Occupational therapy in education for children with special needs(30). Analyzing the present state, fostering human resource, and proposing a measure to promote
occupational therapy for children with special needs enrolled in mainstream schools(Continuing).
〇Assistive equipment and home modification by occupational therapy(31). Promoting the use of Counselling and Support System for Welfare Equipment (Continuing)(32). Fostering the promotion of rental business of IT devices according the trends in the assistive
devices payment system of Comprehensive Supports for Persons with Disabilities Act(Continuing).
(33). Fostering occupational therapists with expertise in home modification (Continuing).
(34). Fostering research, and development of assistive devices, and promotion of their use (assistivetechnology, self-help equipment, orthosis, robot, etc.) (Continuing).
〇Others related to health systems and health and welfare fields(35). Strengthening collaboration with relevant organizations, including client interest groups,
when making a proposal for system reform (Continuing).
(36). Contributing to Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games by collaborating with relevant organizations(New).

4). Projects on fostering and promotion of occupational therapy〇Promotion of occupational therapy towards the general public(37). Improving the contents of JAOT’s website (Japanese and English) appropriate to the generalpublic (Continuing).
(38). Further promotion of MTDLP through PR towards the general public (Continuing).
(39). Examining and implementing PR towards relevant professions and the general public(Continuing).
(40). Examining and implementing new methods for monitoring JAOT’s website contents by JAOT
members (Continuing).
(41). Advocate the current state of Japan’s occupational therapy and activities of JAOT towards the4general public domestically and internationally (New).

5). Projects on affiliation and exchange with relevant organizations domestically andinternationally〇International affairs such as academic exchange, seminars, and educational support(42). Aim to host the Asia Pacific Occupational Therapy Congress in 2024 (New).
(43). Promote collaboration with occupational therapy associations in East Asian countries(Continuing).
(44). Discuss and propose strategies that contribute to the development of occupational therapy inAsia (New).

6). Projects for survivors of major disasters to promote their independent living〇Projects to create support system in preparation for the major disasters(45). Ongoing improvement of support system including information exchange in anticipation ofmajor disasters (Continuing).
〇Other disaster related preparations(46). Compile the records of JAOT’s disaster relief activities and disseminate to JAOT members
and the general public domestically and internationally (New).

7). Projects on management and governance of JAOT
〇JAOT’s corporate affairs(47). Proposing the concept of JAOT reorganization aimed at more efficient and effective
secretariat functions, and implementing its reorganization plan in stages.
(48). Improving institutional environment to meet criteria for being authorized as a Public Interest
Incorporated Association (Continuing).
〇Planning and coordinating activities of JAOT
(49). Making detailed proposals for model project(s) in high priority occupational therapy areas,such as product development and health and home care, and social welfare services, which areconsidered as contributing to the sound expansion of work fields for occupational therapists
and areas for further advancement by JAOT (Continuing).
(50). Empowering female members’ participation in JAOT activities (Continuing).
〇JAOT’s information administration and management(51). Integrating and renovating JAOT’s core computer system for better usability by JAOTmembers and achieving more effective secretariat functions (New).

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(52). Utilizing notification and e-mail tools to provide the latest information to JAOT members andimplementing monitoring strategies (New).
(53). Aiming for the realization of “JAOT members = prefectural association members” (New).

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