Advocacy remains a cornerstone of strengthening Occupational Therapy’s visibility, recognition, and impact across Europe. In the recent Coffee with COTEC session held on the 9th December 2025, representatives from Member Associations shared experiences, best practices, and ongoing challenges in advocating for the profession across diverse contexts.
A recurring message across contributions was the importance of solution-oriented advocacy. Rather than positioning Occupational Therapy solely through unmet needs or system gaps, participants highlighted the effectiveness of presenting policymakers with concrete, feasible solutions—often described as “gift packages.” This approach reframes occupational therapists as collaborative partners who actively support political and administrative decision-making, increasing receptiveness and trust.
Several members emphasised the power of alliances and cross-sector partnerships. Whether working alongside other professional unions, patient organisations, NGOs, or rehabilitation forums, collective advocacy was considered essential to gaining political traction. Examples included joint responses to education reforms, disability policy frameworks, welfare technology strategies, and primary care agendas. Crucially, advocacy efforts were most effective when grounded in real-life examples and practice-based evidence. Associations from countries with emerging occupational therapy professions noted that written arguments alone often fail to convince decision-makers. Instead, visible pilot projects, demonstrated outcomes, and lived examples of Occupational Therapy’s added value were identified as key drivers for recognition—particularly in inclusive education, early intervention, and follow-up care systems.
Despite inspiring examples, the discussion also covered structural barriers. Smaller associations described limited workforce numbers, lack of legal recognition, and unstable political environments as significant constraints on advocacy efforts. Others highlighted a paradoxical challenge: successful advocacy has led to increased demand for occupational therapists, yet there is not a sufficient workforce to meet system needs.
The session concluded with reflections on future Coffee with COTEC topics. Thank you to those that joined us during the three sessions held during 2025 and kept the discussion going. We look forward to more discussions in the coming year.
