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Working today towards a better tomorrow, one body one profession one people one destiny
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OUR PROJECTS
MAKING A DIFFERENCE ONE STEP AT A TIME
DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION (DEI)
DEI is acronym for Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion. DEI fights for Diversity in representation of interests; Equity (fairness) in treating these interests; and Including these interests in final decisions and policies. DEI energizes all interests to live and grow as one body one profession one people one destiny. DEI is the basis of democratic representative government or organization, where few people are elected to represent, protect, and advance a group's interest with fairness and understanding in an inclusive manner. DEI fosters progress, dialogues, inventions, creativity, and ingenuity. Through our DEI Program, we have the potential to make a real positive change in the community we live and work in Arkansas. This is one of our key areas of focus here at AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PHYSICAL THERAPY ARKANSAS (AAPTAR).
For more information, please click the link below: https://acapt.org/resources/diversity-equity-inclusion
DEI
THE LITTLE ROCK NINE THAT CHANGED AMERICA'S INTEGRATION FIGHT WITH DEI
BRIDGE PROGRAMS
THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PHYSICAL THERAPY ARKANSAS (AAPTAR) advocates creating Physical and Occupational Therapy bridge program between majority white and Historically Black colleges/universities (HBCUs) in Arkansas, just like the Med Track program between University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS), Philander Smith College, and University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. For more information: https://news.uams.edu/2020/07/27/uams-hbcus-partner-to-increase-minorities-in-health-care-address-health-disparities-physician-shortages/
Article on how majority white educational institutions can work with minority institutions for increased campus diversity: https://www.diverseeducation.com/institutions/hbcus/article/15106847/inclusive-excellence-now-and-forever-how-predominately-white-institutions-of-higher-education-can-keep-their-promise-to-students-of-color
OUTREACH PROGRAM
ADVOCATING CHANGES TO ADMISSION PROCESS
THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PHYSICAL THERAPY ARKANSAS (AAPTAR) advocates reviewing and revising the current Intelligence Quotient (IQ) based admission process to more HOLISTIC approach where IQ and Emotional Quotient (EQ) are equally weighted. If the goal of educational institutions is to produce successful entrepreneurs, then IQ has a terrible track record of producing such people. In fact, Albert Einstein should be the richest and most successful man on earth, if IQ was a predictor of success and wealth. Instead, we hear of Jeff Bezos of Amazon, Elon Musk of Tesla, Sam Walton of Walmart, Warren Buffet of Hathaway, and college dropouts who are successful millionaires and billionaires. What is common to most of these successful people is high emotional quotient (EQ). These people went from one adversity to another and never gave up. A tree that withstands very strong wind grows up to become a very resilient strong tree. For more information, please click this link: https://shhs.iupui.edu/graduate-professional/physical-therapy/doctor-physical-therapy/admissions/holistic-admissions.html
SCHOLARSHIPS, TUTORALS, AND MENTORSHIPS
Students need full ride scholarships, not just scholarships in their final years. They also need minority mentors and tutors throughtout schooling years. Physical and Occupational Therapy programs are very difficult programs and students need all the support they can get. New graduates also need mentorships to navigate the profession. Pre-Physical Therapy students also need life enrichment programs.
Physical Therapy Enrichment Experience/Mentorship: https://www.truman.edu/majors-programs/majors-minors/pre-physical-therapy-studies/pre-pt-studies-extracurricular/ and http://publichealth.buffalo.edu/rehabilitation-science/education/doctor-of-physical-therapy-dpt/course-descriptions.html, and https://blog.collegevine.com/how-to-become-a-physical-therapist-steps-to-take-from-high-school/
Physical Therapy Academic Scholarships: https://onlinephysicaltherapyprograms.com/scholarships/
Dr. Lynda D. Woodruff Physical Therapy grant program: https://www.ptlearninginstitute.com/lynda
Student Mentorship: https://ptsolutions.com/join-us/careers/mentorship/
RESEARCH AND COMMUNITY EDUCATION
Tackling the Issue
We see every challenge as an opportunity, and this initiative helps us ensure that our communities are better prepared to manage the unique situations they find themselves in. We are invested in an innovative research and community education approach that empowers our community and delivers the support they need. AAPT RESEARCH training program updates: http://www.aaptnet.org/research-updates
IMPROVING MINORITY PARTICIPATION IN PHYSICAL THERAPY
APTA should develop bridge and outreach programs in minority communities and schools. Also, educational institutions should hire and retain minority educators and administrators.
Case for Increased Minority in Physical Therapy: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2452301120300572
https://evidenceinmotion.com/bridging-the-pt-diversity-gap/
STUDENT CLINICAL EDUCATION IN MINORITY SETTINGS
AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PHYSICAL THERAPY ARKANSAS (AAPTAR) advocates for at least one clinical rotation in the Physical Therapy programs be performed in minority owned settings to expose students to minority culture. To achieve this goal, APTA should review and revise the clinical education site accreditation requirements to increase minority physical therapists participation in clinical education without lowering the standards. APTA should build bridge programs with minority clinicians for mentorship and recruitments.
AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PHYSICAL THERAPY ARKANSAS (AAPTAR) is an anti-racism nonprofit organization which advocates anti-racism in all workplaces and the communities we live and work in. What is the difference between a non racist and an anti racist person? The difference between the two is similar to the difference between a peace maker and a peace lover. A peace lover is a passive person who enjoys peace without getting involved to create peace, while a peace maker is an active person who puts him/her self on the line to create peace. Where there is violence, a peace maker will get involved to stop the violence, while a peace lover just love a violence free environment. A peace maker is a change maker. Similarly, a non racist is a passive person who does not engage in racist behavior or activities but will not get involved to stop racist behavior or activities, while an anti-racist is someone who actively gets involved to create an environment where racism does not exist. Anti-racist will actively intervene in a racist situation to dismantle the racist activities or behaviors. Slavery ended only when the anti slavery organizations actively got involved. It is not enough to be non racist, be anti racist and become a change maker.
