42 years working as and OTA, all but one year in the state of Va. From 2017-2019 my mother who had Alzheimer's was cared for by my husband and I . If this proposed regulation were to have been in regulation I would have felt I was being unnecessarily punished for taking the time off of my career to be with and take care of my dearest mother whom we so loved. 

42 years ago I had taken and passed the national examination to certify that I was qualified to use the tile of Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant. I perhaps learned a 1/4 of what I needed to begin my career while attending the community college program. During the course of 42 active years of practice ( and still practicing) I have volumes, and volumes, of "hands on", real life experiences and knowledge that has made remarkable difference for my clients, their family and myself. These volumes of learning could never be replicated by retaking a knowledge only based test.

When my 2 ( now grown) children were young and they would come to me with a problem they were having with one another I would say to them " be part of the solution, not part of the problem. Surely, the Virginia Board of Medicine in unison with AOTA/VOTA can work together to a feasible and appropriate solution.

I am writing to express my concerns about the proposal to amend the OT regulations to Inactive licensure and Reinstatement.

Thank you for your consideration,

Mary Ellen Chesney, OTA/L