Congress is currently shaping its budget for the year, which includes proposals that could make higher education less affordable for students pursuing both undergraduate and graduate degrees. These changes threaten to increase financial barriers for those entering essential professions like occupational therapy.

Take action today! Contact your Members of Congress and urge them to protect the programs that sustain and strengthen the occupational therapy workforce.

Aspiring occupational therapy professionals depend on Pell Grants and Grad Plus loans to help cover tuition costs and on loan repayment programs such as Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) and Income-Driven Repayment (IDR) to make their education financially feasible. At a time when the profession is already experiencing workforce shortages, cuts to these programs would have devastating consequences—limiting access to education, discouraging new professionals from entering the field, and exacerbating workforce gaps in critical healthcare settings.

Without these essential programs, the rising cost of education could deter talented individuals from pursuing careers in occupational therapy, ultimately reducing access to care for those who need it most.

Act now—contact your Members of Congress and urge them to support Pell Grants, Grad Plus Loans, IDR, and PSLF to ensure a strong, sustainable occupational therapy workforce!