Monika I Robinson, DrOT, OTR/L

Dr. Robinson has been an occupational therapist for approximately 40 years and has focused primarily on the role of occupational therapy within the community. Her aim is to serve vulnerable communities that face barriers to meaningful participation within their own homes and communities. Majority of her professional involvement has been as a practitioner working alongside community members, whether that has been at an out-patient clinic,  home health setting or at non-profit organizations. In addition, advocacy has been a significant part of her professional service, taking on the role as the Illinois Occupational Therapy Political Action Committee chairperson, initiating the development of a coalition that led to the passage of the Illinois Habilitation Services for Children Act (215 ILCS 5/356z.15) and local state activism to promote access to occupational therapy services for Medicaid recipients as the co-chair for the Illinois Occupational Therapy Association Home & Community Health Special Interest Secion. Continued professional activities in the home and community involved beginning a small private practice that focused on the increasing participation in the home and community via home modifications and collaboration with outside community organizations.

Over nearly the last ten years, she has practiced in academia and has continued these efforts through scholarly endeavors that include researching and working with populations experiencing homelessness, older adults facing ageism, and promoting access to our state's Medicaid Home and Community-based Service Waiver for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Her faculty position at Midwestern University's Occupational Therapy Department as a Director of Capstone Development has afforded her the opportunity to promote and support students' development of their individual capstone projects that lead to innovative and non-traditional services within community-based and traditional practice settings. Overseeing the capstone process fuels her commitment and excitement of what the occupational therapy profession can offer for our students as future practitioners. Witnessing students’ growth in self-efficacy, creativity and leadership skills by developing new roles and services at capstone sites provides new opportunities for the occupational therapy profession to demonstrate their effectiveness of novel and evidence-based practices.