By signing this petition, I declare that I support and advocate for the formation of the Alabama Student Special Interest Group.

Alabama physical therapy students need a means to connect with students from across the state -- a means to share ideas, make meaningful connections, vocalize their opinions about the important issues, and harness their collective passion to help transform the trajectory of physical therapy locally and nationally. I believe that creating a Student Special Interest Group (SSIG) is a way to meet this need. I propose that a Student SIG be established in Alabama to provide students with an avenue to become more involved and invested in our profession locally and have a representative body to advocate for student interests.

So what exactly is a Student Special Interest Group?

The Alabama Student Special Interest Group (SSIG) is an organization within the Alabama Physical Therapy Association (ALAPTA) run by current Alabama PT and PTA students. This SSIG will provide a platform for students to meet, share ideas, and promote interests regarding the field of physical therapy, the ALAPTA, and the APTA.

The goal of the Alabama SSIG is to support SPTs and SPTAs by creating opportunities for academic enrichment, professional advocacy, and clinical skills development. In addition, the SSIG will represent the interests of students in the official decision-making bodies of the ALAPTA.

As a member of the SSIG, students will have the opportunity to expand their professional network to include potential employers and leaders within the field of physical therapy by attending guest lectures, webinars, conferences, and state-wide events hosted by the SSIG. Members will also be provided with opportunities for professional mentorship, travel scholarships, and participation in community service events through programs sponsored by the SSIG.

What a SSIG can do

Many other states with established SSIGs find that they are a great way to get students more involved professionally and to give students the resources they need to take their PT career in any direction they want. Some examples of things that other states are doing: Georgia holds a "House Cup" where schools within their state compete in a sports competition to raise money for students to go to conferences, Illinois holds an annual Graham session (series of forums for debate and discussion) to address meaningful issues in PT, Massachusetts volunteers for their state Special Olympics, and Louisiana holds a fundraiser to send students to the House of Delegates.

Who can join?

You must be a member of the APTA and ALAPTA in order to be eligible for membership in the AL SSIG. However, becoming a member of the AL SSIG comes with no additional fees and all events are optional. Although attendance at events is optional, the more students participating, the better our SSIG will be!

Next Steps

If this sounds like something you would like to see implemented in Alabama, please sign this petition with your name, school, and APTA member number, which you can find online under the “My Profile” tab when you sign in on apta.org by clicking here. We ask that you please take the time to fill out our survey; this will help us tailor the SSIG specifically to your interests so we can create a successful organization that meets students' needs.