Beginning July 1, 2026, the American Journal of Occupational Therapy (AJOT)--the flagship research publication of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA)—will move to the Sage Journals digital platform. The transition strengthens the reader experience, expands the visibility of occupational therapy scholarship, and positions the journal for continued growth.
While the platform may have changed, AJOT’s mission to publish peer-reviewed research examining the effectiveness and efficiency of occupational therapy practice remains the same.
Throughout its history, AOTA has provided resources and evidence that inform occupational therapy practice. For eight decades, AJOT has played a central role in that mission, serving as a trusted source of peer-reviewed research that supports practitioners, educators, students, and researchers.
AJOT will continue to be AOTA's official peer-reviewed research journal, and AOTA and the journal's editorial leadership will continue to maintain full editorial oversight. Members will also continue to access AJOT through their existing AOTA login, and authors will submit manuscripts through the same ScholarOne system used today.
With AJOT joining the Sage Journals platform, readers will find the journal alongside several of the profession's leading periodicals, including those representing occupational therapy communities in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, and beyond. This shared platform will make it easier to discover related research, explore global perspectives, and stay current on developments across the profession. As occupational therapy continues to grow and evolve worldwide, this interconnected research environment can help foster collaboration, knowledge sharing, and innovation across borders.
In addition, AJOT’s presence on the Sage Journals platform will improve article discoverability, helping users to find relevant content and to connect related research more efficiently. AJOT will also have the opportunity to explore future enhancements that will enrich readers’ experience, including multimedia features that bring research to life in new ways.
AOTA members will continue to enjoy free access to the Australian Occupational Therapy Journal, the British Journal of Occupational Therapy, and the Canadian Journal of Occupational Therapy. Members will also continue to receive discounts on subscriptions to OTJR: Occupational Therapy Journal of Research.
To help introduce members and nonmembers to the new platform, Sage will temporarily make AJOT content openly available through August 31, 2026. This limited-time access provides an opportunity for occupational therapy professionals, students, researchers, educators, and others interested in the profession to experience the depth and quality of research available through AJOT.
AJOT continues to showcase the evidence that advances occupational therapy and improves lives. The temporary open-access period also highlights one of the many benefits of AOTA membership: Ongoing access to AJOT and additional peer-reviewed journals that support evidence-based practice and lifelong learning.
American Journal of Occupational Therapy
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