Professional Issues • 259those with disabilities and for older adults (see Chapters 8 and 9). In 1979, the creative arts
therapies obtained federal civil service job classifications. In 1980, they were noted in the
Senate and House Report (96-712) on the Mental Health Systems Act. In 1993, art ther-
apy was included in the Report of the Panel on Mind/Body Interventions for the National
Institutes of Health (NIH) Office of Alternative Medicine.
In 2008 the presidents (F) of a l l of t he associat ions t hat a re pa r t of NCCATA (a r t, d ra ma,
dance, music, poetry, and psychodrama) met in Washington, DC on Hill Day, presenting
information to members of the House and the Senate regarding the creative arts thera-
pies, both collectively (G) and individually (H). In 2009, NCCATA participated in Arts
Advocacy Day.
Communication with other art therapists in all geographic areas was greatly facilitated
by the establishment within AATA of local affiliate chapters in 1982, an effort spearheaded
by Don Cutcher of Ohio, where the Buckeye Art Therapy Association was formed years
before the national one. The need for communication and representation finally overcame
the complications of modifying local bylaws.
These groups can now become chapters by meeting relevant criteria. Each chapter sends
delegates to an annual Assembly of Affiliate Societies, which then elects a Speaker, who sits
on the AATA board of directors. These regional organizations throughout the country, over
30 of them, provide a network for sharing local political information, as well as the ability
to respond rapidly when necessary.
Public and Professional Awareness
Art therapy has often been in the fortunate position of having friends in the right place
at the right time (DVD 11.6). These allies in key positions have made possible a number
of significant events that have been critical in the rapid growth of the profession in the
Figure 11.13 Senator Clinton viewing client art.