Where Are the PTA Authors?
During my education in school as a PTA we did not use any books authored by PTAs. Why not?
There weren't any available. But the athletic trainer book was more acceptable than one written by a therapist. Imagine that.
I am sure there are PTAs who enjoy writing, just look at ADVANCE magazine and there are articles written by assistants. More of us need to take this a step further and write a book.
I did. Well, not exactly. I wrote about two chapters of an assessment book and pitched it to a high profile company that specializes in therapy books. I was sent a notice that they were not interested until enrollment increases in the PTA programs. Fair enough. Other publishers did not even bother to respond.
Since that time I have seen several books written by PTs for PTAs. Perhaps my ideas were not what they were looking for at that time. Maybe there is a PTA who could deliver a book that publishers are looking for.
I know PTAs have written books. These books should be available to every PTA program for them to use either in class or as a reference. (This is where I could have shamelessly plugged my own book of therapy if I had bothered to finish it, instead I will plug my poetry book.)
The bottom line for PTAs is to get out there and write, research, educate and encourage one another about our profession. And for those PTAs that are currently doing this, please continue, we need you.