When Tamara Kittelson stepped into the role of Executive Director of the Clinician Task Force in January 2025, she brought with her more than 40 years of experience in occupational therapy, a lifetime of advocacy, and a deeply personal connection to the work. Kittelson’s professional and personal experiences have shaped her for this leadership role – one that she believes she is meant to fulfill at this moment of time. Let’s find out more about Kittelson’s professional journey, what motivates her, and where she hopes to lead the CTF in the years ahead.
From Montana to Minneapolis: Life in Motion
Kittelson has seen herself as an educator and advocate throughout her 50-year career as an Occupational Therapist. She served both children and adults with complex needs for nearly 40 years before relocating back to Minneapolis, where she was raised. When her daughter, Eleanore was born with cerebral palsy and profound deafness, everything shifted. She considers Eleanore as her greatest teacher.
Raising Eleanore sparked a deeper understanding and passion for specialization in seating, positioning, and mobility equipment for children. Kittelson earned her RESNA certifications (ATP/SMS) and became an Intermediate Wheelchair Provider through the International Society of Wheelchair Professionals. She is the founding chair of RESNA’s 24/7 Posture Care Management Special Interest Group. After decades in Montana, she returned to her hometown of Minneapolis in 2022, bringing her expertise and passion for advocacy with her to continue her occupational therapy career and passion projects.
Advocacy from the Ground Up: Eleanore’s Legacy
Kittelson is best known for founding Eleanore’s Project in 2004, named in honor of her daughter. The nonprofit promotes access to wheeled mobility and 24-hour posture care management for children in under -resourced areas – especially through ongoing work in Lima, Peru, in partnership with the organization Yancana Huasy.1
Universal Needs for CRT
Kittelson also leads Posture 24/7, where she consults internationally and recently co-authored the RESNA Position Paper on Assistive Technology for Lying Posture Care Management – a resource advocating for preventive strategies to reduce secondary complications in individuals with limited movement.2
Regardless of where her career has taken her, the mission is the same. The need for appropriate equipment and posture care is universal. Listening and mentoring remain the key to supporting and empowering families and clinicians.
New Geography, Same Mission
Though the urban diversity of Minneapolis differs from Montana’s rural health care landscape, Kittelson is energized by the community’s complexity and multicultural backgrounds. While needs and backgrounds may differ, the value of advocacy remains central. Kittelson believes diversity offers perspectives and opportunities to collaborate and think creatively, particularly for CRT access. She is proud of the mission and value that CTF brings to the industry.
Why CTF and Why Now?
As a CTF member for 17 years, Kittelson already understood the importance of the organization’s mission before stepping into leadership. Kittelson highlights the strength of the CTF as rooted in its members, the people – clinicians who bring deep expertise and real-world experience to their advocacy efforts. Whether educating others, shaping policy, or tackling local access challenges, members are actively engaged in driving meaningful change across the CRT landscape.
Recent examples include CTF members testifying before the Minnesota State Senate in support of funding for standing power wheelchairs, advocacy around Medicaid telehealth policy in Colorado and engagement in Right to Repair legislation in Washington state.
Looking Ahead: Growth, Engagement, and Representation
Kittelson and the Executive Board are focused on expanding CTF’s reach, both geographically and professionally. They are working to increase CTF representation from 40 states to all 50 states to expand their ability to advocate at local and state levels.
CTF continues to invest in:
- Workgroups that connect clinicians to policy and education efforts.
- Scholarship programs that support conference attendance and ongoing learning.
- Collaborations with organizations like iNRRTS, RESNA, and NCART.
- Recruitment and mentorship, including micro-volunteering opportunities for newer members.
Interested clinicians can read Kittleson’s recent call to action here and apply for membership on the CTF website.3,4
Off the Clock
When not advocating for posture care or leading a workgroup, Kittelson enjoys spending time with her husband and their dog. One will likely find her gardening and hiking during summer months. Kittelson recharges at weekly yoga classes and cross-country skis when there is enough snow.
She beams with pride when talking about her daughters. Her eldest daughter is earning her second master’s degree in social work. Her younger daughter is an accessibility specialist and improves mobile apps. Both are deeply engaged in work that reflects a shared family commitment to making a difference.
A Leader Who Listens
As CRT continues to evolve in an unpredictable healthcare landscape, Kittelson remains rooted in values shaped by decades of care and collaboration. Kittelson’s goal is clear: to build on the CTF’s mission, support the voices of clinicians, and help shape a more accessible CRT system for all.
References
- Eleanore’s Project. (2024). Our partners in Peru. Retrieved from https://www.eleanoresproject.org/peru
- Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America. (2025). RESNA position on assistive technology for lying posture care management. Retrieved from resna-position-on-assistive-technology-for-lying-posture-care-ma.pdf
- International Registry of Rehabilitation Technology Supplier. (April 23, 2025). Message from Tamara. Retrieved from https://nrrts.org/40738-2/
- Clinician Task Force. (2023). Become a member of the Clinician Task Force. Retrieved from https://www.cliniciantaskforce.us/become-a-member
Leslie Jackson may be reached at otrjackson@yahoo.com.
Leslie Jackson has served as an occupational therapist for over 25 years in various settings, including outpatient, acute care, home health, acute rehab, and a doctoral-level academic program. She currently leads the outpatient Seating and Mobility Clinic for Marion Health and serves as an occupational therapist for the VA. Jackson earned the ATP certification from RESNA in 2008 and is certified in ergonomics and LSVT BIG, a treatment protocol for individuals living with Parkinson’s Disease. She volunteers as an Executive Board member for the Services for the Visually and Hearing Impaired, a nonprofit organization providing assistive technology and education to its clients. Jackson is honored to contribute through the Clinician Task Force’s advocacy and educational initiatives.