In 2012, the House of Delegates of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) adopted a motion (HOD P06-00-24-35) to revise the current APTA Vision for Physical Therapy 2020. As part of the goal of modifying the vision to reflect the commitment of physical therapists to society beyond 2020, the APTA Board of Directors formed the Vision Task Force. As members of the Task Force, we undertook the task of crafting an inspiring vision statement that would capture the unique contributions and values of physical therapists, and that could serve as the touchstone for the strategic planning process to accomplish the goals physical therapists aspire to achieve for society into the 21st century. With this in mind, input was gathered from members, component leaders, and stakeholders.

Drawing on the guidance of an external consultant with expertise in strategic planning, the Task Force explored our profession's current and future context and analyzed strategic issues and opportunities. The Task Force identified the following key themes that emerged from the input of members, component leaders, and stakeholders:

Evidence-based practice; Variations in practice; Health, wellness, and prevention; Technology & research; Collaborative practice; Reimbursement; Doctors of physical therapy/lifelong learning; Physical therapist assistants; Human movement and performance experts/specialists across the lifespan; Cultural competence; Alternative practice models; Access to care; Increased public awareness

These key themes were consolidated into unifying, supporting elements that the Task Force intended to weave into the proposed vision: Quality, Collaboration, Value, Innovation, Consumer/Centricity, Access/Equity, and Advocacy. Over multiple meetings and conference calls, the process culminated in the following proposed vision statement, which was accepted with modifications by the APTA Board of Directors in November 2012 and will be forwarded to the 2013 APTA House of Delegates for their consideration.

The physical therapy profession will transform society by optimizing movement for all people of all ages to improve the human experience.

While this is the proposed vision for the physical therapy profession, it is meant to inspire members of society at large, so that we might together create systems that optimize movement and function for everyone across their entire lifetimes. The next step in the process is approval by the 2013 House of Delegates. The Task Force encourages members to visit the APTA's Vision Web page at http://www.apta.org/BeyondVision2020 to read more about the proposed vision, the supporting elements, and the background information that was considered during the development of the proposed vision. Any of the members of the Vision Task Force (listed below) would be pleased to discuss the proposed vision, the supporting elements, or any aspects of the process. We hope you will reflect on these proposals, discuss them with your colleagues, and share your thoughts about them with your chapter delegates who will be voting on the proposed new vision at the annual meeting of the House of Delegates.

Vision Task Force Members

William McGehee, PT, MHS, Chair, Board of Directors (IL)

Patricia Brick, PT, MS, GCS (N)

E. Scott Euype, PT, DPT, OCS (OH)

Edelle Field-Fote, PT, PhD (FL)

Pauline Flesch, PT, MPS (IN)

Charles Gulas, PT, PhD, GCS (MO)

Colleen Kigin, PT, DPT, MS, MPA, FAPTA (MA)

Tasha MacIlveen, PT, DPT, CSCS (OR)

Lisa Saladin, PT, PhD (SC)

Staff Liaison: Janet Bezner, PT, PhD

External Consultant: Marsha Rhea, CAE