Diversity, equity, and inclusion in OT
The American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) is leading the profession to be more diverse, equitable, and inclusive through its commitment to developing DEI resources and tools to strengthen occupational therapy practitioners' contribution to a healthy and engaged community.
Diversity, equity, and inclusion toolkit
Diversity, equity, and inclusion are important—to us, our profession, academic programs, and the clients and communities we serve. We created a learning resource toolkit to support practitioners, faculty, fieldwork educators, and students.
Explore
Our toolkit is designed to direct you using action guides, exercises, assessments, and a resource library.
Learn
Start with our video library that features learning modules and personal perspectives on DEI and move at your own pace through the toolkit to visit other areas like the resource library, frameworks addressing DEI in OT, and more.
Discuss
We suggest learning activities and assessments for you to use in future conversations in your own practice, university, or health care setting.
Learning center
The learning center is where you can find AOTA's Decision Guide on addressing racial discrimination, stigma, and implicit bias during provision of services, view learning modules featuring DEI topics, explore the DEI Word Bank's terms and definitions, and discover an extensive collection of resources and tools in the toolkit resource library.
Case studies
We gathered experiences and scenarios from faculty members, occupational therapy practitioners, and students to share common themes and recommended actions to provide opportunities for further discussion.
Faculty members provide scenarios highlighting disparities and issues with diversity. Recommended actions and themes offer further discussion.
PDF: Faculty case study 1
PDF: Faculty case study 2
PDF: Faculty case study 3
Diversity, equity, and inclusion frameworks
These tools aim to increase awareness of the diverse needs of individuals in our professional communities to support inclusive occupational therapy practice for all. They guide you through understanding your own perspective as an occupational therapy practitioner, fieldwork student, fieldwork educator, or faculty member in occupational therapy education. The frameworks also touch on understanding others' perspectives and consider environmental influences and contexts to provide inclusive occupational therapy services. More coming soon!
Does the diversity of staff and student body reflect the communities or reflect the diversity in our country, and how can we make that a priority, no matter where our institutions are based?
Personal perspectives: A closer look at DEI
This video series focuses on personal viewpoints and insights on DEI topics in occupational therapy. Brian Gibbs, PhD, Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer at UMass Memorial Health Care, describes his personal journey in the field of occupational therapy and the importance of DEI efforts.
More on personal perspectives
Multicultural networking groups
This network of independent groups of diverse identities and affiliations based on race or ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, and religious affiliation collectively supports the increase of diversity and inclusion in occupational therapy.
Our Commitment
Learn more about AOTA’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and read AOTA’s DEI Strategic Plan.
Thank you
The AOTA Practice Engagement and Capacity Building team would like to thank the following individuals for their contributions to the DEI Toolkit. In addition, our team acknowledges and thanks all stakeholders who reviewed and provided feedback on the toolkit.
AOTA Assembly of Student Delegates
Student members, Boston University Department of Occupational Therapy
Jewell J. Dickson, OTD, MPH, OTR/L, ATP
Kelly Erickson, PhD, OTR/L
Candice Freeman, OTD, MOT, OTR
Liz Kleine, MOT, OTR/L
Theresa Rhett-Davis, MS, OTR/L