Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Justice, Access and Belonging (DEI-JAB) at OTAO

 Our Commitment

The Occupational Therapy Association of Oregon (OTAO) is deeply committed to fostering a profession and community that celebrates diversity, champions equity, advances justice, ensures access, and creates a genuine sense of belonging for all occupational therapy practitioners, students, and the clients we serve. Our journey began in 2020 with a critical examination of systemic inequities and a resolute dedication to meaningful, transformative change.

We recognize that our work is not just a goal, but a continuous process of learning, listening, and taking intentional action. It is embedded in our values of connection, empowerment, equity, sustainability, and integrity to ensure equitable access to opportunities and resources for occupational therapy practitioners and our clients in Oregon. 

Defining Our Approach

Diversity

Diversity encompasses the rich tapestry of human differences that shape our experiences, perspectives, and opportunities. These differences include, but are not limited to, race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, socioeconomic status, physical abilities, religious beliefs, and other ideologies. We recognize that diversity reflects the complex intersectionality of human experience.

Equity

Equity represents our commitment to fairness and justice in our profession and practice. We recognize that systemic barriers create unequal starting points for individuals. As occupational therapists, we are fundamentally guided by a professional ethos of promoting justice through enabling participation, independence, and quality of life for all individuals, regardless of their circumstances.

Inclusion

Inclusion is an active, intentional process of creating environments where every individual feels valued, respected, and empowered to fully participate. We focus on amplifying marginalized voices, challenging existing power structures, and creating spaces where different perspectives are not just welcomed, but considered essential to our collective growth and understanding.

Justice

Justice is essential to our professional mission, rooted in the core occupational therapy principle that meaningful occupation is a human right. We actively work to dismantle barriers, ensuring that every individual has the opportunity to engage in the occupations that give their life purpose, meaning, and fulfillment.

Access

Access is fundamental to our vision of equity and justice in occupational therapy practice. We aim to remove barriers that prevent individuals from fully participating in meaningful occupations. This involves proactively identifying and eliminating obstacles—physical, financial, cultural, and systemic—that limit participation and success.

Belonging

Belonging represents the ultimate goal of our DEI-JAB efforts in the occupational therapy community. We strive to create a professional environment where every practitioner and student feels they can bring their authentic self to work, where their unique contributions are celebrated, and where they are truly seen, heard, and valued.

 Our Commitment

In June 2020, OTAO took a critical step by forming a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Task Force. Inspired by the urgent need to address systemic racism and inequities highlighted by the tragic deaths of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, and Breonna Taylor, we committed to transformative action within our profession.

The original task force, led by Dr. Elizabeth Martin, OTR/L, included occupational therapy practitioners and community stakeholders dedicated to promoting equity and inclusion in occupational therapy. The task force laid a crucial foundation for our ongoing work and DEI-JAB efforts, including the establishment of a dedicated DEI Chairperson position on our board. This position guides our internal policies and practices while ensuring all OTAO communications reflect our commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, justice, access, and belonging.

Contact Us

We believe that creating meaningful change requires collective effort. If you are interested in being involved, please contact: otaodei@gmail.com

 Resources

• AOTA DEI-JAB Toolbox

• AOTA DEI-JAB Resource Library

• Coalition of Occupational Therapy Advocated for Diversity (COTAD) Resources

• DisruptOT - Action toolkit for OTPs and students disrupting oppressive systems

• Ivlev, S. R. (2023). Occupational Therapy Disruptors: What Global OT Practice Can Teach Us about Innovation, Culture, and Community. Jessica Kingsley Publishers.

Last Updated: [3/5/2025]

Sources:

- American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Resources

- Taff, S. D., & Blash, D. (2017). Diversity and inclusion in occupational therapy: Where we are, where we must go.