Our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI)

AOTA's DEI Strategic Plan outlines the vision and areas of focus for advancing DEI in AOTA and the occupational therapy profession.

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.

Data shows that increasing the diversity of the healthcare workforce will lead to improved access to care, greater patient choice and satisfaction, and better outcomes. AOTA advocates for federal policies that will help improve the diversity of the occupational therapy workforce by increasing the number of practitioners from backgrounds currently underrepresented within the profession.

American Occupational Therapy Association’s (AOTA’s) Vision 2025 conveys a strong commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (AOTA, 2019). AOTA affirms the inalienable right of every individual to feel welcomed, valued, a sense of belonging, and respected while accessing and participating in society, regardless of the internal or external factors that make every individual unique. This statement supports efforts to increase diversity, equity, and inclusion within all aspects of occupational therapy, including practice, education, and research, as well as policy development and advocacy.

Diversity, equity, and inclusion are important elements in our plans to improve our governance and our member, and member volunteer, engagement. We understand that each member brings unique background, experiences, and views, and we value and embrace this diversity. We also understand that knowledge and understanding of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) varies among all of us.

AOTA believes that our ability to address and advance diversity and inclusion, and to address equity begins with a shared understanding of key issues and challenges. To create this shared knowledge base, AOTA encourages training for all staff and elected/appointed volunteers. We recognize that some staff and volunteers already have extensive knowledge and expertise in DEI issues.

AOTA’s diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives are guided by occupational therapy’s core values; Vision 2025’s equity, inclusion, and diversity pillar; the 2020 Occupational Therapy Code of Ethics; and the update official document, Occupational Therapy’s Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

In 2020, the Board of Directors established a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Task Force to develop a strategic plan for advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in AOTA and the occupational therapy profession, and the Board hosted “Be Heard, We’re Listening” sessions. The Board of Directors established the AOTA DEI Committee in 2021.