AOTA message on U.S. Supreme Court’s affirmative action ruling

The American Occupational Therapy Association is disappointed in the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling today that colleges and universities can no longer take race into consideration as a specific basis in admissions.

As stated in Occupational Therapy’s Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, “Academic programs must consider integration of intentional strategies to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion throughout all phases of the academic continuum, including student recruitment, student admissions, teaching of content and coursework, curriculum design, and assessment.”

As we evaluate the implications of this ruling, we reassert our steadfast commitment to building a more diverse and inclusive profession that is strengthened by the diversity of its practitioners and equipped to address the needs of clients of all backgrounds and identities.