Diversity, equity, inlusion, justice, access & more (DEI+)

  I am an avid advocate for embracing DEI+ in OT education, practice, and professional communication. I served as a member of the AOTA DEI task force (2020-2021) https://www.aota.org/-/media/corporate/files/aboutaota/dei-strategic-plan-report.pdf  and currently serve as a member of the AOTA DEI committee (2021-present) https://www.aota.org/community/volunteer-groups/dei-committee. I also serve as a faculty liaison of the Columbia University COTAD chapter and sit in multiple DEI committees in my professional networks and anti-racism coalition at Columbia University. I teach a course on DEI & Professional Skills at Columbia University where I applied and received funding to use the immersive technology of virtual reality to teach the students about DEI+ in healthcare and its role in effective professional and communication skills. My firm belief in DEI+ and its significance in OT practice is keeps me fully engaged in all these research, volunteer, and professional activities.

  A project that I am currently working on is the use of virtual reality (VR) in enhancing OT students' understanding of DEI+ constructs. I received funding from Columbia University to acquire the hardware and software for the project. The project is designed to teach a new course in my program on DEI+ & professional skills. During my course, students experience simulated scenarios of bias, microaggressions, and/or discrimination. Students are asked to detect bias and respond to the aggressors. I am most proud of this project because of the open dialogue we have in class after these VR experiences. Students discuss important issues that are connected to the challenges facing the profession in DEI+ including social justice, representation, belonging, implicit bias, and interpersonal communication. Students recall interactions with instructors, fieldwork educators, peers, and community members. They discuss these issues and link them to their future practice. They reflect on this experience while vulnerable yet brave enough to continue the dialogue. Students in this course laugh, cry, and share great stories in their OT journey. We talk about the underrepresentation of diverse groups in the student body and workforce. Students describe their intersectionality in OT and how that will make them ethical and unbiased practitioners in the future. I am proud of providing an innovative approach to DEI+ rather than lecturing the students about it and for creating a space for students to practice advocating for themselves when facing bias. 

  I believe that diversity, equity, inclusion, justice, and belonging (DEI+) is not a professional requirement, it is a clinical competency. Here is how…The core values in our code of ethics require practitioners to selflessly attend to the needs of our clients (i.e., altruism), to provide equal and equitable OT services to those in need (i.e., equality), to respect the client’s decisions to choose their occupational goals and values (i.e., freedom), to fairly treat all clients regardless of their race, gender, ethnicity, faith or other personal factors (i.e. justice), to communicate truthfully and effectively with the clients (i.e., truth), to respect the unique values of each person (i.e., dignity), and employ a bias-free and sound judgment throughout their practice (i.e., prudence). All these values are client-centered; hence, we cannot live up to our code of ethics without valuing the diversity of our clients and providing inclusive, equitable, and bias-free services for all clients. Occupational therapy is infused with DEI+ constructs and values. It is the essence of our clinical and professional existence. 

DEI+ is important to achieve the AOTA vision 225 of creating an inclusive profession and serving the diverse needs of the community. This starts with having a diverse body of students that will ultimately diversify our workforce which ends up serving diverse communities and populations. Recruiting students from diverse backgrounds will also enhance the representation of diverse groups in the profession which will eventually enhance professional engagement in the association. This can translate into increased membership, volunteerism, and advocacy efforts across a diverse spectrum of members.