"OT Should be Apolitical"... F That!
I am reflecting on the political landscape these past few weeks and on AOTA's statement about the insurrection & white supremacy and especially the comments in response to that statement that said AOTA and OT should not be political and here are some thoughts I'd like to share. ⠀
It's important to remember that what is happening politically in the US right now is not disconnected from our work as OTs, especially OTs working in sexuality and intimacy. It is ourduty to uphold the values of occupational justice and stand up against white supremacy, systematic racism, antisemitism, islamophobia, xenophobia, transphobia, homophobia, ableism, and all other forms of oppression/harm towards others that impact people's self-determination to live as authentic and healthy sexual beings. ⠀
Part of being a culturally humble practitioner involves reflecting on yourself and your own internal biases. It also means knowing the populations you serve and the specific harms by healthcare providers they often face. ⠀
For example, did you know... ⠀
Doctors are 3 times less likely to diagnose Black women with endometriosis & fibroids compared to white women. ⠀
70% of LGBTQIA+ clients have had at least 1 experience including abusive language, blaming client for health status, excessive precautions, or physical roughness or abuse BY A HEALTHCARE PROVIDER. ⠀
Providers at mental health services such as Rape Crisis Centers, mental health centers, and drug treatment centers are more likely to discriminate against disabled transgender individuals. ⠀
Providers force or coerce sterilization on people with IDD in order to control reproductive health under the guise of managing menstruation, concerns about caregiver burden, and concerns about ability to parent. ⠀
But let's take a step back, this doesn't mean that everyone who is in front of you has these experience, statistics are statistics, they aren't assumptions for each human you work with. ⠀
So what do we need to do?
1. Do our own bias training - start within, please. Take a moment to think about what your beliefs are - ask yourself are they accurate? Are they influencing how you see your clients?
2. Re-read the AOTA Code of Ethics and identify where racial injustices go against each ethic.
3. Get to know all of our clients, believe them, and validate them. They are the expert on themselves. It isn't about cultural competency, it's about cultural humility.
4. Ask your state board to require anti-racism & LGBTQIA+ affirming care training for their OT licensees.
Health is political and occupational therapy values are political.
Until all people are afforded the opportunity to live rich and fulfilling lives without these disparities, healthcare is political and we will still have work to do.