# Equity, Diversity & Inclusion > COTO is committed to equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI). The College acknowledges, honours, and respects the fundamental value and dignity of all people. The College of Occupational Therapists of Ontario (COTO) is committed to equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI). The College acknowledges, honours, and respects the fundamental value and dignity of all people. We recognize the importance of EDI in fulfilling our mandate: to protect the public through effective regulation of occupational therapists.  Equity, diversity and inclusion are core elements of our values, commitments and strategic plan. We aim to create a safe space for diverse, open, and honest contributions as we work together to achieve our mandate. Treating everyone with dignity and respect We consider the uniqueness of each situation. We are respectful of all voices, conscious of bias, open-minded, and dedicated to learning. We are committed to integrating equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) practices throughout our organization and the occupational therapy profession to protect the public interest. Maintaining trust and confidence We are fair, open and responsive. We are proactive. We hold ourselves accountable for our decisions and actions.  Partnering for quality We listen. We work together to ensure quality occupational therapy services across the province. As part of the 2024 - 2027 Strategic Priorities, COTO has a dedicated goal to integrate the practices of equity, diversity and inclusion throughout the College and profession. The Competencies for Occupational Therapists in Canada (2021) outlines the expectation for occupational therapists to provide culturally safer health services, while upholding the human rights of all clients and people who work with occupational therapists. The Culture, Equity and Justice section of the Competencies says occupational therapists are expected to: Promote equity in practice Promote anti-oppressive behaviour and culturally safer, inclusive relationships Contribute to equitable access to occupational participation and occupational therapy To learn more, view the Competencies for Occupational Therapists in Canada. Occupational therapists can encourage clients to share what they consider to be safe and support them in drawing strength from their identity, culture, and community. Embracing cultural safer services is not just an initiative; but a journey towards improved health care experiences when receiving occupational therapy services. What is cultural safety*? Cultural safety is about the experience of the patient or client. It is an outcome based on respectful engagement that recognizes and strives to address power imbalances inherent in the healthcare system. It results in an environment free of racism and discrimination, where people feel safe when receiving health care. *Adapted from the BC First Nations Health Authority (2016). Creating a Climate for Change: Cultural Safety and Humility in Health Services for First Nations and Aboriginal Peoples in British Columbia. When working with an occupational therapist: You should expect to feel safe, respected and valued. You should expect to receive care without fear of judgment or harm. Cultural safety recognizes that people from different communities may not feel safe in healthcare settings. Some people may feel afraid or distrustful because of historical or ongoing experiences of discrimination. You should expect your therapist to be willing to talk openly with you and handle feedback well. You should expect your occupational therapist to adjust their approach to fit your needs. Making services culturally safer means understanding power dynamics and making sure everyone feels safe. Occupational therapists should understand they are in a position of power and privilege as health care providers. Learn more about What to Expect From Your Occupational Therapist. National eLearning Module COTO is working together with national regulators (ACOTRO) to develop a national eLearning Module for occupational therapists across Canada on Advancing Culture, Equity and Justice in Occupational Therapy Practice. The module explores the topic of cultural humility and equity in occupational therapy practice and applies to occupational therapists in diverse practice areas. The module focuses on real scenarios to engage professionals and build awareness and application to practice. It introduces concepts related to culture and equity, with the understanding that terminology and experiences are evolving and incorporating humility into practice is a lifelong endeavour. The goal is for occupational therapists in both clinical and non-clinical roles to apply this learning directly to their daily work. Sociodemographic data collection In 2022, COTO began including voluntary questions on Indigenous identity and gender identity in our application and renewal forms. This year, COTO added racialized group identity. This data will help us better understand demographic trends in the profession and guide efforts to improve equity and inclusion. Anonymous data will be used for statistical purposes such as reports and analyses, and to provide information about group representation in the profession. It will also help inform initiatives to address systemic inequity and other barriers in our health system. Learn more and see our Sociodemographic Data Collection FAQ. Working with system partners In addition to our 2024 - 2027 Strategic Priorities, we also work together with our health system partners to support and advance EDI in health care. Health Profession Regulators of Ontario (HPRO) Anti-Racism Steering Committee: COTO works with other health regulatory colleges to identify systemic racism and implement tangible solutions that help build health systems and practices that reinforce EDI. Ontario Ministry of Health and College Performance Measurement Framework: Annually, COTO also reports on the organization’s EDI progress to the Ministry of Health through the College Performance Measurement Framework (CPMF) tool. Culture, Equity, and Justice in Occupational Therapy Practice COTO has a resource on Culture, Equity, and Justice in Occupational Therapy Practice. The intent of this document is to be a starting point to help occupational therapists apply principles of culture, equity, and justice in their practice. This resource complements the Competencies for Occupational Therapists in Canada (2021), Domain C: Culture, Equity and Justice.  Equity Perspectives Advisory Committee This advisory committee explores, discusses and provides recommendations on current occupational therapy practice issues relevant to equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI). They have provided input on topics such as: College policies, standards, the Culture, Equity, and Justice in Occupational Therapy Practice document and more. Committee members are volunteer occupational therapists who are members of one or more equity-deserving groups, including: Black, Indigenous, People of Colour, LGBTQ2SIA+ and/or those who face historic and ongoing systemic oppression due to social identities and positions including, but not limited to, race, ethnicity, dis/ability, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation and/or religion. See our Work with Indigenous Communities page for information on our Indigenous Insights Advisory Committee COTO has compiled a list of resources for patients, clients, occupational therapists, and others who want to learn more about equity, diversity, and inclusion. The resources are not produced by COTO and are provided as reference material. Allyship  University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine: Microaggressions and Allyship The Coin Model of Privilege and Critical Allyship: Implications for Health Disability Patients with Disabilities: Avoiding Unconscious Bias When Discussing Goals of Care Addressing Challenges for People with Disabilities — Chapter 6 in the University of Toronto Family Medicine report "Caring for Our Diverse Populations" Gender Equality Women and the Workplace — How Employers Can Advance Equality and Diversity Implicit Bias A Framework for Integrating Implicit Bias Recognition into Health Professions Education Implicit Bias in Health Professions: From Recognition to Transformation Implicit Bias in Health Care Implicit Association Test (IAT)  Blog post: Strengthening the Therapeutic Relationship: Identifying and Addressing Implicit Bias LGBTQ2S+ Rainbow Health Ontario Resource Library A Guide to Gender Identity Terms Supporting Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Transsexual, Queer, Questioning, and Two-Spirit (LGBTQ2S+) People — Chapter 12 in the University of Toronto Family Medicine report “Caring for Our Diverse Populations” Microaggressions Professionalism: Microaggression in the Healthcare Setting Examples of Racial Microaggressions Racism Combating Anti-Asian Sentiment — A Practical Guide Understanding Race, Racism and Health — Chapter 16 in the University of Toronto Family Medicine report “Caring for Our Diverse Populations” Anti-BIPOC Racism Time to Dismantle Systemic Anti-Black Racism in Medicine in Canada Diagnosing and Treating Systemic Racism College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario eDialogue Article: Black Patients Matter Anti-Indigenous Racism Health and Health Care Implications of Systemic Racism on Indigenous Peoples in Canada First Nations Health Authority: Cultural Safety and Humility Cancer Care Ontario: Indigenous Relationship and Cultural Safety Courses Acknowledging the Importance of Reconciliation for Indigenous Health and Wellbeing — Chapter 14 in Caring for Our Diverse Populations Religious-based Care Cultural Competence in the Care of Muslim Patients and Their Families Cultural Religious Competence In Clinical Practice Religious Diversity: Practical Points for Health Care Providers Supporting Indian and Other South Asians Facing COVID-19 and Other Serious Illnesses Weight Bias Reducing Weight Bias in Obesity Management, Practice and Policy Obesity Management and Indigenous Peoples We will continue to listen and learn as we work together to move forward. Please contact the Practice Resource Team at practice@coto.org or 1-800-890-6570 x240 with any questions or comments. If you have specific questions regarding resources, please contact the authoring organization.