Acknowledgements
The College is grateful to the time and heart that was put into this document by 2021 McMaster students Eden Barrow, Kaitlin Haffner, Sophie Stasyna, and Victoria Krayzman. The College also recognizes the contribution of registrants through survey responses, and those that participated in our Indigenous and Equity panels.
Lastly, the Citizen Advisory Group, as users of healthcare services including occupational therapy, also provided valuable input and feedback.
Note to Readers
Culture, Equity, and Justice in Occupational Therapy Practice is written to complement the Competencies for Occupational Therapists in Canada (2021), Domain C: Culture, Equity, and Justice. It serves to outline specific expectations for how occupational therapists can provide services that are culturally safer while upholding the human rights of all clients and the people that occupational therapists work with. These expectations are not restricted to registrants in clinical roles; they apply to all occupational therapists, regardless of practice area, setting, or job title. Those in macro-level roles, such as leading and teaching, will be especially influential in actioning this work.
*The glossary under "Building Knowledge" provides definitions of the bolded terms used, but it in no way represents every concept, definition, or group that deserves mention and understanding.
The reflective questions under "Building Knowledge" can help occupational therapists structure self-reflection.
Readers will notice that the terms used to identify racialized groups, including “Black,” “Indigenous,” and “White” have been capitalized in this document. While capitalizing “White” has not been universally adopted, some feel that writing “white” may perpetuate White supremacy by inferring that whiteness is neutral and objective. The College has made the decision to capitalize the word“ White”.