Understanding Patient and Client Expectations
The Competencies for Occupational Therapists in Canada (2021) includes a distinct section to address culture, equity, and justice in occupational therapy practice. To help registrants understand this, and to know what is expected of them, the
College has developed a practice document called Culture, Equity, & Justice in Occupational Therapy Practice.
We recognize these materials contain some complex concepts. Some of the language may not be familiar to many people, including registrants, patients, clients and caregivers.
The content in this section provides an overview and aims to build understanding of what people can expect from occupational therapists providing services.
Intersectionality
In the document, Intersectionality is the guiding framework. It explains that everyone has a collection of identities. They include, for example, race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, class, age, dis/ability, and religion. These identities
overlap in us to create “social locations” (also called “social positions” or “positionalities”). Each of us views and experiences the world from this social position. Yet, much of our position is determined at
birth and is outside of our control. Then, this becomes impacted by systems, laws, and policies that don’t always manage our positions fairly or equally.
Asking occupational therapists to understand their “social location,” and how
this intersects with their services, starts their process of learning about culture, equity, and justice.
What can the public expect? That occupational therapists have reflected their own social location and worldviews while supporting and engaging clients to communicate theirs as well.