Racism and Occupation

The article we are looking at today challenges us to look critically at occupation—and how it can be used as a tool for justice or injustice.

The reality is that many of us have narrowed our view of occupation into the medicalized and individualized categories of ADLs.

But, we know from research (and lived experience!) that occupation is much more complex, interconnected, and powerful.

The authors outline for us how occupation has played a role in systemic racism in the US. This history and present must be understood and confronted if we are to live our shared value of justice within occupational therapy, and move toward antiracist transformation.

After a brief review of this article, we will be joined by the authors Ryan Lavalley, PhD, MOT, OTR/L and Khalilah R. Johnson, PhD, MS, OTR/L to discuss the practical implications for your occupational therapy practice.

More Supplementary Materials 

• Stamped from the beginning: The definitive history of racist ideas in America (book)

• Coalition of Occupational Therapy Advocates for Diversity (COTAD)

1. You will be able to recognize the historical and sociological relationship between occupation, everyday living, and the construction of racism in the United States of America.

2. You will be able to identify actions you can take within your occupational therapy practice and community to work against racism.

• Intro

• Breakdown and analysis of journal article

  • Introduction to occupation and racism

  • Building on the politicization of occupation

  • What was the intent of this paper?

  • An occupational perspective on the history of racism

  • The struggle for justice continues

  • Implications for occupation

  • Conclusion

  • Takeaways for OT practitioners

• Discussion on practical implications for OTs (with Ryan Lavalley and Khalilah R. Johnson)

  1. How did you first find OT?

  2. How did you become interested in research?

  3. How do you bring together your training as an occupational scientist and passions as an occupational therapy practitioner?

  4. Why is this historical perspective important in general?

  5. Why might this historical content make some occupational therapy practitioners uncomfortable?

  6. What are the concrete implications for the occupational therapy profession today?

  7. How can occupational therapy practitioners use this knowledge to inform their practice and justice work?

  8. What gives you hope in this work?

  9. Where do we go from here?

Primary

• Occupation, injustice, and anti-black racism in the United States of America

Additional

• From racialized think-pieces toward anti-racist praxis in our science, education, and Practice

• Estimation and Comparison of Current and Future Racial/Ethnic Representation in the US Health Care Workforce

It is the policy of OT Potential to disclose any financial and non-financial interest the provider or instructor may have in a product or service mentioned during an activity. This is to ensure that the audience is made aware of any bias of the speaker.

OT Potential pays guest speakers an honorarium for their participation, either directly or to an institution of the speaker's choosing at their request. We invite guests whose expertise often comes from practices, programs, or building products in their field. Where a speaker has a financial interest in the subject of a course, we disclose it below so you can weigh it for yourself.

OT Potential's interest in this topic: We have no financial stake in this topic.

Speaker interests: Ryan Lavalley and Khalilah R. Johnson are the authors of the primary journal article explored in this course. Neither has a financial interest in this topic to disclose.

Ryan Lavalley is Chair of Operations for the Coalition of Occupational Therapy Advocates for Diversity (COTAD). Khalilah R. Johnson sits on COTAD's board.