Date Presented 04/03/2025
This research study addresses the critical lack of diversity in the field of OT. Using a phenomenological approach, the authors identified barriers to and facilitators of African Americans entering the OT profession.
Primary Author and Speaker: Frederica Cunningham
Additional Authors and Speakers: Jessica Alden
Contributing Authors: Felecia Banks
PURPOSE: While the United States population is becoming increasingly diverse, the profession of occupational therapy remains predominantly White. This study aimed to better understand barriers and facilitators to African Americans enrolling in OT school from their perspective.
DESIGN: This study used a phenomenological design. A snowball sample of 10 African American participants completed interviews to identify barriers and facilitators to entering the occupational therapy profession.
METHODS: Data was collected from open-ended interviews where participants revealed their opinions, experiences, and insights into barriers and facilitators to African Americans entering occupational therapy. Grounded theory guided thematic coding, several themes were identified, and a diversity-based model was developed to promote increased diversity of students entering the occupational therapy profession.
RESULTS: Common themes emerged that exposure to occupational therapy and exposure to African American occupational therapists was pivotal in deciding to enroll in OT school.
CONCLUSION: Findings suggest that African American occupational therapists believe that early exposure to occupational therapy and exposure to diverse occupational therapists is important to African American students enrolling in occupational therapy programs.
References
Atwal, A., Sriram, V., & McKay, E. A. (2021). Making a difference: Belonging, diversity, and inclusion in occupational therapy. British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 84(11), 671–672. https://doi.org/10.1177/03080226211031797
Brown, K., Lamont, A., Do, A., & Schoessow, K. (2021). Increasing Racial and Ethnic Diversity in Occupational Therapy Education: The Role of Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE®) Standards. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 75(3). https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2021.047746
Byrne, N. (2015). Exposure to occupational therapy as a factor influencing recruitment to the profession. Australian Occupational Therapy Journal, 62(4), 228–237. https://doi.org/10.1111/1440-1630.12191
Colaianni, D., Tovar, G., Wilson, D., & Zapanta, H. (2022). Factors influencing the diversity of occupational therapy students. Journal of Occupational Therapy Education, 6(1) https://doi.org/10.26681/jote.2022.060102
