Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee

The mission of the NCOTA Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee is to support an increase in the diversity of OT in North Carolina; to help address issues of inequity experiences by practitioners, their clients, and the larger community; and to facilitate a climate of true inclusiveness and collegiality for all North Carolina occupational therapy practitioners. 

We aim to fulfill this mission through activities in three primary initiatives: 

• Community Outreach: Education about and promotion of OT in community venues such as schools, health, recreational, and human services organizations, etc, particularly for rural, underserved, low-income, and minority populations. 
• OT/OTA Educational Institutions: Provision of resources and other supports for OT/OTA educational programs to recruit and admit larger numbers of students from rural, low-income, and minority populations. 
• Community In-Reach: Targeting OT/OTA practitioners, provision of opportunities to learn about and reflect upon the historical, social, economic, educational, and political systems that have created and sustained significant health disparities for minority populations, and limited the diversity in health professions.  This includes explicit attention to anti-racist actions and the role of OT in addressing issues of social injustice. 

If you are interested in joining the committee or even just helping out on an "as needed" basis, we invite you to join us in a way that fits your interests, talents, and availability of time and energy.  Please complete the survey attached here, and we will be in touch with you! 

Current Activities: 

Register here for our January 14th event. 

Register here for our January 28th event. 

Register here for our February 25th event. 

Let’s Talk about Race

Talking about race, racism, and racial inequities is hard for most of us. But we still need to do it. It affects all of us in our work and in our everyday lives. It affects the lives of our clients. The Let’s Talk about Race series is designed to provide opportunities for us to learn through different media, reflect on our own and with others, and have honest conversations about race and racism.  The series events are intended to occur within a safe space…one that often may be uncomfortable, but one in which participants can share their thoughts with others in an atmosphere of openness, self-reflection, and growth. Registration through the NCOTA website will required, starting about 2 weeks before each event, but the events are open to both members and non-members. If you have questions or concerns, please contact Linn Wakeford, at [email protected].

Schedule

Resources

For a list of resources related to Race, Racism, and Racial Inequity, please click HERE. 

 To contribute to an ongoing list of resources related to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for all minorities and underrepresented groups, please go to: Google Doc