Equity , diversity and belonging
As an educator , it ’ s massively important to me – like Jay – to # BeTheChange and be influencing change .”
Equity , diversity and belonging
Feature
As an educator , it ’ s massively important to me – like Jay – to # BeTheChange and be influencing change .”
R
© Sabrina Brachervia Getty Images
COT is committed to leading innovative change to promote equity and social justice and we aim to lead the profession by adopting and advocating for a culture that values , respects and celebrates diversity and challenges inequality and discrimination .
Following discussions with the occupational therapy community ’ s wider affinity group representatives about how we can better collaborate and work in partnership to campaign for a more inclusive and supportive culture , which welcomes and supports those groups that are under-represented and historically marginalised , a pilot project commenced early last year .
The pilot set up three steering groups – more recently renamed as expert advisory groups – whose aim is to act as a sounding board for ideas and projects , as well as being a critical friend to RCOT .
The ABLE , BAME and LGBTQIA + expert advisory groups were launched in March 2022 – with reviews conducted after three and six months – and the pilot project is set to end in September 2023 .
There are five RCOT member volunteers on the LGBTQIA + expert advisory group ; Sue Kenney , Hannah Spencer , Jay Webster , Thomas Williams and Rachael Daniels .
When the call for volunteers to join the group originally went out , the main motivator for the majority of the group members to be involved was to precipitate and influence real change .
As Jay Webster ( they / them ) explains : ‘ I want to # BeTheChange and part of that , for me , is getting involved where I can with RCOT to make a difference to the organisation , the Senior Leadership Team , for members and to be part of influencing positive change going forwards for the LGBTQIA + community .’
Sue Kenney ( she / her ) saw a call out for members in OTnews and was contacted by one of the Senior Leadership Team after she had spoken to them about LGBTQIA + inclusivity in preregistration education .
‘ As an educator , it ’ s massively important to me – like Jay – to # BeTheChange and be influencing change ,’ she says .
However , Hannah Spencer ( they / them ) and Rachael Daniels ( she / her ) had already engaged in a series of critical conversations with RCOT around the lack of LGBTQIA + inclusion and representation through RCOT and the wider professional landscape , following the formation of the independent , non-RCOT affiliated affinity group , LGBTQIA + OTUK in early 2021 , and an invitation to participate in the Inclusion plenary panel at the 2021 Annual Conference .
‘ During the conversations , we drew attention to the importance and impact of this in consideration not only of those who access our services , but also on us as occupational therapists ; the workforce , and our future workforce ,’ Hannah says .
June 2023 OTnews 21