“Diverse-OT brought me to a community of OTs who I can learn from and are committed to issues I care about”
– Clarissa Figueroa, UW-Milwaukee
“I am a disabled trans lesbian, all of which are identities that are not commonly represented in our field.I was tired of having to advocate for myself and the faculty acting like I was just complaining to complain. Having a support system who could back me up and help me navigate ways to advocate for myself and others [was a gift].”
Diverse-OT chapters provide:
- Targeted learning opportunities
- Community outreach
- Interprofessional collaboration
- Mentorship opportunities
Check out the work we’ve done below!
University of Wisconsin - Madison
Our flagship chapter, UW-Madison was established in 2016.
“As an OT student, I found that DEIJAB was not sufficiently addressed in my courses. I joined to further educate myself and engage in challenging conversations to further my own future as a practitioner and for the opportunity to engage in activism and advocacy that is meaningful to me locally and nationally.”
Boston University
Established in 2019
“Diverse-OT helps me engage in challenging conversations in a safe space to further my own learning. I am also able to engage in activism opportunities that I would not otherwise know how to participate in. Diverse-OT helps me prepare for fieldwork and future employment by making me more culturally responsive so that I can be a better practitioner.”
University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee
Established in 2020
Chapter highlights
- Created a student library to make books more accessible to OT students
- Featured on the website
“[Diverse-OT helps me understand] ways to advocate and create change within my program and [provide] a pathway for how I want to create my OT practice.”
Colorado State University
Established in 2020
Chapter highlights
- Teresa and Bruce Boynton OT Diversity Scholarship Endowment
- Featured on the university’s website
- Known for great social media posts
“I benefit from being part of this organization by being able to gain closer bonds with my peers and being able to volunteer and help out in the community and open my eyes to injustices I may not have noticed before both in the real world and within the program.”
University of Wisconsin - La Crosse
Established in 2021 (by an undergrad UW-Madison chapter member)
“Diverse-OT helps me make sense of issues in the world or better understand what is going on. It also helps me improve my leadership skills and communication skills.”
Support the material conditions of Diverse-OT
Diverse-OT is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that survives off the kindness of our community.
Our funds help keep the org running, support our chapters, and provide financial assistance to BIPOC and other marginalized students.
Please support our work so we can support the
future of occupational therapy.At Diverse-OT, we want to help shape the field of occupational therapy to be more inclusive and train future OTs to approach their practice with cultural responsiveness. We support our students through opportunities for learning, material resources, and community-based support and recruitment.
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