Exploring ableism and occupational therapy: Occupational therapy students' perspectives.
Hannah Darton, Alison Wadey, Alison Laver-Fawcett
PMID 40336875WHAT IT FOUND
Occupational therapy students reported witnessing ableism in education and placements, such as denied adjustments and stigmatising language.
While most agreed the profession prioritises independence and daily living tasks, they overwhelmingly wanted to learn more about disability studies to address these issues.
Key findings
01Students reported encountering ableism in education and placements, including denied reasonable adjustments and stigmatising language from staff.
02Most students agreed that occupational therapy prioritises independence and activities of daily living, which they linked to ableist assumptions.
03Almost all respondents expressed a desire to learn more about disability studies to better understand and challenge ableism.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
The study relies on self-reported perceptions from a small, volunteer sample of 56 students, which introduces significant volunteer bias. Participants were not representative of the wider profession, as 61% identified as having a disability or being neurodivergent, compared to 11% in workforce reports. The survey format limited the ability to explore complex or nuanced perspectives in depth. The sample was drawn only from the Global North (UK, USA, Canada), so findings may not apply to other cultural contexts.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest. The study was funded by the authors' own resources.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret the high percentage of students identifying as disabled or neurodivergent (61%) as evidence that the occupational therapy workforce is becoming more diverse. This figure likely reflects volunteer bias, as students with a personal interest in disability issues were more likely to participate in the survey.