AOTA-EQUITY-ACCESS — AOTA Advisory: Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in OT Ethics
What does AOTA-EQUITY-ACCESS say?
The 2025 AOTA Code of Ethics elevates equity as a Core Value (changed from "Equality" in the 2020 Code). Key ethical guidance: (1) OT practitioners must provide equitable services regardless of race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, socioeconomic status, or other personal characteristics. (2) Equity differs from equality — equity recognizes that different individuals may need different supports to achieve fair outcomes. (3) Practitioners should recognize and address systemic barriers to healthcare access affecting marginalized populations. (4) Assessment tools and interventions should be culturally responsive and validated for diverse populations. (5) Advocacy for equitable access to OT services is an explicit ethical obligation under the 2025 Code. (6) Language access (interpreters, translated materials) must be provided when serving clients with limited English proficiency. (7) Practitioners must examine their own implicit biases and how these may affect clinical judgment and service delivery. (8) Inclusive practice extends to workplace culture — supporting diverse colleagues and students is a professional obligation. (9) The new Core Value of Advocacy emphasizes practitioners' responsibility to advocate for occupational justice. Related 2025 Code elements: Core Values (Equity, Advocacy, Justice), Principle 4 (Justice), Standards of Conduct (Service Delivery).
Official source: read the full text in the AOTA Occupational Therapy Code of Ethics (2025) (official document).