EDI Insights: Trans and non-binary awareness in occupational therapy

Unfortunately, due to unforeseen circumstances we have postponed the EDI Insight. We understand how disappointing this is for our delegates and are arranging a suitable date with our speakers in 2022. Further information will follow in due course. 

The is the second of our EDI insights sessions open to members only, with experts and colleagues looking at equality, diversity and inclusion, and how we can learn from it. 

In this session we’re looking forward to welcoming Rebecca Swenson (she/her) and Hannah Spencer (they/them)

Rebecca is a Senior Lecturer in Occupational Therapy at London Southbank University and PhD researcher and Hannah is an NHS Occupational Therapist and recently completed their MSc research project entitled 'A Gender Agenda' exploring pre-registration students' understandings of gender diversity and relevance to occupational therapy practice. Both are among founding members of the recently formed LGBTQIA+OTUK network and synthesise lived experiences with professional and research interest in LGBTQIA+ communities.

Trans and non-binary people access both general and specialist health, social care and voluntary sector services across a range of provision; reasons for doing so may be related or unrelated to gender identity. This insight is relevant in terms of ethical, professional and legal duty to undertake best practice in consideration not only of those who access our services across the diversity of practice settings, but of our peers, our multi-disciplinary colleagues and our future workforce, worldwide.

In the session Rebecca and Hannah will draw on personal, professional and research experience and consider:

• Context and importance of insight session around trans and non-binary awareness in occupational therapy
• Discussion around ethical, professional and legal duty to undertake best practice with reference to key legislation and professional standards
• Reiterated evidence of how occupational therapy is ideally placed to support this population
• Practical suggestions around personal, environmental and occupational aspects of support for trans and non-binary people, and simple cues towards understanding
• There will be a short time for questions

For further reading, you can read Rebecca's recently published BJOT paper 'Doing Gender and Being Gendered Through Occupation: Transgender and Non Binary Experiences'.

This event is open to RCOT members only and will be recorded and posted on our website so it can be accessed at any time.