presentation given at OT Frontiers online event 23th April 2022

1. Occupational Therapy, Ableism, and
Coproduction of services.
Rachel Booth-Gardiner Occupational Therapist
@OT_rach @OTalk_ @AbleOTUK
www.ot.rach.com
OT_Rach@outlook.com
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2. 2
My Occupational Identity
‘occupations are key not
just to being a person, but
to being a particular
person, and thus creating
and maintaining an
identity.’
Charles H. Christiansen

3. My experiences receiving occupational therapy, and becoming an occupational
therapist who is open about her disabilities
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How it felt
Not Respected
Not Important
Not Listen Too
Not Valued
No Control
Isolated
Emotional
A Number
A Statistic
A Burden
Not Believed
Barriers
Knowledge
Attitudes
Policies
Criteria
Systems
Existing disability
Rehabilitation
Communication
Resources
Understanding of
roles
Access

4. Ableism?
Discrimination and social prejudice against
people with disabilities based on the belief that
typical abilities are superior.
At its heart, ableism is rooted in the assumption
that disabled people require ‘fixing’ and defines
people by their disability.
Like racism and sexism, ableism classifies
entire groups of people as ‘less than,’It includes
harmful stereotypes, misconceptions, and
generalisations
Examples of ableism:
Asking someone what is “wrong” with them.
Referring to bad leg and good leg.
Repeating an offer of help after it has been
decline.
Saying, “You do not look disabled,” as though
this is a compliment. Or minimising - I have
seen worse.
Viewing a person with a disability as
inspirational for doing typical things, such as
having a career, being in a relationship, being
out on their own.
Using public facilities designed for people with
disabilities, such as parking spaces or toilets,
and labelling these facilities as disable rather
than accessible.
Questioning whether a person’s disability is
real, dismissing or labelling behaviour, as
seeking attention.
In healthcare, ableism can affect how health
professionals interaction with a disability.
Healthcare policies, and health outcomes.
The idea that disabled people have less
value or lower-quality lives contributes to
damaging practices that persist today.

5. How is your occupational therapy
service accessed? How are they
developed.
Criteria?
A standard or principle for judging, evaluating,
or selecting something.
Ideals or requirements on which a judgment,
evaluation, or selection is based.
- the person does not meet the criteria for this
service
Who sets this criteria?
Who is the expert ?
Needs based?
A lack of something
Circumstances in which something is
necessary;
A thing that is wanted or required,
A necessary duty, or obligation:
The state of requiring help, or of lacking basic
necessities such assess to occupations.
Who defines and determines need?
What assessment tools do you use if any?
Have you ever questioned if these tool are
ableist?
Collaboration?

6. Definition of disability under the Equality Act 2010
You’re disabled under the Equality Act 2010 if you have a
physical or mental Impairment that has a ‘substantial’ and
‘long-term’ negative effect on your ability to do normal daily
activities.
Disability as a label - some don’t see themselves as disabled
Others don’t want to define themselves this way, others show
pride and embrace their disability.
Some have no options or control over how they define
themselves
This takes time, and changes dependent on your experiences.
Could disability be a gift?

7. What my lived experiences tough me?
The profession is Ableist and rarely
developed in collaborations with those
that access it. Evaluation is not
collaboration
Self awareness takes time, perhaps a
lifetime.
The importance of being politicly aware.
- not just how it will impacted me but
impacted others.
Back to basics - roots within activism
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8. Your Challenge
Confront your Ablism
Refection on your privileges & the power you hold
Know our Roots
Use our language
Be an Active Member
Tell your story
Listen
Be an Ally
Be An Activist
Question Everything
Challenge Everything even
if it’s uncomfortable.
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9. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/apr/18/are-you-too-white-rich-straight-to-be-feminist
https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/check-your-privilege-you-might-be-surprised-9256553.html
https://ot-rach.com
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/jan/18/nye-bevan-history-of-nhs-national-health-service
https://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofBritain/Birth-of-the-NHS/
Professor David Hunter improving Healthcare White Paper Series – No. 3 ©1000 Lives Plus, 2011 page 8
https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2014/oct/07/john-ruskin-emma-thompson-mike-leigh-film-art
Thomas Bessell Kidner and the Development of Occupational Therapy in the United Kingdom: Establishing the Links
Challenging inequalities Occupational Therapy week 2021 feature. OTnews Volume 28 October 2021
Page 16
https://ukdhm.org
https://affinot.co.uk/ableotuk/
https://affinot.co.uk/lgbtqiaotuk/learn/
November 1999The American journal of occupational therapy.: official publication of the American Occupational Therapy Association
53(6):547-558
References
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