Recognizing Culture & Diversity in Occupational

Therapy Practice

Becky Jenkins, MS, OTR/L

It is the mark of the cultured man that he is aware of the fact that equality is an ethical and not a biological principle”

--------Ashley Montagu

What is culture to you?Do you think about it?Do others think about it?

“The nature of human nature is a culturally constructed entity, invisible to us, because we are immersed in it.” ---Unknown

Culture by Definition• Learned, shared experiences that

provide the individual and the group with effective mechanisms for interacting with others and the environment

• Examples?– Values– Attitudes– Morals– Customs– Traditions– Language– Food– Religion– Socioeconomic status– Sexual orientation

Let’s Look at Culture Terms

• Belief– something held to be true or

actual

• Values– regarded as desirable, worthy,

right, ideal

• Morals– conduct or character from the

point of view of right and wrong

Where Do Our Beliefs Come From?

Communities

Economics

History

Politics

Religion

Friends

Mass Media

Families

Cultural

Beliefs

Changing Cultures

Interaction with Other People

Societal ValuesRevision of Culture

Culture

Words We Use When

Discussing Culture

Race

• One of the major subdivisions of man

• Regarded as having a common origin and exhibiting a relatively constant set of physical traits

• Is not the same as culture, historical experience, or privilege

• Race can shape culture• Great variation within and

between races

Ethnicity

“An ethnic group is a human population whose members identify with each other, usually on the basis of a presumed common genealogy or ancestry. Ethnic groups are also usually united by common cultural, behavioural, linguistic, or religious practices. In this sense, an ethnic group is also a cultural community” ----Wikipedia, November 27, 2006

• Myths– unfounded or poorly founded

beliefs that are given uncritical acceptance by members of a group

• Stereotypes– mental pictures based on myths

that lead people to associate a characteristic with particular groups of people

• Generalization– to apply a concept broadly; avoids

details and specifics

• Are generalizations always negative?

• Are they all accurate?

• Xenophobia– unreasonable fear or hatred of

those different from ourselves

Are these things learned or inherent in our nature?

The Role of the OTA--Ethics

• OT Code of Ethics– We are responsible for providing

services without regard to race, creed, national origin, sex, age, handicap, disease entity, social status, or religious affiliation.

How Does Culture Affect our Clients?

• Self esteem/self-worth• Access to medical care, job

choices, leisure and activity resources

• Rights and opportunities/privileges• Interactions with others• Resources • Health• Discrimination• Personal view of potential

The Role of the OTA

• Be self aware • Look beyond knowledge base• Collaborate with goal setting• Individualize treatment• Base assessments on the

patient’s culture, not yours• Provide access to all services• Improve equity, fairness, and

appropriateness of treatment

• Listen to client’s view of life• Understand the social

restraints• Understand politics of

healthcare• Understand the

reimbursement system• Expose yourself to different

cultures