AOTA DEIJAB’s Impact on Occupational Therapy: From Commitment to Collective Responsibility

In June 2021, the American Occupational Therapy Association’s (AOTA’s) inaugural Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee began implementing the strategic work developed by the 2020 task force. During the 5 years since its formation, the committee has evolved to encompass diversity, equity, inclusion, justice, accessibility, and belonging (DEIJAB) and to assume a visible role in AOTA governance. This evolution reflects a shift from viewing DEIJAB as an aspirational value to recognizing it as a shared professional responsibility. The committee’s work has encouraged occupational therapy practitioners (OTPs) to ask deeper questions about access, representation, power, voice, and how belonging is experienced across the profession.