The role of occupational therapy serving LGBTQIA+ people: Retrospective perceptions of an occupational therapist

Abstract

Introduction and aim:  LGBTQIA+ people constitute a minority group that navigate their occupational engagement within a historically entrenched system of oppression. This opinion piece addresses a subject matter that is increasingly garnering attention from the international health science community, yet it remains insufficiently explored in South African occupational therapy dialogues. The aim of this paper is to stimulate critical reflection among occupational therapists on the discourses that underpin our daily practice. By utilising the person- environment-occupation model, we seek to demonstrate the unique and essential role of occupational therapy in serving LGBTQIA+ people within the South African context.

Conclusion: Although occupational therapists are trained to consider all aspects of a person, discussions around gender are rarely emphasised in undergraduate  training  or  clinical  practice.  This  opinion  piece demonstrates the roles that occupational therapists may play when working with LGBTQIA+ people to provide services that are holistic and relevant to their needs and contexts. Recognizing the impact of everyday occupational therapy practices on LGBTQIA+ individuals is crucial, requiring a commitment to inclusivity and continuous reflection within the field of occupational therapy.

Implications for practice

Occupational therapists can play an important role in serving LGBTQIA+ individuals when they are committed to recognizing how dominant discourses about this group can be sustained through the everyday practices of delivering occupational therapy.