Occupational Therapy Educators' Views on Ableism Exposed

Occupational therapy educators in higher education have varying perspectives on ableism, a term used to describe the promotion of independence and the exclusion of people with disabilities. Research published in the British Journal of Occupational Therapy reveals that 72% of educators perceive occupational therapy as inherently ableist, with most agreeing that the profession focuses on independence. The study, conducted by researchers from York St John University, aimed to explore educators' opinions on ableism and its impact on occupational therapy practice.

Key Takeaways:

• 72% of occupational therapy educators perceive occupational therapy as inherently ableist.
• Most (89%) respondents agreed that the profession focuses on independence, affirming past critiques.
• Content analysis showed variations in how respondents understood the term 'ableism', which appeared to be a compounding factor in respondents' views.
• Themes, including cultural sensitivity, challenges with engaging in disability studies, and power dynamics within occupational therapy education, emerged.
• The study provides insight into educators' opinions of occupational therapy practices and their promotion of ableism.
• 32 teaching staff actively engaged in occupational therapy degree-level education participated in the online survey.

Statistics:

• 72% of occupational therapy educators perceive occupational therapy as inherently ableist. (NewsRx, 2025)
• 89% of respondents agreed that the profession focuses on independence. (NewsRx, 2025)
• 32 teaching staff actively engaged in occupational therapy degree-level education participated in the online survey. (NewsRx, 2025)
• The study analyzed responses from 32 participants using Likert scales and open-ended survey questions. (Exploring ableism and occupational therapy: perspectives of occupational therapy educators working within higher education, 2025)

Sources:

• NewsRx. Studies in the Area of Occupational Therapy Reported from York St John University (Exploring ableism and occupational therapy: perspectives of occupational therapy educators working within higher education). Health & Medicine Week. October 17, 2025; p 937.
• Exploring ableism and occupational therapy: perspectives of occupational therapy educators working within higher education. British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 2025;88(10):614-625.