Promoting Inclusion in Professional and Graduate Education: Implications from a Study on Inclusion in Occupational Therapy Education

Workshop Presentation
Arielle Ramirez,  Anne Kiraly Alvarez  

Students from historically marginalized backgrounds continue to experience barriers to inclusion in professional and graduate education. Presenters summarize their convergent mixed methods study that explored supports and barriers to inclusion in occupational therapy education in the United States. They wuse the results and implications from the study to engage attendees in discussions on how to promote inclusion in all phases of professional and graduate education. Dialogue will focus on identifying barriers to inclusion and strategies to address those barriers to promote inclusion for all students, particularly those from historically marginalized backgrounds. Beginning with career exploration, presenters will highlight strategies to support students from historically marginalized backgrounds with identifying career interests and determining which career to pursue. They will then discuss strategies to facilitate recruitment of students from historically marginalized backgrounds and support them in admissions processes. Finally, presenters will discuss strategies to support students from historically marginalized programs throughout their enrollment in professional/graduate programs and to promote retention. Presenters will focus discussions so that attendees can leave the workshop with short-term and long-term actionable items they can implement following the conference.