OTEA x COTAD: Exploring the Intersection of Climate Justice, Occupational Therapy & Social Justice Through Professional Collaboration
The Coalition of Occupational Therapy Advocates for Diversity (COTAD) was created in 2014 by a small group of AOTA Emerging Leaders who endeavored to mobilize the OT community to engage in anti-racism and anti-oppression. Occupational Therapists for Environmental Action (OTEA) was developed through similar grassroots efforts to bring awareness to a different cause: climate change and its effects on our clientele.
It might not be obvious to many in the OT profession on how COTAD and OTEA overlap. However, for those engaged in advocacy and justice work, the intersection of climate advocacy and anti-oppression may be painfully clear. There is ample evidence to indicate that marginalized communities disproportionately experience the harmful effects of climate change (Benevolenza & DeRigne, 2019). This blog post aims to clarify how climate advocacy, anti-racism, and anti-oppression overlap, how this is relevant to the occupational therapy profession, and provide some background/context into the collaboration between OTEA and COTAD.
The Intersection of Climate Advocacy, Anti-Racism & Anti-Oppression
The case of Hurricane Dorian & The Bahamas is a prime example of how disadvantaged and marginalized communities experience disproportionate harm and loss, with clear health consequences resulting from widespread power outages, water contamination, and inoperative sanitation systems. (Shultz et al., 2020). Renteria et al. (2022) developed a novel measure of neighborhood-level racial/ethnic diversity to examine social inequalities in heat for NE US region neighborhoods. The authors found that neighborhoods with higher proportions of racial/ethnic minorities, people of lower socioeconomic status, households without access to an automobile, and greater diversity experience higher temperatures than their racial/ethnic majority, higher socioeconomic status counterparts. Other researchers have highlighted the intersectional disparities in climate vulnerability and cancer risk. Many social determinants that underlie inequities related to cancer also increase vulnerability to harmful effects of human-caused climate change (Ashad-Bishop et al., 2023).
How is this Relevant to Occupational Therapy?
A scoping review on the impact of climate change related extreme weather events on people with pre-existing disabilities and chronic conditions indicates concerning trends (Lindsay et al., 2023):
the impact on physical and mental health;
the impact on education and work;
barriers to accessing health and community services (i.e., lack of access to services, lack of knowledge about people with disabilities, communication challenges, lack of adequate housing); and
coping strategies (i.e., social supports and connecting to resources) and resilience.
There is a critical need for rehabilitation clinicians and other service providers to explore opportunities to support their clients in preparing for climate-related emergencies.
Additionally, a group of rehabilitation professionals in Sweden conducted a scoping review (Fransson et al., 2023) to examine older adults’ occupational performance during heat waves in Scandinavia. The authors identified several adaptations to support occupational engagement during heat waves: bodily strategies to cool down during ADL’s/IADL’s (increased water intake, avoiding cooking with the stove, and taking several baths/showers during the day); environmental modifications (air-conditioned mall-walking for exercise and socializing in cooler spaces like basements and gardens); and changing daily routines (engaging activities during cooler times of day and/or reduced physical activity). The authors also identified several factors that facilitate occupational performance during heat waves:
Personal Factors: Health status including mobility issues, living alone, housebound, illness/injury, etc. increase vulnerability to heat.
Social Factors: Social supports and community resources; check-ins from health care professionals, family or friends; and access to shopping, cultural centers, and community gardens supported adaptive occupational engagement.
Environmental Factors: Type of dwelling (older buildings or apartments negatively impacted daily activities) and access to green spaces, gardens and trees (those without access experienced worsening heat than those with access).
Economic Factors: Access to air conditioning and affordability of higher electricity bills supported occupational engagement during heat waves.
From a macro level perspective, Taff et al., (2023) assert that “climate change may be the most pressing existential threat to human health and wellbeing in the twenty-first century.” The authors offer an analysis of the obstacles hindering climate action in affluent nations like the United States, discussing factors such as the profit-oriented stance towards healthcare, consumerism, and the opposition to climate change initiatives. The authors emphasize how the occupational therapy profession has an ethical and moral obligation to address climate crises and provide clear examples of climate strategies in occupational therapy practice globally.
Initial COTAD x OTEA Collaboration
Several members of both COTAD and OTEA recognized the importance of this intersectionality to the OT profession and sought to collaborate in 2022-2023. As the Co-Chair of COTAD’s 10 Year Celebration Committee, I thought it would be a fitting and timely tribute to partner with OTEA on COTAD’s annual service project with the goal of specifically addressing the unequal effects of climate change on marginalized communities. At the same time, OTEA leadership contacted Dr. Arameh Anvarizadeh, one of the founders and former Chair of COTAD, to discuss potential opportunities for the two orgs to collaborate.
OTEA & COTAD decided on a trial-run collaboration through a fundraiser culminating at 2023 AOTA Inspire in Kansas City, Missouri. This fundraiser benefitted a local organization in Kansas City, Global One Urban Farming, which is a Black-owned non-profit providing free produce and educational programming to marginalized communities in USDA-designated food desert communities in Kansas City. Through this collaborative effort, OTEA & COTAD raised $1300 to support Global One Urban Farming’s program needs!
Ongoing Collaboration: Co-sponsored Events Through COTAD Engage!
Due to the success of the 2023 fundraiser, COTAD and OTEA have continued their collaboration through COTAD Engage, the committee responsible for COTAD’s programming and events. A movie night is in the works to view and discuss a documentary addressing the intersection of housing inequity, racial injustice, and extreme heat-related events. We’re also planning to host a virtual event to discuss podcasts highlighting the intersections of climate change and health by exploring patient case studies that exemplify the climate-health nexus. See below if you want to learn more!
Call to Action
Perhaps some of this information is new to you, or maybe this post just affirmed what you already know/are experiencing. If you’re feeling motivated to learn more or get involved, the following are great ways to take action:
Join OTEA (if you haven’t already): Get in touch with OTEA
Join COTAD: www.cotad.org
Attend the COTAD x OTEA Virtual Movie Night and Mini-Conference!
Follow OTEA and COTAD on social media for announcements
Read: The article by Taff et al., Climate Change and Occupational Therapy: Meeting the Urgent Need for Adaptation, Mitigation, and Resilience
Contact: Dr. Audi Santos: ausantos@salud.unm.edu
Blog authored by Dr. Audi Santos