Occupational therapists must consider the unique needs of transgender clients to create an inclusive healthcare environment that respects individual identities. Several recent legislation restrict various liberties, including medical treatments, bathroom usage, and preferred pronoun recognition. Transgender individuals often face distinct challenges related to mental health, social support, and healthcare access. Occupational therapists play a vital role in addressing these challenges by tailoring intervention plans to meet the specific needs of transgender clients, which may include assistance with daily activities and serving as advocates. By embracing cultural humility and gender-affirming care, occupational therapists contribute to the well-being and empowerment of transgender clients, promoting healthier and more fulfilling lives.

Resources

• Philadelphia Trans Wellness Conference
• Fenway Health & Harvard University “Advancing Excellence in Sexual Minority Healthcare”
• Harvard online course “LGBTQ Health Issues”

References

Gender identity and expression. (2016, April 16). [PowerPoint slides]. Retrieved from personal email from PFLAG Health Disparities. (2015, September 1). [blog post]. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/disparities/index.htm

Human Rights Campaign & Trans People of Color Coalition. (2017). A time to act: Fatal violence against transgender people in America 2017. San Francisco, CA: Lee, M.

Lynn, M. (2017). Here’s what transgender people with disabilities want you to know. BuzzFeed, Retrieved from https://www.buzzfeed.com/mahdialynn/heres-what-disabled-transgender-people-want-you-to-know? utm_term=.fdrrNNQX5m#.jbdx00AzGX

National Center for Transgender Equality and the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. (2011). National transgender discrimination survey. Washington, DC: Grant, J. M., Mottet, L. A., Tanis, J., Herman, J. L., Harrison, J., & Keisling, M.

National LGBTQ Health Education Center: Fenway Health. (2016). Affirmative care for transgender and gender non-conforming: Best practice for front-line health care staff. Boston, MA

Occupational Therapy’s Commitment to Nondiscrimination and Inclusion. (2014). American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 68(Supplement_3), S23-4.

Pan, L. & Moore, A. (n.d.). The gender unicorn. [blog post]. Retrieved from http://www.transstudent.org/gender

Parekh, R., (2016, February). What is gender dysphoria? [blog post]. Retrieved from https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/gender-dysphoria/what-is-gender-dysphoria

Singular ‘they’. (2018). [blog post]. Retrieved from https://www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/singular-nonbinary-they

State Maps of Laws and Policies. (2019). [blog post]. Retrieved from https://www.hrc.org/state-maps/transgender-healthcare

Understanding the transgender community. (2018). [blog post]. Retrieved from https://www.hrc.org/resources/understanding-the-transgender-community

Violence against the transgender community in 2018 (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.hrc.org/resources/violence-against-the-transgender-community-in-2018