A Reflection on the Eleanor Clark Slagle Lecture by Ann P. Grady

     Ann P. Grady MA, OTR, FAOTA became a recipient of one of the most distinguished awards in the profession of Occupational Therapy in the year 1994 and chose to speak on inclusion, adaptability, and choice behavior in our community (Lancaster, 2023). Grady was a co-author of the book Children Adapt with Elnora Gilfoyle and was also a contributor to the theory of sensorimotor-sensory development (The American Occupational Therapy Association, n.d.). In 1994, when Grady became a recipient of this award, society was changing internationally. Netscape Navigator became the first successful web browser for commercial use and was made available to schools and non-profits for free. In South Africa, the first multi-racial election was held after the apartheid ended, and activist Nelson Mandela became President (The People History, 2022). This turn of events was a major step in the right direction in regards to inclusion. I chose to write about Ann P. Grady's lecture because she discusses inclusion, which is important for so many beneficial reasons. I feel like inclusion will be accepted and implemented more if as many people are informed about it as possible. Inclusion is an approach that provides equal opportunities for people who are typically excluded such as people with intellectual and/or physical impairments as well as different types of minority groups. I believe Grady wrote about this topic because it is important for OT practitioners to remember the values the entire profession of OT stands on, which she stated are "choice, relevance, and active participation in meaningful occupations", and we must address and understand challenges such as diversity and inclusion so we can advocate for ourselves and others (Grady, 300). 

Grady, A. P. (1994). Eleanor Clarke Slagle Lecture—Building inclusive community: a challenge for Occupational Therapy. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 49, 300-310. https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.49.4.300