Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB) resources and articles
This list is a starting point for exploring topics of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in physiotherapy. It is not comprehensive, nor has it been formally reviewed; however, it will be refined, expanded, and adjusted for relevance and accuracy with input from those with lived experience, experts, and leaders both within and outside the profession. We invite you to share resources that should be included.
Please contact Lisa Carroll, Senior Director, Professional Practice lcarroll@physiotherapy.ca if there are resources you would like CPA to know about.
Organization resource hubs and landing pages
American Physical Therapy Association Diversity, Equity and Inclusion resources – https://www.apta.org/apta-and-you/diversity-equity-and-inclusion
American Physical Therapy Association: Diversity, Equity and Inclusion toolkit –
https://www.apta.org/apta-and-you/diversity-equity-and-inclusion/diversity-equity-and-inclusion-toolkit
Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists OT NOW magazine (volume 22, March/April 2025) –
https://caot.ca/document/7758/OT%20Now_Mar_22.pdf
Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists: Practice Resource Hub (search: e.g., equity) –
https://caot.ca/site/prac-res/pr/hub?nav=sidebar&banner=4
Chartered Society of Physiotherapy: Equity Diversity and Belonging Member Support and Resources –
https://www.csp.org.uk/about-csp/equity-diversity-belonging/member-support-resources
Chartered Society of Physiotherapy: Equity, Diversity, and Belonging strategy –
https://www.csp.org.uk/about-csp/equity-diversity-belonging/strategy
College of Family Physicians of Canada Pride: Health Education and Research –
https://www.cfpc.ca/en/education-professional-development/practice-tools-guidelines/at-a-glance-clinical-resources/celebrating-pride-month-with-cfpc-pride
College of Physiotherapists of Ontario: Equity, Diversity and Inclusion reports and resources –
https://www.collegept.org/about/equity-diversity-and-inclusion
CPA Orthopedic Division: Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Action in Physiotherapy resources –
https://www.orthodiv.org/resources/idea-resources/
Equity-Oriented Health Care (EQUIP Health Care): Evidence, action kit, and resources –
https://equiphealthcare.ca/
McMaster University: Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Resource List(optional, self-directed learning) for Clinical Instructors Supporting the McMaster MSc(PT) Program –
https://srs-pt.healthsci.mcmaster.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Justice-Equity-Diversity-and-Inclusion-Resource-Listoptional-self-directed-learning-for-Clinical-Instructors-Supporting-the-McMaster-MScPT-Program_.pdf
Trauma-sensitive practice:
Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists: Trauma-sensitive practice –
https://vimeo.com/699429741/581f583874
Healthcare Excellence Canada: Understanding Trauma-Informed Practice and Engagement –
https://www.healthcareexcellence.ca/en/what-we-do/all-programs/equity-diversity-and-inclusion-virtual-learning-exchange/2023-02-07-equity-diversity-inclusivity/
Ablism, inclusion, and PT, critical disability studies
Burghardt et al., 2021. Coming to Critical Disability Studies: Critical Reflections on Disability in Health and Social Work Professions –
https://cjds.uwaterloo.ca/index.php/cjds/article/download/743/1006
Canadian Institutes of Health Research: Resources – Accessibility and eliminating systemic ableism –
https://cihr-irsc.gc.ca/e/52842.html
Dahl, O, Monrad, M. 2025. The tragedy of promising happiness through overcoming disability –
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2025.117769.
Friedman, C. 2023. Ableism, racism, and the quality of life of Black, Indigenous, people of colour with intellectual and developmental disabilities –
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/jar.13084
Friedman, C. 2023. Disability and Health Journal. Explicit and implicit: Ableism of disability professionals –
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1936657423000493?dgcid=author
McMaster University: 10 tips to help make health care inclusive for people with disabilities –
https://healthsci.mcmaster.ca/10-tips-to-help-make-health-care-inclusive-for-people-with-disabilities/
Roush & Sharby. 2011. Disability Reconsidered: The Paradox of Physical Therapy –
https://academic.oup.com/ptj/article/91/12/1715/2735085
Yoshida et al., 2016. Values and Principles of Teaching Critical Disability Studies in a Physical Therapy Curriculum: Reflections from a 25-Year Journey—Part 1: Critical Disability Studies Value Framework –
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5125505/?report=reader
Yoshida et al., 2017 Values and Principles of Teaching Critical Disability Studies in a Physical Therapy Curriculum – Part 2: Pedagogical Imperatives and Teaching Innovations –
https://www.utpjournals.press/doi/full/10.3138/ptc.69.1.GEE2
2SLGBTQIA+
Australian Physiotherapy Association: Communicating with LGBTQIA+ communities –
https://australian.physio/inmotion/communicating-lgbtqia-communities
Australian Physiotherapy Association: LGBTQIA hub –
https://australian.physio/membership/LGBTQIA-Hub
Australian Physiotherapy Association: online course, LGBTQIA+ Affirming Physiotherapy – Part A –
https://enrol.apacpdguide.com.au/courses/lgbtqia-affirming-physiotherapy-part-a
Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists: Understanding and addressing systemic barriers faced by 2SLGBTQIA+ populations –
https://vimeo.com/839042687/3faa50299c
Canadian Pediatric Society: Information for parents about gender identity –
https://caringforkids.cps.ca/handouts/behavior-and-development/gender-identity
Gender Awareness for Physiotherapists: Sponsored by the CPA’s Orthopaedic Division –
https://www.embodiaapp.com/webinars/559-gender-awareness-for-physiotherapists-sponsored-by-the-orthopaedic-division-orthopaedic-division-canadian-physiotherapy-association
Introduction to Culturally Safe Care for Trans People in Physiotherapy: Sponsored by the CPA’s Pelvic and Reproductive Health Division –
https://embodiaapp.com/courses/1321-introduction-to-culturally-safe-care-for-trans-people-in-physiotherapy-canadian-physiotherapy-association-women-s-health-division-global-health-division
Ross MH & Setchell J. (2023). Physiotherapists vary in their knowledge of and approach to working with patients who are LGBTQIA+: A qualitative study –
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1836955323000139#:~:text=Physiotherapists%20who%20consider%20gender%20identity,multifactorial%20and%20not%20only%20biomedical.
Trans Care BC: Education Centre –
https://www.transcarebc.ca/education-centre
Practising Allyship:
S. Nixon. Privilege and Critical Allyship –
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3aT3ZiPRTh8
Nixon, S. 2019. The coin model of privilege and critical allyship: Implications for health –
https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12889-019-7884-9
For Educators:
Queen’s University: Power, Privilege, and Bias MOOC –
https://healthsci.queensu.ca/sites/opdes/files/modules/EDI/power-privilege-bias/#/
For Researchers:
Canadian Institutes of Health Research: Best practises in equity diversity and inclusion in research practice and design –
https://www.sshrc-crsh.gc.ca/funding-financement/nfrf-fnfr/edi-eng.aspx
University of Alberta: Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in Research –
https://www.ualberta.ca/research/services/equity-diversity-inclusion-in-research.html