Cultural Competency: For Health Professionals

Providing sensitive, individualized, and effective intervention and care depends on the ability to cross cultural boundaries--differences in culture, lifestyle, race, gender, ethnic background, age, education, religion, class, sexual orientation, geographic location, disabilities, life experiences, occupation, and a host of others. This book will help practitioners and occupational therapy students gain perspective on the cultural diversity of clients in the health care environment, explains the "whys" and "hows of achieving cultural competency, and will help readers' skills in this critical area.

Shirley A. Wells, MPH, OTR, has been a practicing occupational therapist for more than 20 years. She has also served as the manager of the Multicultural Affairs Program of the American Occupational Therapy Association. She is currently in private practice as well as a consultant on diversity and the ADA.

Roxie M. Black, MS, OTR/L, is an associate professor and director of the Master's in Occupational Therapy Program at Lewiston-Auburn College of the University of Southern Maine.