The Occupational Justice Action Tool (OJAT)
Created by Amy Coopersmith, Razan Hamed, & Bryden Carlson-Giving
The OJAT is an assessment tool for occupational therapy practitioners (OTPs) to use with students to assess barriers to occupational justice and center the lived experiences of those from historically excluded communities. The OJAT is a resource designed to improve our understanding of and support for marginalized children who face barriers to participating in activities alongside their peers. Marginalization can result from various factors, such as disabilities, cultural background, ethnicity, gender, or any other element that limits a child's engagement in meaningful activities.
Currently in its pre-research phase, the OJAT aims to assess its value and explore ways to integrate it into practice. There are three different versions of the OJAT:
Elementary School Version
Middle & High School Version
College & Young-Adult Version
Curious in learning more? Watch this 12-minute video of Amy introducing the OJAT!
OJAT Instructions
Instructions for implementing the OJAT:
1. Identify a student who is struggling to participate in activities that they consider important for themselves.
2. Fill out the appropriate OJAT: Collect information on the student’s positive and negative experiences in daily activities. This data can be obtained from teachers, parents, your own observations, though ensure prioritizing the student’s voice when possible Include details such as:
A description of the student's function and participation.
Relevant medical background.
Observations of barriers the student faces.
Personal interests shared by the student.
3. Include Multiple Perspectives: Ensure the information reflects the perspectives of the student, teachers, therapy providers, administrators, and family members regarding the student's desired activities.
4. Identify Key Barriers: After completing the form, assess which barriers are most significantly impacting the student’s participation.
5. Strategic Planning: Use the tool’s planning section to create a strategic action plan aimed at addressing the barriers and supporting the student's participation.
6. Develop an Action Plan: Create a detailed action plan that focuses on improving the student's opportunities to engage in desired activities.
By following these steps, you will gather valuable data that will inform stakeholders about how best to support a marginalized student who may be unable to participate in valued activities. Please know the OJAT is currently in its prototype phase and will likely be modified based on feedback prior to exploring psychometric testing.
The OJAT Forms
OJAT - Elementary School Version
OJAT - Middle & High School Version
OJAT - College & Young Adult Version
If interested, here is our 2025 American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) Conference presentation introducing the OJAT!
Have feedback for the OJAT?
Since we are in the beginning phase of the OJAT, we welcome any feedback you have! If you would like to share what you like about the OJAT, how we can improve it, or any other thoughts, please complete the form below!
