Identity-affirming occupational therapy: Nuanced approaches to supporting 2S/LGBTQ+ clients and families (June 12, 2026)

Learning objectives

By the end of this workshop, you will be able to:

1. Engage in conversations with and about the 2S/LGBTQ+ community using affirming and respectful language.
2. Recognize the impact of the current social and political climate on the 2S/LGBTQ+ community, including identification of how to respond to homophobia and transphobia.
3. Identify the connection between occupation and experiences of gender transition including gender dysphoria, gender euphoria, and queer joy.
4. Support 2S/LGBTQ+ clients in navigating commonly encountered systemic barriers.
5. Recognize and support occupational therapy’s role in identity-affirming care. 

Target audience

Occupational therapy professionals (including occupational therapist clinicians and occupational therapist assistants), occupational therapy educators, and students in occupational therapy programs and OTA/PTA programs who wish to deepen their understanding of the relationship between gender, sexuality, and occupational participation and to explore the scope of occupational therapy in supporting 2S/LGBTQ+ clients and families.

Please note: Each participant is responsible to ensure they apply the information within the context of their licensure, provincial/territorial legislations, institution regulations, scope of practice, etc.

Client age group

Adolescents (13-19 years old), Adults (20-64 years old), Older Adults (65+ years old)

Areas of practice

Advocacy & Policy, Education and Fieldwork, Equity & Justice, Leadership, Sexuality & Gender

Workshop level

Beginner (0-2 years of experience in this specific practice area)

Please note: Participants with more or less than this stated level of experience are welcome to attend the workshop. The workshop content will be geared towards those with 3-5 years of experience.

Presenter

Holly Reid, Reg. OT (BC)

Holly Reid (they/them) is an occupational therapist and researcher who approaches 2S/LGBTQ+ education, advocacy and activism informed by their background in occupational therapy, experiential knowledge and research endeavors. Holly engages in community-driven research that draws on existing strengths and resources, and counters the tendency for institutional research to be top-down and deficit-focused. Holly approaches challenging, conflict-filled situations and system-level barriers with humility, compassion, and respect. Everyone comes to conversations about equity, diversity, and inclusion with their own perspectives, experiences, and knowledge.

Kirby Way, Reg. OT (BC)

Kirby (he/him) is an occupational therapist with experience working alongside individuals with experiences of mental health and substance use to support participation in meaningful occupations. He strives to approach his work with an accessible, anti-oppressive, and strength-based lens. As a queer transmasculine person, Kirby celebrates using his lived experience to facilitate connections with- and provide education to- individuals and organizations aspiring to strengthen their allyship with the 2S/LGBTQ+ community. Kirby is passionate about justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion in healthcare spaces and beyond, with experience in research, academic, and community-based advocacy initiatives to foster safer spaces for the queer and trans community.

Registration fees

Early bird rates: Registration and payment completed by April 15, 2026

CAOT Members and Associates	CAOT Student/ Provisional Associates & Retired Members	Non-member*
$220	$195	$275

Regular rates: Registration and payment completed after April 15, 2026

CAOT Members and Associates	CAOT Student/ Provisional Associates & Retired Members	Non-member*
$270	$245	$325

Registration deadline: June 12, 2026, at 9:59 a.m. (Eastern Time) 

Please note that CAOT does not offer group registration fees.

*It may be more cost effective to become a CAOT Member or Associate rather than pay the non-member rate. See “Can a non-member register for a Workshop?” in our Professional Development FAQs to know which membership category you are eligible for.  

Registration fee includes:

• Access to the online workshop platform
• Access to the workshop recording for 14 days following the live sessions
• An electronic copy of the presentation slide handouts
• Opportunities to network with other occupational therapists with an interest in this topic
• An electronic certificate of attendance

Cancellation/refund policy

All cancellation/refund requests must be sent in writing to  education@caot.ca. All cancellation requests received by May 27, 2026 will be given a full refund minus a $50.00 administrative fee. No refunds will be given after May 27, 2026. Substitutions and transfers requests received by May 27, 2026 are permitted and are subject to a $50.00 administrative fee.

If you are exceptionally unable to complete the workshop, please reach out to  education@caot.ca by 25 days following the end of the workshop for extended access to the recording (up to one month after the end of the workshop) or a one-time transfer to another offering of the  same workshop if currently open for registration. 

CAOT reserves the right to modify the workshop title, description, registration dates and information on the workshop webpage. CAOT will notify participants on or before May 1, 2026 if there is insufficient registration by that date and reserves the right to cancel a Workshop due to insufficient registration up until May 15, 2026. CAOT reserves the right to modify the offering, interrupt Workshops, change the timing of a Workshop, cancel a Workshop or change the technology for the Workshop due to the presenter no longer being able to present the Workshop, severe weather, power failure, building closures or other special circumstances that are beyond the control of CAOT by notifying participants as soon as possible. If the Workshop is cancelled by CAOT, registrants will receive a full refund of the registration fee. CAOT will not be responsible for other costs or expenses incurred by registrants as a result of any such changes.

---

  Professional Development FAQs

  Provide suggestions for Professional Development


The Canadian Association of Occupational Therapy (CAOT) is committed to accessibility as expressed in the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). We provide an electronic copy of the handouts approximately one week ahead of time in multiple slide layouts, auto-generated closed captioning through Zoom (excluding breakout rooms), as well as access to the recording for two weeks following the workshop. If you require additional special arrangements for accessibility, please contact education@caot.ca or 1-800-434-2268.    

This workshop is facilitated in English.