Microcredentials: Cultural Responsiveness

MICROCREDENTIAL PROGRAMMING

Presented by Shanese L. Higgins, DHSc, OTR/L, BCMH, FAOTA and Brandon Olsen, OTD, OTR/L

1 contact hour

Description:

This course focuses on building self-awareness and culturally responsive practice in occupational therapy. Participants will explore the concept of cultural humility, examine their own identities and biases, and reflect on how these factors shape therapeutic relationships and clinical decision-making. Emphasis is placed on adapting assessments, interventions, and goals to ensure alignment with an individual’s cultural context. Participants will also develop a personalized plan for ongoing reflection and professional growth.

Objectives:

• Analyze differences between cultural competence and cultural humility and evaluate how cultural humility informs occupational therapy practice.
• Examine their own cultural identity, assumptions, and biases and assess how these influence therapeutic relationships and intervention planning and implementation and planning.
• Apply culturally responsive principles to modify assessments, interventions, and goal-setting to meet the unique needs of clients.
• Formulate a personalized action plan for ongoing self-awareness and professional growth to continually recognize and mitigate implicit biases in order to enhance culturally responsive practice.

Presenter Bios:

Dr. Shanese L. Higgins, an Occupational Therapist with 22+ years of experience, has AOTA Board Specialty Certification in Mental Health. She earned her Post-Professional Doctor of Health Science and Entry-Level Master of Occupational Therapy from the University of Indianapolis. Passionate about enhancing dignity and diversity, she encourages reflection on the impact of culture on occupational engagement. Shanese’s research interests include mental health and culturally responsive practices. In 2024 she received the distinguished honor of Fellow of the American Occupational Therapy Association and in 2025 the distinguished honor of the Terry Brittell OTA/OT Partnership Award. She values God, family, church ministry, arts, and reading. Dr. Higgins is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

Brandon Olson’s path to occupational therapy began with a deeply personal moment: watching his niece work with her own occupational therapist. Already considering a career change, Brandon found himself inspired by their connection and quickly fell in love with the field. The profession aligned perfectly with his creative problem-solving, his drive to care for others, and his naturally empathetic approach. Brandon earned his associate’s degree at Cuyahoga Community College before transferring to Cleveland State University. At CSU he completed a Bachelor of Health Sciences and was subsequently granted admission into Cleveland State’s doctoral program in Occupational Therapy. He went on to earn his Doctorate in Occupational Therapy (May 2024). Brandon currently serves as a Regional Occupational Therapist with National Heritage Academies (starting November 2025).