AbleOTUK is run entirely by volunteer occupational therapists with lived experience of disability, long-term health conditions, and/or neurodivergence. We do this work in our own time, with no financial support, driven by passion, solidarity, and a commitment to changing the profession for the better.
Our team is made up of individuals whose levels of engagement may fluctuate and that’s not only expected, it’s respected. We recognise that health, energy, and capacity can vary, and we actively create space for people to step in and out as needed. This is a core part of our values, rooted in compassion and mutual support.
Despite these challenges, the AbleOTUK team continues to do a wide range of work behind the scenes, including:
- Running our monthly support network sessions for members with lived experience
- Maintaining this website
- Managing our social media channels and inbox
- Liaising with other organisations to ensure our message is heard
- Representing the network on the ABLE Advisory Group with the Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT)
- Writing blogs and producing our regular newsletter
- Planning and hosting CPD opportunities, often in collaboration with others across the occupational therapy and wider health and social care community
Everything we do is rooted in our values of accessibility, inclusion, equity, and empowerment. We are proud of what we’ve built—and continue to build—together.
STRONGER TOGETHER isn’t just a slogan. It’s how we work.
Founding Members of AbleOTUK
AbleOTUK was co-founded by a group of occupational therapists who recognised the urgent need for a supportive, inclusive, and advocacy-driven space for those within the profession who are disabled, neurodivergent, and/or living with long-term health conditions.
Our founding members came together with a shared vision: to challenge ableism in occupational therapy, amplify lived experience, and build a peer-led community rooted in solidarity and intersectionality.
We are proud to recognise the contributions of our founding members, who each brought their unique voices, experiences, and commitment to creating change:
Susan Griffiths, Georgia Vine, Kirsty Stanley, Samantha Pywell, Hayley Ellis, Ann Marie-Fadare, Natalie Hicks and Rachel Booth-Gardiner
Their leadership and collective action on Tuesday 27th July 2021 laid the foundation for what AbleOTUK is today—a volunteer-led network committed to equity, empowerment, and being STRONGER TOGETHER.
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