| Sumario: | Background: Adolescents who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, asexual, and plus (LGBTQIA+) have reduced quality of health care because of stigma, lack of awareness, and insensitivity. Recently the American Occupational Therapy Association added sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) as a personal factor in the Occupational Therapy Practice Framework. It is important to understand how occupational therapists incorporate SOGI into their services provided to adolescents. Purpose: This study explored if occupational therapists considered an adolescent client’s SOGI when providing services. Research questions included: do occupational therapists perceive that SOGI influences adolescents’ occupations, and do occupational therapists perceive gaps in their knowledge related to SOGI? Method: A qualitative study using semi-structured interviews was conducted with four participants. Data was analyzed via open coding, then placed into categories, and then final themes. Results: Three themes were identified from the data: Open and empathetic but uneducated about SOGI; SOGI does not influence practice; and occupational therapy could have a role with SOGI. Conclusion: Occupational therapists may not consider SOGI when providing occupational therapy services to adolescents, and they may not be prepared to include SOGI because of gaps in their knowledge about SOGI-related factors and the influence on occupational engagement.
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