Social Justice and Public Policies

Social Justice

AET is committed to racial and social equity and justice. As such, we are looking inward and outward at the systemic inequities that exist in our profession and in the lives of our students.

As an initial step in exploring diversity and systemic inequity within our organization and the profession, the Social Justice Committee of AET conducted a demographic survey of our membership in 2021, with an updated survey completed in 2024. The purpose of these surveys was to deepen our understanding of the demography within our profession and the students and families that we serve. AET is using this information to inform our work as we continue with our social justice initiative projects. 

Although it represents a fraction of our membership, the survey data revealed both expected and unexpected results. For example, while we are, as expected, a primarily white, female profession, we have a more diverse clientele than anticipated. In addition, slightly more than half of the educational therapists who responded to the survey provide low-cost/no-cost options within their practices, and many of us speak a variety of different languages. The 2024 survey reflects growth in several meaningful areas, including diversity in membership and provision of low-cost/no-cost options. Please review the data, as it is rich in information about who we are as a group and illustrates the great opportunity we have to make changes that will enrich and broaden diversity and equity within our profession, ultimately increasing our ability to better serve a wider range of students and families.

Survey Results from 2024
Survey Results from 2021

Policy on Generating Public Statements

Rationale: The Association of Educational Therapists publishes position statements on educational issues relevant to the practice of educational therapy and the lives of clients and their families. Guidelines are necessary to ensure that statements reflect AET's Vision, Mission, and Core Values and remain within legal parameters for nonprofit organizations.

 Policy:

• The Association of Educational Therapists publishes position statements on educational issues relevant to the practice of educational therapy and the lives of clients and their families.
• Statements must reflect AET's Vision, Mission, and Core Values.
• Published statements must include a rationale that provides context and research-based evidence.
• In keeping with nonprofit organizations' requirements, statements may not endorse or oppose a specific political party or candidate for political office.

1. Statement of Commitment (November 2020)

“AET is committed to racial and social equity and justice. As such, we are looking inward and outward at systemic inequities that exist in our profession and in the lives of our students.”

2. Statement on School Shootings (June 2022)

Dear Members,

We, as members of the Association of Educational Therapists (AET), are heartbroken by school shootings and the devastating consequences of these acts on the lives of our students, educators, families, and communities. We should not live in fear because fear impacts every aspect of our well-being. Students must feel secure to focus on learning and reaching their full potential. Educators should not have the added burden of protecting the lives of their students against violence at school. AET advocates for policies that provide students and educators with an environment that supports their social, emotional, and academic needs.

If you share our concerns, we encourage you to inform your representatives in Congress as they consider legislation that impacts this critical issue. Contact information for U.S. Representatives and Senators can be found at

https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative 

OR 

https://www.senate.gov/senators/senators-contact.htm

3. Statement on Censorship (April 2023)

Statement on the Importance of Access to Diverse Books

As Educational Therapists, we believe the selection of books for libraries, classes, or individuals is a complex process that includes consideration of developmental level, reading level, and ability to comprehend the book's content in a manner that ensures books enrich the individual's life. The Association of Educational Therapists stands against the exclusion of books from libraries and schools without due consideration of the diverse needs of a socially just world. 

Context

According to Deborah Caldwell-Stone, Director of American Library Association’s Office for Intellectual Freedom, a book challenge or ban is an attempt to remove a book from a library’s collection so that no one can access it through the library. Between January 1 and August 31, 2022, American Library Association (ALA) documented 681 attempts to ban or restrict library resources, and 1,651 unique titles were targeted. In 2021, ALA reported 729 attempts to censor library resources, targeting 1,597 books, which represented the highest number of attempted book bans since ALA began compiling these lists more than 20 years ago. The vast majority of these titles were written by or about members of the LGBTQIA+ community and people of color. (American Library Association,2022). Censorship has been an ongoing issue at least since the 19th century (Ringel 2016). Since 1982, the Banned Book Week Coalition has sponsored an annual Banned Book Week to celebrate the freedom to read. The Banned Books Week Coalition is an international alliance of diverse organizations joined by a commitment to increase awareness of the annual celebration of the freedom to read. The Coalition seeks to engage various communities and inspire participation in Banned Books Week through education, advocacy, and the creation of programming about the problem of book censorship. (The Coalition | Banned Books Week, 2023). 

Evidence

Research supports the conclusion that when individuals see authentic representations of characters or situations that mirror their life experiences in terms of such things as race, culture, religion, gender, sexual identity, and neurodiversity, it positively impacts their sense of self-efficacy, identity, and academic achievement (Adomat, 2014, Heineke, 2022, Tetreault,2020). The ability to make connections with fiction and nonfiction reading content and characters is essential to reading success and engagement and creates an environment where students increase their reading skills and deepen their understanding of texts (Adam, 2020, Heineke, 2022, Rodreguez, 2018). While we did not find research that indicates the act of limiting local library resources through book challenges directly affects student success, based on the existing research, we, as Educational Therapists, are concerned that the book challenges and the current censorship environment may impact our students’ identity development and academic achievement. 

Resources

Adam, H., Barratt-Pugh, C. (2020) The challenge of monoculturalism: what books are educators sharing with children and what messages do they send?. Australian Educational Researcher. 47, 815–836. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13384-019-00375-7

Adomat, D. S. (2014). Exploring Issues of Disability in Children’s Literature Discussions. In Disability Studies Quarterly (Vol. 34, Issue 3). https://doi.org/10.18061/dsq.v34i3.3865

American Library Association Releases Preliminary Data on 2022 Book Bans | News and Press Center, 2022 )

Heineke, A.J., Papola-Ellis, A. and Elliott, J. (2022), Using Texts as Mirrors: The Power of Readers Seeing Themselves. Teaching and Learning in Action, 76: 277-284. https://doi.org/10.1002/trtr.2139

Ringel, P., How Banning Books Marginalizes Children. In The Atlantic, October 2016

Rodreguez, J (2018), Why It's Important for Kids to See Themselves in Books. Why It's Important for Kids to See Themselves in Books (scholastic.com)

Tetreault, N. (2020). Insight Into a Bright Mind. Gifted Unlimited, LLC.

The Coalition | Banned Books Week, 2023

4.  Statement on IMLS Elimination (December 2025)

“Whatever the cost of our libraries, the price is cheap compared to that of an ignorant nation.” 
Walter Cronkite 

The Association of Educational Therapists (AET) is an international professional organization for educational therapists who serve individuals with learning challenges. AET provides leadership, certification, professional development, and resources to members, clients, allied professionals, and the public. AET envisions a socially just world where all learners reach their potential, appreciate their unique abilities, and thrive. 

On March 14, 2025, President Trump issued an Executive Order directing that “to the maximum extent consistent with applicable law,” all non-statutory components and functions of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) be eliminated and that those agency functions mandated by law be reduced to a minimum. 

Congress created IMLS to ensure that federal resources would be available to improve and support the nation’s public libraries and museums. It draws on decades of legislation acknowledging the need for all citizens to have access to public libraries and museums to improve their lives and their ability to participate fully in our society, our economy, and the political process. 

Educational Therapists are highly trained professionals who work in the academic domain with neurotypical and neurodivergent children, adolescents, and adults. Our learners, their families, and their schools rely on the free resources available through the nation's libraries and museums to support skill development and build knowledge. Libraries provide individuals with opportunities to connect with information and ideas and inspire lifelong learning. Eliminating or reducing IMLS will deny students, families, and communities access to an essential public service. 

Libraries and museums are tangible expressions of the First Amendment and the promise that all people enjoy the freedom to read and learn. The Association of Educational Therapists believes that well-funded and well-supported libraries and museums are foundational for a functioning, inclusive democracy and are necessary for the flourishing of individuals and our nation as a whole. 

We call on the current administration to rescind the Executive Order reducing or effectively eliminating IMLS and urge Congress to continue to uphold and fully fund all the programs and initiatives currently provided by the Institute of Museum and Library Services to maintain access to public libraries and museums for all. 

We ask AET members who believe in the necessity of libraries and museums to act by contacting their congressional representatives and demanding that they maintain and fully fund IMLS so that it can continue to support the nation’s public libraries and museums. This link will take you there. 

 Letter Guidelines to Elected Officials

Your voice matters: Here is one way to take action! Remember, your legislator's job is to represent you. It’s essential to be clear and direct in expressing your position because your elected officials may not understand how deeply you care about the current issues and the significant impact their decisions have on real people’s lives. We know that letters and emails are highly effective ways to communicate with elected officials because they understand that a letter not only represents the position of the writer but also the beliefs of others who share the same concerns. For this reason, your letter or email can have exponential power!

These tips will help increase the effectiveness of your letter:

Keep it brief: Letters should never be longer than one page, and should be limited to one issue. Legislative aides read many letters on numerous issues in a day, so your letter should be as concise as possible.

State who you are and what you want up front: In the first paragraph, tell your legislators that you are a constituent and identify the issue about which you are writing. If your letter pertains to a specifi c piece of legislation, it helps to identify it by its bill number (e.g. H.R. ____ or S. _____).

Dear ______, My name is __________ and I am _______

Hit your three most important points: Choose the three strongest points that will be most effective in persuading legislators to support your position.

Personalize your letter: Emphasize why this issue is important to you and your community. If you have one, include a personal story. A constituent's personal stories can be very persuasive as your legislator shapes their position.

Highlight relevant connections: If you have ever voted for this elected official, contributed time or money to their campaign, or have a personal or professional connection with them, include this information in your letter. Highlighting these associations can strengthen your argument.

You can find contact information for your local, state, and national legislators on Congress.org.