In this special OT Month episode, we are doing something a little different — a reunion episode! Just a couple of weeks ago, the four of us were on stage at SXSW, one of the world’s most influential festivals for tech, film, music, and culture, sharing our experiences, perspectives, and our passion for role-emerging and non-traditional OT practice. And today, we’re bringing the band back together to debrief, reflect, and process what that incredible panel meant to us — and where we go from here. So, I am thrilled to welcome back our three amazing panelists — Francisco Lasta, Dawn Heiderscheidt and Esther Bae— brilliant practitioners, storytellers, and changemakers in the OT design space. If you missed our SXSW panel, don’t worry — we’ll catch you up, dive deeper, and pull back the curtain on what it really felt like to share our message with such a dynamic and diverse audience.
Occupation-Centered Design: Unlocking Inclusive Experiences
https://schedule.sxsw.com/2025/events/PP146632
Francisco Lasta, OTR/L, Assoc. AIA
Inclusive Spaces & Design
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/flastaotr/
IG: @spinyfiredragon
Esther Bae, OTD, OTR/L, CPACC
Make Up, Beauty & Product Design
Website: https://www.modifiedindependent.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/esthersbae/
IG: @modifiedindependent
Dawn Heiderscheidt, OTR/L, ECHM, CAPS, CHAMP
Aging In Place Specialist
Website: https://www.auroraindependence.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dawn-heiders2024/
IG: @auroraindependence
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In this special OT Month episode, we are doing something a little different — a reunion episode! Just a couple of weeks ago, the four of us were on stage at SXSW, one of the world’s most influential festivals for tech, film, music, and culture, sharing our experiences, perspectives, and our passion for role-emerging and non-traditional OT practice. And today, we’re bringing the band back together to debrief, reflect, and process what that incredible panel meant to us — and where we go from here. So, I am thrilled to welcome back our three amazing panelists — Francisco Lasta, Dawn Heiderscheidt and Esther Bae— brilliant practitioners, storytellers, and changemakers in the OT design space. If you missed our SXSW panel, don’t worry — we’ll catch you up, dive deeper, and pull back the curtain on what it really felt like to share our message with such a dynamic and diverse audience.
Occupation-Centered Design: Unlocking Inclusive Experiences
https://schedule.sxsw.com/2025/events/PP146632
Francisco Lasta, OTR/L, Assoc. AIA
Inclusive Spaces & Design
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/flastaotr/
IG: @spinyfiredragon
Esther Bae, OTD, OTR/L, CPACC
Make Up, Beauty & Product Design
Website: https://www.modifiedindependent.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/esthersbae/
IG: @modifiedindependent
Dawn Heiderscheidt, OTR/L, ECHM, CAPS, CHAMP
Aging In Place Specialist
Website: https://www.auroraindependence.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dawn-heiders2024/
IG: @auroraindependence
Toni Solaru, MS, OTD, OTR/L, QMHP: OT in Culturally Relevant Care & Training
The Uncommon OT Series
44 minutes 16 seconds
7 months ago
Toni Solaru, MS, OTD, OTR/L, QMHP: OT in Culturally Relevant Care & Training
In this episode, we will learn from, Adeola (Toni) Solaru, MS, OTD, OTR/L, QMHP (they/them). Toni is a community-based mental health occupational therapist and clinical assistant professor working in Chicago, IL. Driven by justice and inclusion, Toni is dedicated to providing equitable services to meet the diverse needs of their students and clients. In addition to their role as a professor and clinician, Toni is the co-founder and chair of Diverse-OT National. Diverse-OT is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that aims to advance the OT profession’s cultural climate by increasing student knowledge of culturally responsive practice and works to support underrepresented students of color. Toni received their Bachelor of Science in Human Ecology from The Ohio State University, Master of Science in Occupational Therapy from the University of Wisconsin – Madison and Occupational Doctorate from Columbia University. Toni is passionate about delivering high-quality and culturally relevant client-centered services, health equity and justice, and assisting clients to achieve their personal goals.
The Uncommon OT Series
In this special OT Month episode, we are doing something a little different — a reunion episode! Just a couple of weeks ago, the four of us were on stage at SXSW, one of the world’s most influential festivals for tech, film, music, and culture, sharing our experiences, perspectives, and our passion for role-emerging and non-traditional OT practice. And today, we’re bringing the band back together to debrief, reflect, and process what that incredible panel meant to us — and where we go from here. So, I am thrilled to welcome back our three amazing panelists — Francisco Lasta, Dawn Heiderscheidt and Esther Bae— brilliant practitioners, storytellers, and changemakers in the OT design space. If you missed our SXSW panel, don’t worry — we’ll catch you up, dive deeper, and pull back the curtain on what it really felt like to share our message with such a dynamic and diverse audience.
Occupation-Centered Design: Unlocking Inclusive Experiences
https://schedule.sxsw.com/2025/events/PP146632
Francisco Lasta, OTR/L, Assoc. AIA
Inclusive Spaces & Design
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/flastaotr/
IG: @spinyfiredragon
Esther Bae, OTD, OTR/L, CPACC
Make Up, Beauty & Product Design
Website: https://www.modifiedindependent.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/esthersbae/
IG: @modifiedindependent
Dawn Heiderscheidt, OTR/L, ECHM, CAPS, CHAMP
Aging In Place Specialist
Website: https://www.auroraindependence.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dawn-heiders2024/
IG: @auroraindependence
