TAMPA, Fla. — Occupational therapy is a highly competitive career field, but it lacks diversity.

According to research from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are less than 6% of Hispanics who are pursuing careers in occupational therapy.

What You Need To Know

  • Rural communities face challenges to access occupational therapy

  • Less than 6% of Hispanics are occupational therapists

  • Luz Gaona opened her own practice in Wimauma, helping Hispanics understand the benefit of therapy

  • Southshore Bilingual Therapy serves over 200 children a week

Occupational therapy is proven to be a need for rural communities like that of Wimauma.

Spectrum News spoke with Luz Gaona, who is hoping to make a difference in her community with therapy.

For Gaona, it’s always a celebration for her and her team at Southshore Bilingual Therapy.

A love for children and her own experience with speech therapy classes inspired her to open her own practice.

“We want these children to know that they’re loved, that they matter and that we accept them where they’re at, and that they also will be contributors to this world,” she says.

In the heart of Wimauma, 200 children a week receive speech and occupational therapy sessions.

Most of the families Gaona serves only speak Spanish, which she says can make it difficult to access the help they need.

“There are so many things that are not being considered when we evaluate a child when we think about the culture, the dialect,” she says.

Studies also show that a lack of knowledge about their child’s diagnosis can lead to a lack of preventative action.

It's why she says it takes a village to help the child through their diagnosis.

“It’s so important for us to teach our parents how to implement the service in their home, using tools. They’re not going to have this in their house, but what do you have in your home that you can recreate some of the activities that we do," Gaona said.

After every session with a child, the parents speak with the therapists and receive a breakdown of how therapy is helping and what they can do at home.

That at-home therapy can help in the instances when families are dropped from their insurance.

Situations like that are why ‘Inspira,’ was formed. The nonprofit that Gaona founded helps families raise funds to pay their medical expenses.

It also provides support for the parents and siblings of the patient.

Housed in the same building as Inspira, a boutique is part of the nonprofit’s mission to serve the community’s needs.

“We want to advocate for all of our friends who don’t have a voice, or the voice that they have is not similar to yours and mine," she said.

She is not only giving back, but she is also hoping to inspire the next generation of Hispanic therapists.

"We want them to feel like, yes, you are very much capable of building your own clinic, or if you want to work in the hospitals, whatever it looks like, but to be supported.”

Her practice supports everyone, but Gaona especially hopes to be that friendly face that Hispanics can connect with in the world of occupational therapy.