02/18/2026
As we honor pioneers in therapy this Black History Month, we recognize Ruth Coleman Denard and Naomi B. Wright.
Ruth Denard was one of the first registered Black occupational therapists in the U.S. and the first at the Tuskegee VA Hospital, later becoming Acting Chief of both the OT and educational therapy programs.
Naomi Wright created the first Occupational Therapy curriculum at Howard University, paving the way for future OT professionals.
Their impact continues to shape the field today.💗