In the APTA Vision, which two elements are linked to promoting equity in care?

• A. Body Structures and Functions
• B. Activity and Participation
• C. Personal factors and Environmental supports
• D. Social determinants and clinical outcomes

Answer: (B)

Equity in care is advanced when we focus on what people can and actually do in their daily lives. In the ICF framework, Activity refers to the tasks a person can perform, while Participation is their involvement in life situations—work, family roles, community activities, and social participation. When care centers on enabling activity and promoting participation, the aim becomes removing barriers so everyone can engage in meaningful life activities, regardless of impairment or condition. This shift from solely fixing impairments to facilitating real-world engagement is what drives equitable care.

Other elements touch important pieces of health and environment, but they don’t directly capture the two dimensions of functional engagement that really reflect equity in care. Body structures and functions focus on impairments; personal factors and environmental supports influence participation, and social determinants shape opportunities, but the essential pairing that directly denotes how people participate in life is Activity and Participation.