Social participation: Redesign of education, research, and practice in occupational therapy*

Abstract

There is growing attention to participation and social participation in literature and policy reports. Occupational therapists strongly believe that creating coherence between the person's occupations and environment will facilitate participation of each individual. Nowadays, societal developments such as "health literacy and self-management", "Web 2.0 social media", "empowering communities", and "Nothing About Us Without Us" increase opportunities for people to interact on different levels of social participation. Social participation can be used as an outcome, though it can also be seen as a means to change society and to develop solutions for barriers experienced by people with chronic diseases or disabilities. Societal developments will have an impact on social participation in terms of supporting each other and contributing to society. Additionally, these changes will have a major influence on the way we educate, conduct research, and deliver occupational therapy practice.

Participation and social participation: are they distinct concepts?

“…However, a commonly accepted definition of social participation is still lacking. 33 Authors have frequently been using the concept of social participation interchangeably with participation. [34][35][36] Further, authors use social participation in relation to concepts of social integration, social inclusion or social activity.…”

“…Health literacy and self-management, Web 2.0 social media, empowering communities and 'Nothing About Us Without Us' 69 are developments that will (continue to) have a major impact on healthcare. 33 Increasingly, people themselves will be held responsible for their health and social participation in society. These developments will change how individuals with chronic diseases and disabilities relate to and engage with society.…”

Home‐ and Community‐Based Occupational Therapy Improves Functioning in Frail Older People: A Systematic Review

“…They empower the person and his environment. In order to achieve this, occupational therapists work in a client‐centered way . Hence, occupational therapists are part of the group of professionals that contribute to achieving the main goal of older people, living independently.…”

Alcances y desafíos de la Educación en Derechos Humanos en la formacion de terapeutas ocupacionales, a partir de la percepcion de los estudiantes

“…En la Conferencia Mundial de DDHH de 1993, se determina que los Estados promoverán la inclusión de las temáticas de DDHH, el derecho humanitario y la democracia en todos los planes de estudios de todas las instituciones de enseñanza académica y no académica (Organización de Naciones Unidas, 1993). Desde el año 2005 existe el programa mundial de EDH, que progresivamente incorpora en sus planes quinquenales a distintos grupos objetivos (Organización de Naciones Unidas, 2005, 2010, 2013.…”