Disability
In pragmatic partnerships , there are spaces for disabled people to be equal citizens , using our professional powers as a resource .
Partnerships for progress
Histories of rights-based movements show that progress can happen when people seeking equity and equality are listened to and given power to make changes .
Klein ( 1996 ) described ableism in occupational therapy , saying : ‘ What they did not prepare me for was how to live as a disabled person in a world which is not disability friendly ’.
She suggested occupational therapists be allies in addressing barriers in society by learning more about disability activism and including more disabled colleagues in their workforce .
RCOT published Roots of recovery ( 2021 ) to demonstrate the value of occupational therapy , reflecting on health inequities and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic . But we need to ensure recovery is a joint effort , in partnership with the people who engage with our services .
To address ableism and ask occupational therapists to be allies , Rachel Booth-Gardiner and others founded AbleOTUK , a network and advocacy group for staff and students with lived experiences of disability and / or longterm health conditions .
Let ’ s reflect on the history of our practice , especially when we have encountered activists advocating for the social model and / or recovery movement .
You are invited to join AbleOTUK throughout Disability History Month via shared content to inspire reflection on their social media platforms .
Please do engage and search for the hashtag # BeAnAbleOTUKally . If we listen carefully to disabled people and mental health service users ’ experiences of our services , we may well hear voices that do not feel heard by our profession .
Beresford P ( 2015 ) All our welfare : towards participatory social policy . Bristol , Policy Press .
Craddock J ( 1996 ) Responses of the occupational therapy profession to the perspective of the disability movement , Part 2 . The British Journal of Occupational Therapy , 59 ( 2 ): 73-78 .
Eakin P ( 1985 ) The definition of disability . The British Journal of Occupational Therapy , 48 ( 4 ): 106-08 .
Evans J ( 2002 ) Independent living movement in the UK . Available online https :// bit . ly / 3NsB55u [ accessed 26 October 2022 ]
Kimmance KJ and Chick JR ( 1973 ) Occupational therapy in the community . Occupational
Therapy : the Official Journal of the Association of Occupational Therapists . 1973 ; 36 ( 1 ): 33-37 . doi : 10.1177 / 030802267303600105
Klein BS ( 1996 ) An ally as well as a partner in practice . The British Journal of Occupational Therapy , 59 ( 1 ): 23-24 .
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Oliver M ( 2013 ) The social model of disability : thirty years on , Disability and Society , 28 ( 7 ): 1024-1026 . doi 10.1080 / 09687599.2013.818773
Royal College of Occupational Therapists ( 2021 ) Roots of recovery : Occupational therapy at the heart of health equity . Available online https :// bit . ly / 3tiwWYO [ accessed 26 October 2022 ]
Russo J and Wooley S ( 2020 ) The implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities : More than just another reform of psychiatry . 2020 Jun ; 22 ( 1 ): 151 – 161 .
Sayce L ( 2021 ) The forgotten crisis : exploring the disproportionate impact of the pandemic on disabled people . The Health Foundation . Available at https :// bit . ly / 3FCvlUV [ accessed 26 October 2022 ].
Swain J and French S ( 2010 ) Occupational therapy : a disability perspective . In Curtin M et al . ( eds ) Occupational therapy and physical dysfunction enabling occupation . 6th ed . Edinburgh : Churchill Livingstone / Elsevier .
Tamaru A et al ( 2007 ) Understanding ‘ independence ’: Perspectives of occupational therapists . Disability and rehabilitation , 29 ( 13 ): 1021-1033 .
Underwood C ( 1981 ) The Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act , 1970 . The British Journal of Occupational Therapy , 44 ( 7 ): 216-218 .
United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities ( UNCRPD ) ( 2006 ) Article 19 : Living independently and being included in the community . Available at https :// bit . ly / 3gTyHsg [ accessed 26 October 2022 ].
World of Inclusion ( 2022 ) UK Disability History Month . Available at https :// ukdhm . org / [ accessed 26 October 2022 ].
Words DR WENDY BRYANT and RACHEL BOOTH- GARDINER , on behalf of ABLEOTUK
November 2022 OTnews 15