OTA 110: Global Social Issues and Occupational Justice Flashcards

Course Context and Foundational Outline

• Institution and Course Framework:

  • Institution: Pima Medical Institute

  • Course Title: OTA 110: Fundamentals of OT

  • Topic Focus: Global Social Issues

• Core Discussion Modules:

  • Current Global Social Issues: Involves structured class discussion and student-provided real-world examples.

  • Current Healthcare Issues: Involves structured class discussion and examination of current systemic healthcare challenges.

Occupational Justice and U.S. Practice

• Literature Foundation:

  • Publication: American Journal of Occupational Therapy

  • Publication Date: Jan/Feb 2017

  • Special Classification: Centennial Topic

  • Article Title: "Justice and U.S. Occupational Therapy Practice: A Relationship 100 Years in the Making"

• Background and Conceptual Development:

  • Evolving Discourse: The understanding and inclusion of occupational justice within occupational therapy practice is undergoing active evolution.

  • Core Assertion: "Since occupations are central to human existence, restrictions to participation in occupation are a matter of justice."

  • Global vs. Domestic Engagement: Discourse regarding occupational justice has historically been far more prevalent globally than within the United States.

  • Call for Educational Integration: Authors explicitly advocate for stronger consideration of justice in both U.S. occupational therapy education programs and clinical practice.

  • Biomechanical Model Dominance: In recent decades, occupational therapy practitioners (OTPs) have heavily relied on a biomechanical model of practice.

  • Widespread Practice Gaps: Due to the dominance of the biomechanical model, occupational therapy practitioners have not traditionally addressed occupational justice en masse.

  • Re-evaluating Traditional Practice: Scholars and practitioners are active in questioning and re-evaluating traditional occupational therapy practice paradigms.

• Rationale for Stronger U.S. Discourse:

  • Practice Definition: Occupational therapy "…enables occupations for people who face external barriers to participation in everyday life."

  • Return to Foundations: The shifting emphasis toward occupational justice is frequently interpreted as a intentional return to the historical origins of the profession.

  • Key Inquiry for Practitioners: Authors challenge the profession to address the question: "Why is it important for U.S. occupational therapy practitioners to conceptualize their practices more strongly as justice-oriented endeavors?"

  • Historical and Contemporary Parallels: At the beginning of the 20th century, as well as in contemporary society, "…the United States faced many problems….including war, immigration, industrialization, exploitation of workers, poor schools, and inadequate medical care."

• Future Trajectory of the Profession:

  • Expanding Orientation: A expanding commitment toward justice as a core driver of clinical practice.

  • Systemic Integration: Integrating occupational justice as a core component of all professional endeavors.

  • Fundamental Practice Principle: Emphasizing cultural humility as an essential professional competency.

  • Centennial Positioning: Occupational therapists are uniquely positioned to focus heavily on occupational justice over the next 100 years.

International Practice and Literature

• Global Healthcare Profession Context:

  • Publication: OT Practice Article

  • Issue Designation: Global Minded Issue (Jan 2016)

  • Profile Title: "OT Around the World: Profiles of Occupational Therapists in South America, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia"

  • Focus: Examines the practice profiles, cultural adjustments, and operational realities of occupational therapists practicing across diverse global regions.

World Federation of Occupational Therapists

• Organizational Foundations:

  • Establishment Date: Established in 1951.

  • Organization Profile: An international governing and advocacy organization dedicated to promoting occupational therapy across the globe.

  • Global Representation: Comprises 101 member countries.

• Strategic Objectives and Operational Goals:

  • International Collaboration: Promotes international cooperation among national occupational therapy associations and individual therapists.

  • Professional Exchange: Facilitates the international exchange of occupational therapists and occupational therapy students.

  • Educational Advancement: Promotes standardized high-level education, training, and curriculum standards for occupational therapists globally.

• Specialized Resource Portfolios:

  • Provides professional tools, guidelines, and resource frameworks on major global issues, including:

  • Disaster Management

  • Human Rights

  • Human Displacement

  • End of Life Care

• Dedicated Global Observance:

  • World OT Day: Observed annually on Thursday, October 27th, 2023.