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Are you aware of occupational justice in your practice? How often have you been challenged by issues of occupational injustice? How do occupational injustices limit your clients' abilities for occupational engagement? As a group of occupational therapists studying the theoretical foundations of our profession, these were the questions we asked ourselves as we discussed the concepts of occupational justice. In this article, we propose that many of the clinical dilemmas which occupational therapists face in their daily practice can be framed and addressed using concepts of occupational justice. We have challenged ourselves to apply the concepts and language of occupational justice to examples of how occupational therapists work with clients.
Occupational justice is a term that emphasizes rights, responsibilities, and liberties that enable the individual to experience health and quality of life through engagement in occupations (Townsend & Whiteford, 2005; Wilcock and Townsend, 2000). In an occupationally just environment, individuals have access to adequate supports and resources to participate in occupations that are necessary and meaningful to them (Townsend & Wilcock, 2004). Occupational injustices occur when people are denied the physical, social, economic, or cultural resources or opportunities to be engaged in these meaningful occupations. Various possible outcomes of experiencing an occupational injustice have been proposed. Occupational deprivation is the result of individuals being denied the opportunity and resources to participate in occupations. Occupational alienation can occur when people are required to participate in occupations they find meaningless with little recognition or reward. Occupational marginalization can occur when individuals lack the power to exercise occupational choice as can occur when persons are stigmatized by illness or disability. Finally, occupational imbalance can occur when an individual is underemployed or unemployed and has too little to do. Conversely, the individual may be involved in too many occupations such as the case of a single parent with multiple family and work demands.
Adopting an occupational justice framework requires occupational therapists to adjust the way they view issues that prevent a client's occupational engagement. To frame an issue in occupational justice terms means to identify the environmental and systems barriers that prevent the client from engaging in occupations that promote health and quality of life. The following scenario serves to illustrate how an occupational therapist has applied the...