The Pros And Cons Of Occupational Therapy

The United States (U.S.) detains more individuals per capita, then any other nation (Wagner & Rabuy, 2017). Nearly 2.3 million individuals are currently held within correctional facilities (Wagner & Rabuy, 2017). Upon reentry these individuals face a greater amount of marginalization due social disconnections from the community and the ineligibility for basic services, which leads to unsuccessful transitions and high rates of recidivism (Muñoz, 2016). There are few professions that assist these individuals, and even less with an occupation based perspective. Occupational therapy and occupational science can offer a unique perspective in developing interventions that can assist these individuals, but there is a lack of awareness around social and occupational injustices within the U.S. Many occupational therapy programs do not offer experiences or perspectives that highlight the capacities of occupational therapy and occupational science within marginalized populations.
The approach for this project was developed through in-class and experiential learning. The components of this work include visiting a correctional facility, supporting the development of interventions, compiling community resources, collaborating with international peers and writing self-reflections.
The implications of this project show the need for social and occupational justice curriculum for occupational science and occupational therapy students, as well as highlighting the need for occupational therapy services within marginalized