This challenging and innovative book explores the political aspects of occupational therapy. It looks at how practitioners may develop political awareness in order to aid community development. "A Political Practice of Occupational Therapy "is about maximizing the potential impact of occupational therapists' engagements and ensuring the profession is working towards the contruction of a civic society. It is supported by twelve chapters of practice examples from the UK, US, Georgia and Australia, as well as a history of the profession as an agency for social change.

It asks: How is it possible to introduce the political into a profession that is linked to health and social care?What form could political practice take, and how could the political components of practice be analyzed and evaluated?

It includes significant theoretical chapters on gender, class and sexuality, challenges to holism, occupational literacy, and a discussion of political competence. This book will be of particular use for students exploring community and emerging role settings, client centred practice, occupational and social justice and the theoretical base of the profession.

From an editorial team that is widely recognized for their challenges to traditional thought and practice in occupational therapy, this book will be of value not just to occupational therapists but also those employed in health profession management and development, and community based rehabilitation.

The companion text to Occupational Therapy without Borders - Volume 1: learning from the spirit of survivors! In this landmark text writers from around the world discuss a plurality of occupation-based approaches that explicitly acknowledge the full potential of the art and science of occupational therapy. The profession is presented as a political possibilities-based practice, concerned with what matters most to people in real life contexts, generating practice-based evidence to complement evidence-based practice. As these writers demonstrate, occupational therapies are far more than, as some critical views have suggested, a monoculture of practice rooted in Western modernity. Nobel Peace Laureate Desmond Tutu captures the ethos of this book, which essentially calls for engagements in the service of a purpose that is larger than the advancement of our profession's interests: "Your particular approach to advancing our wellbeing and health strikes me as both unique and easily taken for granted. Whilst you value and work with medical understandings, your main aim seems to go beyond these. You seem to enable people to appreciate more consciously how what we do to and with ourselves and others on a daily basis impacts on our individual and collective wellbeing. As occupational therapists you have a significant contribution to make [.] allowing people from all walks of life to contribute meaningfully to the wellbeing of others." Links philosophy with practical examples of engaging people in ordinary occupations of daily life as a means of enabling them to transform their own lives Includes contributions from worldwide leaders in occupational therapy research and practice Describes concrete initiatives in under-served and neglected populations Looks at social and political mechanisms that influence people's access to useful and meaningful occupation Chapters increase diversity of contributions - geographically, culturally and politically Emphasis on practice, education and research maintains academic credibility A glossary and practical examples in nearly every chapter make text more accessible to students