Occupational Justice, School Connectedness, and High School Dropout: The Role of Occupational Therapy in Meeting the Needs of an Underserved Population

Trauma informed occupational therapy school practice with adolescents with social emotional and behavioural difficulties: findings of standardised measures

Abstract Introduction Although non-standardized qualitative and quantitative reports from 39 Irish students aged 12 to 14 years, with complex social and emotional needs and their 13 teachers had established benefits of ‘Movement Matters’, an occupational therapy designed participatory curriculum for learning self-regulation in mainstream schools (National Behaviour Support Service, 2015a), standardized measures were required for quality assurance by the Irish Government funded service. Objective The relevance of findings of standardized attitude measurements on the impacts of an occupation focused intervention with a discrete school population in areas of social disadvantage are discussed. Method Findings of the ‘Pupil Attitude to Self and School’ (PASS) (Granada Learning, 2021) and ‘Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire’ (SDQ) (Youth in Mind, 2021), both well-established standardized measures of attitude and behaviours completed (pre and post intervention) by teachers, parents and students are presented. Results No statistically significant differences were found between the standardized pre and post intervention measures. However, findings indicate a disparity between how these students in complex environments experience school in comparison to large UK study populations. Conclusion This paper discusses the use of these standardized measures for capturing impacts of an occupation focused intervention in a school environment. It calls for an increased appreciation on outcomes measurement related to the intervention’s aim of providing experiences of meaningful participation and well-being. Further collaborative research on outcome measurement of participation of students in complex mainstream school environments is required.

“Best practices of occupational therapy in schools” – uma resenha crítica e aportes para terapeutas ocupacionais no setor da educação

Resumo O presente texto é resultado de um seminário do Grupo de Pesquisa “Cidadania, Ação Social, Educação e Terapia Ocupacional”, ocorrido em 2019, entre os integrantes da linha “Escola, Terapia Ocupacional e Inclusão Radical”, que se debruçaram sobre o livro “Best practices of Occupational Therapy in Schools”. Editado em 2013, esse livro teve grande circulação nos Estados Unidos da América, compondo parte dos esforços da American Occupational Therapy Association para ofertar e ampliar subsídios teórico-práticos que garantissem tanto a inserção como a qualificação da atuação dos terapeutas ocupacionais em serviços e ações junto ao setor da educação. Consideramos que compartilhar uma síntese desse material, bem como as reflexões críticas que foram fomentadas pelo seu estudo, em diálogo contextualizado no cenário brasileiro, possa inspirar novas proposições para terapeutas ocupacionais que têm se dedicado a esse setor, mas também colocar em debate os riscos que transposições lineares podem causar, uma vez que determinados modelos e abordagens respondem a contextos situados, histórica e politicamente. Explicitadas nossas diferenças, que a circulação das propostas desse livro possa, sobretudo, contribuir para alavancar novas e eficientes estratégias para ampliarmos o número de profissionais envolvidos com o setor da educação.

Do occupational justice concepts inform occupational therapists' practice? A scoping review

BACKGROUND.

Occupational justice and related concepts can inform practices directed at injustice and the lack of rights in daily life. Brazilian ideas about social occupational therapy seem to be similar to these concepts about inequality.

PURPOSE.

This study aimed to answer the questions, "Do occupational justice concepts inform occupational therapists' professional actions?" and "How are occupational justice concepts connected to Brazilian ideas about social occupational therapy?"

METHOD.

A secondary analysis was undertaken of a scoping review using occupational justice and related concepts as keywords. Descriptive and categorical analyses were used to classify the extract data.

FINDINGS.

We selected 42 articles that specify occupational therapy practices, classified as individual approaches (n = 13), individual-integrated-with-social approaches (n = 22), and social approaches (n = 7). It was found that occupational justice concepts have informed individual approaches and that the second and third approaches can be connected with social occupational therapy.

IMPLICATIONS.

Dialogue for sharing knowledge, concepts, and practices of occupational therapy worldwide can be inspired by this review.