Occupational Therapy

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Work for an occupational therapist is also about more than simply having the individual employed and earning an income, from the occupational therapy perspective having an individual engaged in the occupation of work also allows for social engagement and contributes to protecting the individual from being exposed to occupational risk factors such as occupational deprivation which can be defined as the influence of external agency which prevents a person from participating in occupations which allows them to experience well-being (Wilcock, 1998). Another risk factor which they may be exposed to is occupational imbalance which can be defined as a "state that exists because people’s engagement in occupation fails to meet their unique

The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) is an international human rights treaty adopted by the United Nations General Assembly (“Committee on the rights of persons with disabilities”, 2016). South Africa is a signatory of the CRPD as well as its Optional Protocol which obliges the South African government to remove all potential barriers and challenges to persons with disabilities by investing sufficient funds and expertise to unlock their potential (Lehohla, 2014). This promotion of equality and independence also play a role in addressing issues of occupational justice and injustice, which in particular affects individuals who are members of vulnerable groups, such as children and persons with disabilities. Occupational justice is experienced through occupations of daily life as ongoing, unresolved stress to individuals, communities and environments (Townsend and Wilcock, 2004). Literature went on to explain that people need different access to resources and opportunities to promote equity. Within this aspect of occupational therapy the therapist will work towards addressing issues of occupational injustice, which particularly affects those individuals who are members of vulnerable

When looking at schooling and its relation with occupational therapy it is important to note that schooling falls within the occupation of productivity, where schooling could be classified as the occupation of learning. LSEN schools are schools which focus on the education of learners with special needs which may be as a result of either physical or intellectual impairment. They create and implement education and work preparation programmes for developing skills and abilities which are aimed at allowing learners to enter the workforce and obtain employment after school. As there is no standardised curriculum, all LSEN schools are using different curriculums and work preparation programmes, resulting in problems with regards to learners who completing their schooling with different sets of skills. This may be problematic in terms of job readiness and work skills which learners from various LSEN schools possess causing competition in an already narrow and competitive labour market for individuals with physical, mental or intellectual disabilities. There is no evident consideration of implementing a standardised curriculum which is a reflection on the lack of