Participation and Engagement in Occupation in Adults With Disabilities

We are occupational scientists and occupational therapists. As scientists, we study occupation to understand its role in the everyday lives of those who experience restrictions, gaps, or dysfunction. As therapists, we help people overcome occupational restrictions; we do this by identifying barriers that limit their participation in occupations and by evaluating the process that supports engagement. Our interventions are designed to promote engagement, restore function, and address important activities, tasks, and roles. From both the scientific and clinical perspectives, we must have valid and reliable tools that assist in our inquiry and promote our unique roles as members of a team that is supporting a person,s development or recovery.