Themes of the 2022 World Federation of Occupational Therapists Congress
Written by Madelyn Yoo, OTS
The World Federation of Occupational Therapists (WFOT) hosts a Congress every four years for international researchers, practitioners, and students to share their knowledge and promote the profession worldwide. This year’s Congress took place in Paris, France from August 28-31st and centered on the theme of “Occupational R-Evolution.” With the goal of exploring “the exciting advancements occurring in the occupational therapy profession during these dynamic times of change” (World Federation of Occupational Therapists, 2022), WFOT leaders selected speakers and sessions on topics previously left undiscussed, one of which was environmental sustainability. Having had the opportunity to attend the Congress as a student, I am excited to share the themes of the congress as I interpreted the proceedings based on my experience.
Critical Reflection of Occupational Therapy
A primary thread through the presentations was critical reflection of the occupational therapy profession, particularly in the context of colonization. The keynote speaker from Brazil, Dr. Ana Malfitano, began by imploring us to question the colonization of knowledge and internalize the role of context in shaping reality. Pointing to the obvious fact that concepts exist in context, she illuminated the more insidious reality that occupational therapy concepts were bred in the Global North and continue to be organized in this limited frame. Understanding that the audience was predominantly composed of representatives from the Global North, she presented in the language of the Global North, English, for efficiency of communication rather than her native tongue, Portuguese. Canadian researcher, Dr. Karen Hammell, echoed similar ideas in her presentation entitled, “Blinded by Whiteness; It’s time for occupational therapy to recognize systemic racism as an unjust determinant of occupation.” She emphasized the domination of occupational therapy theories and models of practice that were derived from White, Eurocentric, Judeo-Christian, upper-middle class, heteronormative, and ableist perspectives in today’s practice. Highlighting the injustice of assumptions, such as occupational choice, she uncovered the extent of the profession’s privilege and consequent blind-spots, which continued to reveal themselves in the imposition of theories and models on the Global South and marginalized populations of the Global North.
Emphasis on Environmental Sustainability
A step toward progress, the Congress featured environmental sustainability as a thematic topic for multiple hour sessions each day. One of the main presentations shared the newly developed WFOT manual, “Disaster Preparedness and Risk Reduction.”Authors Tamara Barboza and Kit Sinclair from the United States and Hong Kong created the resource in response to the growing number of disasters and needs of at-risk and displaced populations. The pair outlined occupational therapy’s role as developing resilience, reducing vulnerability, and increasing preparedness for disaster, all of which could be explored in more detail in the free WFOT Disaster Preparedness and Risk Reduction Manual. While this document builds on the goals outlined in the WFOT Sustainability Matters report, there remains opportunity to build on strategies to directly mitigate the contribution of human occupation on climate change prior to threats of disaster.
Other presentations on environmental sustainability included content on sustainable occupations. Dr. Whitney Lucas Moliter from the United States conducted a study on an 8-week social networking group intervention to promote sustainable behaviors. Though results showed positive perceptions on the subject among group members, there was little lasting behavior change, suggesting that an online program may not be enough. In the realm of occupational therapy education, Sarah Thiébaut from France presented on the creation of an analysis grid for sustainability of occupation. This grid allows students to break down the actions of an occupation in order to see how they can make it more environmentally sustainable. In her presentation, Sarah shared about the use of this grid in class to analyze the occupation of preparing a meal. Students were assigned to observer and performer groups, where the observers watched the performers cook and assigned them an environmental score. Afterwards the observers and performers discussed the score and how they could best change the activity to improve its environmental sustainability. These environmental sustainability sessions, from manual development on disaster preparedness to educational activities on sustainability of activities, utilize top-down and bottom-up approaches, both of which are necessary to tackle the urgent climate issue.
Expanding Occupational Therapy
Amidst the various sessions was the sentiment that there was a need to expand occupational therapy beyond its current medically-oriented state. This was apparent from the initial presentation by the keynote speaker, who stated that we cannot reduce occupational therapy in the medical model as totality of the profession. Incorporating social determinants of health and occupational justice in occupational therapy education is a key mechanism for preventive interventions. Carrie Anne Marshall from Canada called for updated competencies that address social determinants of health issues, such as homelessness, which is increasing internationally due to growing wealth inequality. According to Hanneke Van Bruggen, a presenter also from Canada, socioeconomic status accounts for 45% of differences in health outcomes. In her presentation, she called for the need to embrace complexity and consider ecosystem integrity to mitigate such disparities. Understanding of such injustices must extend beyond formal education, and presenter Emma George from Australia emphasized the use of podcasting as a mechanism to disseminate such information and ideas for change. In order for occupational therapy to promote occupational justice and rights, the profession must evolve. Dr. Hammell, who gave the presentation “Blinded by Whiteness…”, called for the following changes: ending the notion of being an apolitical profession, disentangling occupational therapy from its colonial roots, and stopping the perpetuation of theories and practices that support the unjust status quo. At the same time, we must contemplate Dr. Malfitano’s call for greater awareness of cultural differences and reject the superiority of positivistic objectivity and the notion of a reversible world.
Upon reflecting on these global themes, I was overwhelmed by the depth of issues as fundamental as our guiding theories and models of practice in addition to the urgent demand for large-scale climate action that is not met by the current state of the profession. Discussions of colonization, injustice, and social determinants of health are all inherently entwined with environmental sustainability. As colonizers imposed knowledge, they exploited human and environmental resources while instilling capitalist systems that best benefit people of White, Judeo-Chrisitan, able-bodied, upper-middle class, heterosexual identities and marginalize those who do not fit these molds, including Indigenous populations. As a result, we have buried Indigenous knowledge of planetary care that may have prevented the climate crisis. There is a mountain of work to dig ourselves out of the position we have put ourselves in, and sharing information is just the beginning. Most of the presenters at the conference were from the Global North, and there was little representation from low and middle income countries, ironically illuminating the aforementioned issues. High cost of attendance, for both registration and associated travel, is perhaps just one factor and a point of serious consideration for future Congresses. In their concluding remarks, the WFOT Planning Committee Chair shared their hopes for a more affordable, accessible, and representative WFOT Congress in the future. Until the next Congress in 2026 (location not yet disclosed), we will have to wait to see if these hopes come to fruition.
References
Barboza, T. & Sinclair, K. (2022, August, 8). Challenging climate change through the use of disaster risk reduction strategies and existing occupational therapy skills [Workshop]. World Federation of Occupational Therapists 2022 Congress. Paris Convention Centre, Paris, France.
George, E. (2022, August 29). Amplifying occupational justice and equity in occupational therapy practice through podcasting [Conference Session]. World Federation of Occupational Therapists 2022 Congress. Paris Convention Centre, Paris, France.
Hammell, K. (2022, August 29). Blinded by whiteness: It’s time for occupational therapy to recognize systemic racism as an unjust determinant of occupation [Conference session]. World Federation of Occupational Therapists 2022 Congress. Paris Convention Centre, Paris, France.
Malfitano, A. (2022, August 28). An anthropophagy of knowledge proposition in occupational therapy: Driving our actions toward social life [Keynote Presentation]. World Federation of Occupational Therapists 2022 Congress. Paris Convention Centre, Paris, France.
Marshall, C. (2022, August 30). Competencies for occupational therapy practice in homelessness: A Delphi study [Conference Session]. World Federation of Occupational Therapists 2022 Congress. Paris Convention Centre, Paris, France.
Moliter, W. (2022, August 29). The use of social networking to promote occupational habits that support environmentally conscious behavior and ecological sustainability [Conference Session]. World Federation of Occupational Therapists 2022 Congress. Paris Convention Centre, Paris, France.
Thiébaut, S. (2022, August 29). Co-construction of an analysis grid for the sustainability of an occupation [Conference Session]. World Federation of Occupational Therapists 2022 Congress. Paris Convention Centre, Paris, France.
Van Bruggen, H. (2022, August 28). Maximising the impact of partnerships for community development: R-evolution through collective occupations [Conference Session]. World Federation of Occupational Therapists 2022 Congress. Paris Convention Centre, Paris, France.
World Federation of Occupational Therapists (2022). WFOT Congress 2022 Programme Handbook [Programme].