Community development in occupational therapy education
learning from global experiences
Chapter
Occupational therapists consider community-centered practices such as community development<br/>essential practice domains. In some parts of the world, community development is strongly embedded<br/>in occupational therapy practice, while in other places this approach is emerging and need strengthening.<br/>This chapter outlines the synergy between occupational therapy, community development, sustainable<br/><br/>development, and critical citizenship. In doing so, it will consider the profession’s understanding of the<br/>value of an occupational perspective in critically addressing community issues and aiming for sustainable<br/>development. A module to prepare occupational therapy students for their potential role in community<br/>development processes is associated with case studies from three different continents. These examples<br/>give a rich image of community development approaches within occupational therapy practice.