Affiliations: Occupational Therapy Program, Texas Tech University
Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, Texas, USA
Note: [] Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, 3601-4 St.,
Lubbock, TX 79430, USA. Tel: +1 806 743 3243; E-mail: [email protected]
Abstract: Given the global changes in how work is conceptualized, organized
and performed [8], it is critical that graduating occupational therapists have
an up-to-date knowledge of work and work practice. This article briefly
explores the relative dearth of work practice courses in current occupational
therapy curricula and presents the rationale for developing a model for
teaching and learning about occupational therapy work practice. It introduces a
client-centered and occupation-focused model developed for an undergraduate
work practice course and describes the use of the model in a specific course.
The model identifies eight common work-related areas of concern -- values
clarification, vocational exploration, vocational choice, job search, starting
work, maintaining work, returning to work and leaving work. Occupational
Therapy tools, techniques and programs which may be useful in addressing these
concerns; and the environmental factors that influence therapist and client in
addressing work issues are also part of the model. The article concludes with
examples of topics and issues which could be explored using this teaching and
learning model.
Keywords: work practice, education, conceptual models, vocational rehabilitation, client-centered practice
