This Eleanor Clarke Slagle lecture describes the author’s work with marginalized populations, including homeless adults with mental illness, premature aging conditions, and poor literacy; women who became homeless as a result of domestic violence; children in impoverished, urban school systems reading below grade level; and adults with severe and chronic mental illness that impeded their ability to secure employment, housing, and independent community living. The author illustrates how and why occupational therapy practitioners should become part of the primary care team that evaluates the impact of multiple disorders on marginalized populations’ daily life activities, provides services to optimize community participation, and provides environmental modifications to enhance safety and function.

AOTA Taxonomy:
ADLs, age 40-64, age 6-14, analysis of occupational performance, body functions, community mental and behavioral health setting, Education, environmental factors, functional cognition deficits, group, habilitation and rehabilitation, habits, health management, health promotion, IADLs, interprofessional practice and intraprofessional practice, interventions to support occupations, occupational justice, occupational performance, OT services are not billed separately, participation, personal factors, policymaker, prevention, primary and/or middle school, rest and sleep, routines, scope of practice, , , work
Keywords:
adult, homeless persons, mental disorders, child
Copyright © 2021 by the American Occupational Therapy Association, Inc.
2021
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