Occupational rights, choice and variety: A critical occupational analysis of British Columbia’s Framework for Accessibility Legislation

ABSTRACT

Occupational science offers a uniquely valuable perspective to policy analysis. Using an occupational justice lens and an occupational rights perspective, I critically examine a local governing text: British Columbia Framework for Accessibility Legislation. My argument highlights occupational injustices and potential injustices that might remain hidden in the absence of an occupational perspective, with a particular focus on elements of choice and variety in occupations that provide meaning and enrichment. Examining governing texts with occupational rights in mind is essential to promoting equity. While this governing text is specific to the British Columbian context in Canada, I demonstrate how an occupational perspective should influence policy, thus speaking to the broader conversation about contributions of occupational science to policy and governance.

生活活动科学为政策分析提供了独特的宝贵视角。 从生活活动司法的角度和生活活动权利的角度出发，我批判性地研究了一个地方管理文本：⟪不列颠哥伦比亚省无障碍立法框架⟫。 我的论点强调了生活活动不公， 以及在缺乏生活活动视角的情况下隐藏着的潜在的不公，特别着重于提供意义和丰富性的生活活动的选择和多样化要素。 检查具有生活活动权利的法规文本对于促进平等至关重要。 尽管此指导性文本是针对加拿大不列颠哥伦比亚省的情况而特定的，但我阐述了生活活动视角应如何影响政策，从而谈及有关生活活动科学对政策和治理的作用的广泛讨论。

La ciencia ocupacional ofrece una perspectiva única y valiosa para analizar políticas públicas. Utilizando una lente de justicia laboral y una perspectiva de derechos laborales, examino críticamente un texto del gobierno local: el Marco de Columbia Británica para la Legislación de Accesibilidad. Mi planteamiento destaca las injusticias ocupacionales y las potenciales injusticias que podrían permanecer ocultas en ausencia de una perspectiva ocupacional, desde un enfoque particular, centrado en los elementos de elección y variedad de las ocupaciones que proporcionan significado y enriquecimiento. Para promover la equidad es esencial examinar los textos rectores teniendo en cuenta los derechos laborales. Si bien el texto rector abordado tiene que ver específicamente con el contexto de la Columbia Británica en Canadá, me permite señalar cómo una perspectiva ocupacional debería influir en la política pública. Con ello hago referencia a la conversación más amplia sobre las contribuciones de la ciencia ocupacional a la política y la gobernanza.

KEYWORDS:

• Occupational science
• Policy
• Occupational justice
• Occupational rights
• Disability
• Participation

Acknowledgements

Laura Yvonne Bulk is a disabled scholar and teacher who practices as an occupational therapist in her role as the Accessibility Advisor for students in health programs at the University of British Columbia. She serves on the executive board of the Canadian Union of Public Employees, representing workers with disabilities. This article began as a paper for a graduate seminar – Occupation & Society – facilitated by Dr. Suzanne Huot and Dr. Susan Forwell. Laura thanks them and the other members of the seminar – Natasha Damiano, Anne-Cécile Delaisse, Bahareh Kardeh, and Saori Ogura – for the discussions and feedback, which contributed immensely to her development as an occupational scientist and to the writing of this article.

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.