Generative disruption through occupational science: Enacting possibilities for deep human connection

ABSTRACT

Critical interpretations of human occupation have grown as occupational scientists have come to recognize the inequitable consequences of hostile social and political realities. Occupational science’s position as interdisciplinary has also persisted, with scholars suggesting that collaboration with disciplines and related professions, such as occupational therapy, may forward efforts for social transformation. This intention of furthering opportunities for equitable participation is reflected in the increasing application of critical and participatory forms of knowledge co-generation in occupational science. As the discipline builds this trajectory of co-generating knowledge, drawing on decolonial perspectives, more epistemic discomfort, openness, and delinking is necessary so as to meaningfully locate occupational science from the epistemic vantage point of the South. Insights generated from scholarship related to human occupation will demonstrate the potential for doing occupational science in ways that reflect pathways to collective, decolonial processes that resist forms of domination and inequitable power relationships. Research and practice examples demonstrate how multiple perspectives may shape knowledge creation across disciplines and professions. Disruption becomes generative when it creates possibilities for understanding and enacting human occupation in ways that show contextual relevance and authentic connectedness through revealing multiple paths and truths towards collectively enacting human agency.

KEYWORDS:

• Occupational science
• Generative disruption
• Decolonial perspectives
• Occupational justice
• Critical perspectives

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).