Towards salience and solidarity: The importance of epistemic development in occupational science, occupational therapy, and the relationship between them

ABSTRACT

Despite different histories, occupational science and occupational therapy share a central concern with occupation, in all its complexity, and the participation and inclusion of people in society. In this presentation, I chart how epistemic developments in each discipline have brought them closer together through a series of linked propositions. The strengthening of this relationship, I argue, has enabled greater levels of representation and politicization of occupational issues in society, a development I support with two key examples. Additionally, this development has enhanced our societal salience and our solidarity to each other as well as with [often marginalised] communities of people. In closing, I suggest a reworked vision of possibility for future collaborative, emancipatory action.

尽管它们有不同的历史，生活活动科学和生活活动治疗都关注复杂的生活活动以及社会中人们的参与和包容。 在本文中，我描绘了每个学科的认知发展如何通过一系列相互关联的命题使它们更加紧密地结合在一起。 我认为，这种关系的加强使得社会中生活活动问题的代表性和政治化程度更高。我用两个关键例子来支持这一发展。 此外，这一发展增强了我们的社会显要性以及我们彼此之间以及与（通常被边缘化的）人群的团结。 最后，我提出一种重新设计的未来合作性解放行动的可能性。

A pesar de sus diferentes historias, la ciencia y la terapia ocupacionales comparten su preocupación central por la ocupación, considerada en toda su complejidad, y por la participación e inclusión de las personas en la sociedad. A partir de una serie de proposiciones vinculadas, en esta presentación esbozo el modo en que los desarrollos epistémicos de cada disciplina las ha ido acercando. El fortalecimiento de esta relación, sostengo, ha permitido mayores niveles de representación y politización de las cuestiones ocupacionales en la sociedad, desarrollo que demuestro empleando dos ejemplos clave. Además, este desarrollo ha aumentado nuestra relevancia social y nuestra solidaridad mutua, como también con las comunidades de personas (a menudo marginadas). Para terminar, planteo una visión reelaborada de la posibilidad para realizar una futura acción colaborativa y emancipadora.

KEYWORDS:

• Occupational science
• Occupational therapy
• Epistemology
• Inclusion
• Occupational participation
• Radical solidarity
• Societal salience

Acknowledgements

I begin by acknowledging the traditional owners, the Kumeeyaay people, of the land upon which we gathered in San Diego for this conference, their Elders past, present, and emerging, and the knowledge traditions they represent. I also acknowledge the Society for the Study of Occupation, their unwavering commitment to advancing occupational science scholarship – and of course the very hard work of the organising committee for what has proven to be a very thoughtful and stimulating conference. I also acknowledge Dr. Zemke herself and her truly remarkable contribution over time. It is, indeed, a very great honour for me to be here and to give this address today. Finally, a thank you to my fellow Aussie and best support crew you could imagine, my husband Harry – I’m so glad you are with me here because when I first received the invitation to do this lecture we were in the grips of COVID-19 lockdown and you were recovering from open heart surgery – and we didn’t know if we would be here in person, yet here we are – how fantastic.