What does advocacy in occupational therapy promote?

Advocacy in occupational therapy is fundamentally concerned with promoting occupational justice and ensuring access to necessary resources for all individuals. This means striving to eliminate barriers that prevent clients from fully participating in meaningful occupations—be it in health care, community engagement, or daily life activities. Advocacy efforts often focus on raising awareness about the importance of occupational therapy, influencing policy changes that benefit client populations, and working towards equitable access to services and environments that support participation.

While financial independence, academic success, and recreational activities are important aspects of an individual's life, they do not fully encapsulate the broader goals of advocacy within the realm of occupational therapy. Advocacy is not limited to specific outcomes or contexts; rather, it encompasses a wide range of efforts aimed at improving overall quality of life and promoting equity in occupational opportunities for individuals across diverse settings.