From patient to participatory citizen: literature review of disability policy on participation and access in relation to occupational therapy practice

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to analyse Swedish laws and steering documents concerning disability policy on participation and accessibility in relation to occupational therapy practice. An analysis of documents that have influenced Swedish disability policy was performed based mainly on Swedish documents but also including key international documents. These documents can be used to support and guide the occupational therapists’ work. People with disabilities have the right to have an accessible and participatory life but an evaluation of the national goals for people with disabilities in Sweden showed that the goals had not been fully reached. Occupational therapists have knowledge and an obligation to work with participation and accessibility issues and need to expand their interventions from the level of direct patient treatment to a societal level to better enable people with disabilities to be participatory citizens. This paper may inform occupational therapists in other countries the value of analyzing their government’s laws and documents to evaluate their stance on access and participation and how that affects the work of occupational therapy.