Occupational Therapy in Disaster Preparedness and Response DPR
Occupational Therapy in Disaster Preparedness and Response DPR
Occupational Therapy in Disaster Preparedness and Response DPR
Significance to Society
Through an occupational focus, disaster-affected communities and people are better served in their
ongoing efforts to rebuild their lives and livelihoods, contributing to outcomes that can be sustained by
local service providers and systems. Improved occupational engagement promotes positive well-being
and mental health, enabling greater productivity and community resilience.
Occupational therapists engaging with disaster and reconstruction policy, planning and coordination
mechanisms, contribute pertinent expertise to response efforts while laying the foundation for more
cohesive involvement and response efforts in the event of future disasters.
Stronger networking and coordination between local health professionals, government services and
projects, and national and international NGO programs, potentially provide for a more integrated,
holistic and yet rationalised and self-reliant service framework.
Challenges
Occupational therapists are challenged to raise awareness of the benefits of occupational therapy
and occupation-based community involvement to both government and community leaders.
Capacity building is necessary to ensure that occupational therapy volunteers are prepared to
undertake disaster response.
Strategies
For individual occupational therapists, key recommendations include involvement with local
community disaster preparedness and planning to include vulnerable groups.
For national associations: Through national workshops and capacity building, national associations
can support occupational therapists to more effectively be involved in disaster response. For
occupational therapists affected by disaster and engaged directly in disaster response, national
associations can provide support.
For WFOT: Provision of timely responses, distribution of support materials and information package,
ongoing support and networking.