Zoekresultaten

Doing occupational transitions

Introduction: People on the autism spectrum often struggle to transition smoothly between occupations in daily life. Objective: This qualitative inquiry aimed to understand the human and non-human factors that influence occupational transitions from the perspectives of adults on the autism spectrum. Method: Using a constructivist grounded theory design, this study purposively gathered data from eight adults on the autism spectrum who shared their viewpoints via semi-structured interviews and self-produced written texts. Framed by the Cultural Historical Activity Theory, an iterative process of constant comparative analysis was employed, yielding six categories that constituted the assembly of a working theory on occupational transitions among adults on the autism spectrum. Results: Drawn from eight participants, the six categories were: 1) getting ready, 2) the attributes of the occupation, 3) the others, 4) strategies of the moment, 5) cumulative stress, and 6) possible ends of the process. Conclusion: Our findings revealed a nuanced understanding on occupational transitions for adults with autism. First, materiality (non-human entities) serves various purposes in occupational transitions, implying that in some cases, intangible materials (tacit knowledge) would be enough to initiate, aid, or terminate occupational transitions. Second, doing transitions together through the optimization of social support and resources can make occupational transitions more meaningful for adults in the autism spectrum. It is our ambition that these propositions be tested and emphasized in occupational therapy, healthcare, and social care practices.

Palestine: tourism under occupation

Global perspective on migration and human displacement: theory, research and practices for enacting an occupation-based approach

How societies respond to the challenges of human migration is one of the most morally defining and socioeconomically consequential policy decisions of our time. As anti-immigrant parties across the Global North seek to capitalize on public concerns about immigrant inclusion and border control, immigration has turned into a deepening social and political cleavage. Meanwhile, the greatest immigration challenges are faced in the Global South. The vast majority of refugees who are forcibly displaced by war, political violence, poverty and environmental disasters seek refuge in neighbouring regions where many states lack the capacity to adequately support them. Given these challenges it is imperative for occupational therapists and scientists to work collaboratively to support equitable occupational possibilities for immigrants, refugees and internally displaced persons.

Occupation, colonisation, and apartheid tourism in Israeli settlements in occupied Palestine.

The Israeli human rights organization B'Tselem has classified Israel as an ‘apartheid regime’ for the first time in its history of documenting human rights violations in occupied Palestine, the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip. The primary goal of this conceptual paper is to investigate Israel's exploitation of Palestinian tourism and international complicity by focusing on critical examples of international companies and businesses that contribute to the business of Israeli colonisation by confusing tourists and exploiting a lack of knowledge. The study finds that Israel abides by the concept of apartheid in international law, which involves inhumane acts carried out by one racial group to create and retain dominance over any other racial group of people and systematically oppress them.

“A Chinese Wall along our Eastern Border” – Allied Occupation Policy in Germany and its Consequences for Dutch-German Trade Relations, 1945-1949

After the unconditional surrender of the Third Reich in May 1945, Germany no longer existed as a sovereign, independent nation. It was occupied by the four Allied powers: France, Great Britain, the United States and the Soviet Union. When it came to the postwar European recovery, the biggest obstacle was that the economy in Germany, the dominant continental economic power before the Second World War, was at an almost complete standstill. This not only had severe consequences for Germany itself, but also had strong economic repercussions for surrounding countries, especially the Netherlands. As Germany had been the former’s most important trading partner since the middle of the nineteenth century, it was clear that the Netherlands would be unable to recover economically without a healthy Germany. However, Allied policy, especially that of the British and the Americans, made this impossible for years. This article therefore focuses on the early postwar Dutch-German trade relations and the consequences of Allied policy. While much has been written about the occupation of Germany, far less attention has been paid to the results of this policy on neighbouring countries. Moreover, the main claim of this article is that it was not Marshall Aid which was responsible for the quick and remarkable Dutch economic growth as of 1949, but the opening of the German market for Dutch exports that same year. https://doi.org/10.1515/jbwg-2018-0009 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/martijn-lak-71793013/

Understanding the role of occupation in ageing

This article presents the life stories of four older women in Vienna in order to better understand the role of occupation in the course of ageing. A qualitative life-story method in the narrative tradition was used as a design of this multiple case study. The stories presented extend beyond an illness or deficit narrative and contribute to a more multifaceted narrative of the subjective experience of ageing in occupational terms in connection with identity. The women did not perceive themselves as old or sick despite problems in mobility, the presence of chronic disease and advanced age. This was associated with their engagement in occupation that was meaningful and linked to their identity. Engaging occupation is the means to continue, test, and adapt to the ageing self. Because occupation is like a litmus-test of one's identity and capacities, the women used it as a measure of change while ageing. Using Atchley's continuity theory, the attempt of the four older women to maintain a balance between adapting and struggling to continue their occupations is discussed in relation to their identity. The results expand Atchley's continuity theory by adding an occupational perspective.