title: Well-being and occupational rights: an imperative for critical occupational therapy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  One of occupational therapy's core assumptions is that engagement in occupations influences well-being. Because occupational engagement is integral to human well-being, and because well-being is integral to human rights, this paper contends that the ability and opportunity to engage in occupations is an issue that concerns rights.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To outline well-being and its centrality to human rights; to explore the relationships between well-being and occupation and between well-being and occupational rights; and to highlight the consequent imperative to engage in critical occupational therapy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The World Federation of Occupational Therapists asserts that all people have the right to participate in a range of occupations that enable them to flourish, fulfil their potential, and experience satisfaction congruent with their culture and beliefs; and further asserts the human right to equitable access to participation in occupation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  If occupational therapists are to take seriously their espoused commitment to enabling equitable access to participation in occupation, the inequitable conditions of people's lives will need to be addressed. Critical occupational therapy is a committed form of practice which acknowledges that well-being cannot be achieved solely by enhancing individuals' abilities, and that consequently endeavours also to address the conditions of people's lives.
authors: Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada. ik.hammell@sasktel.net
authors: Karen R
authors: KR
authors: Whalley Hammell
authors: Michael K
authors: MK
authors: Iwama
mesh_terms: D004777:Environment; D006304:Health Status; D006806:Human Rights; D006801:Humans; D009788:Occupational Therapy; D011203:Poverty; D011287:Prejudice; D012935:Social Justice; D062487:Social Marginalization; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors