As we celebrate Occupational Therapy Week in South Africa, the theme “OT for Changing Contexts: Make it Happen, Make it Matter” invites reflection on how our profession is evolving alongside societal changes. One significant shift is the growing recognition of neurodiversity, and the implications this has for both clients and therapists.
In the past, terms like “Learning Disability” or “Autistic” or ADHD” were used to describe conditions that often placed limitations on individuals, shaping how they viewed themselves and how others treated them. These labels are primarily disability-focused, emphasizing deficits rather than strengths. Today, the language has started to change. Concepts like “neurodiverse” reflect a broader, more inclusive understanding of brain function. Rather than seeing these individuals as impaired, we recognize a range of cognitive styles, each with unique strengths and challenges.
This shift in terminology is more than just semantics; it deeply impacts the way clients and their families view themselves and their future. For a parent, hearing that their child is “neurodiverse” rather than “disabled” changes the conversation from one of limitation to one of potential. It encourages a mindset of growth, acceptance, and possibility.
Occupational therapists have a crucial role to play in this transformation. By embracing neurodiversity, we can move away from a deficit-focused model and instead support clients in harnessing their unique strengths to engage fully in their everyday lives. This involves rethinking assessment tools, adapting intervention strategies, and perhaps most importantly, advocating for inclusion within communities and workplaces.
In this changing context, OTs are not just therapists but facilitators of a broader societal shift. We are helping clients and their families to see their abilities, to create environments that embrace difference, and to “make it matter” by ensuring that everyone can participate fully in their world.
By adopting this mindset, we make our work as occupational therapists more relevant, inclusive, and impactful. And that is what “OT for Changing Contexts” truly means: meeting the evolving needs of society and ensuring that every person, no matter their neurotype, has the opportunity to thrive.
Happy OT Week! Let’s make it happen—and make it matter!