Environmental analysis: insights from sociological and geographical perspectives

Recent conceptual models, such as the Canadian Model of Occupational Performance, emphasize the transactional relationships between individuals, their occupations, and the environments in which they live. Nevertheless, further theoretical development is necessary in order to gain a comprehensive understanding of the nature of interconnections between the environment, occupation, and disability. This paper draws on concepts from sociology and geography that can broaden our understanding of the environment and the manner in which its different dimensions may influence individuals' experiences of disability. The paper demonstrates how theoretical ideas from these disciplines can be used to inform our understanding of the daily lives of three different individuals: a senior with Bipolar Affective Disorder, a man with HIV/AIDS, and a parent of a child with a severe disability. The paper concludes with a discussion of the implications of the analysis for occupational therapy theory and practice.