Securing occupational rights by addressing capabilities: A professional obligation

The World Federation of Occupational Therapists asserts that all occupational therapists are obligated to promote occupational rights, and has highlighted the importance of Amartya Sen's concept of 'capabilities' to the work of securing the occupational rights to which all are equally entitled.

To outline the capabilities approach and highlight its relevance and importance for the occupational therapy profession.

Drawing from Sen's work, and that of other scholars who have critiqued and adapted his capabilities approach, this paper describes the foundational components of the capabilities approach and identifies important overlaps with issues of concern to occupational therapy.

Sen's capabilities approach employs a contextualised view of human wellbeing; attending to whether people have the abilities to do the things they would value doing, and whether their circumstances actually provide the real opportunities to choose to do what they would value doing.

The capabilities approach, with its attention to abilities and actions, options and opportunities, empowerment and choice, justice and participation, has clear relevance for occupational therapists.

A capabilities perspective provides a valuable framework for occupational therapists striving towards equalising people's opportunities, possibilities and choices - their capabilities - to secure their occupational rights.