The natural environmental(ecosystem services)form the basis for human health and life. At present, however, large numbers of organisms are already becoming extinct due to the destruction of nature. In 1992, a group of the world's top scientists warmed humanity about the dangers to life and the global environment. Despite this, the situation continues to worsen and it is said that it will soon become difficult to change our course. Human activities(occupation)continue to cause the destruction of the natural world. Occupational science and occupa- tional therapy take occupation as their specialisation. They are professions which use individual activities(occu- pations)to promote occupational transformation. In this paper, I would like to suggest a practical route by which occupational science and occupational therapy can think about what they can do to build a sustainable society and humanity can overcome the planetary-scale crisis which deeply impacts human health and welfare.

View full abstract

[in Japanese]

View full abstract

[in Japanese]

View full abstract

The purpose of this research was to understand how mothers of children with disabilities experienced their life with their children and how they participated in society. Through mothers' notes, participant observa- tion, and interview, data was collected. Using Blumer's Symbolic Interaction Theory(Blumer, 1991), we con- ducted narrative analysis of data from the viewpoint of interaction. Although, since the start of life with their children, the mothers felt isolated from society, through the transition period, the mothers took part in society, then they tried to change society. The transition process included the following occupations of the mothers: inter- acting with their peer mothers who had children with disabilities gave the mothers a sense of security and affir- mation, exchanging information about how to live with their children and getting opportunities to go out with their children. The mothers expressed this society their lived experiences and attitudes with their children with dis- abilities. In addition, the mothers shared their child care with others in this society. We learned that through the mothers' occupations they developed active social participation(activism), and began to change society for their own and their children's future.

View full abstract

The purpose of this study was to clarify about beginning and the process of the occupation representing the life of the elderly. In this study, an occupation representing a person was defined as what the person had been doing for many years of their lives, what they were crazy about, or activities that suited the person in this study. Eight participants(5 males and 3 females), with ages ranging from 75 to 90 living at home, semi-structured inter- views was conducted, The conversations from the interviews were recorded and transcribed. The data was ana- lyzed using the grounded theory approach. Six categories emerged: "start and continue due to environmental impact," "stronger engagement through life," "attraction emerged from occupation," "adjustment according to their condition and environment," "utilizing skills and experience," and "intention to continue." Occupation repre- senting life began and continued due to the influence of the environment, time, occupational attractions, and their own experience. The participants' occupational engagement had been strengthened and adjusted throughout their lifetimes, resulting in a commitment to continue into the future.

View full abstract

[in Japanese]

View full abstract