Assessing engagement in digital technology-supported occupations : First steps in taking on the challenge

The ubiquitousness of digital technology in everyday life has resulted in emerging roles for occupational therapists. However, many occupational therapists do not take on the challenge of exploring clients’ use of digital technology in daily occupations. Apart from the likelihood of experiencing organizations’ allocation of resources to prioritized outcomes as a restrictive factor, occupational therapists’ own knowledge of and experiences with digital technology limit them from probing issues that they think they cannot deal with themselves. The objective of the presentation is to introduce digital literacy in the approach to assessing engagement in occupations involving digital technology and to identify competencies that are already present in the occupational therapists’ toolbox that can assist in assessment. The intention of the presentation is to inspire the audience to become more open to exploring occupational issues involving digital technology with clients.