Occupational Therapy - 2015

24 lations must continue to be explored. Specifically, pro- fessionals such as occupational scientists, occupational therapists, and those in social science disciplines have the opportunity to join in this advocation effort, by dis- seminating information on human occupational needs, populations experiencing occupational deprivation, and the long-term effects of such depravity, namely poor “spiritual, mental, physical, or economic well-be- ing” with policy makers (Whiteford, 2010, p. 323). Ad- ditionally, direct aid may be implemented by individual efforts or missionary avenues through religious and hu- manitarian organizations. Nonprofit and humanitarian aid organizations such as CARE, Unicef, and WaterAid provide sustainable clean water by raising money to drill and dig wells, provide hand and solar pumps, edu- cate millions on safe water treatment and storage, sup- ply means for water filtration, dispense oral rehydration salts and deworming tablets, distribute water carrying containers, and advocate for vulnerable populations by supporting pieces of legislation. One such legislative ac- tion is the Water for the World Act, which expands on existing legislation to ensure access to clean water, ad- equate hygiene practices, and sanitation in a cost effec- tive way with maximum impact (Winder, 2013). Aware- ness and advocacy of such movements not only utilizes tax money more efficiently and productively, but can save and greatly improve the lives of many globally. Conclusion Populations without access or with limited access to clean water are dispersed globally and comprised of individuals living in underdeveloped countries, rural communities, and therefore lower socioeconomic re- gions across the world. The purpose of this position paper was to explore the global impact of the lack or limited access to clean water on occupational engage- ment. A review of the literature led to the understand- ing of the global occupational impact or outcomes. The occupational outcomes due to contextual constraints discussed, may cause occupational disruption, imbal- ance, deprivation, marginalization, and alienation. Ad- ditionally, social isolation and change in meaning of occupations, identity confusion or crisis, experienced from displacement, may result. A byproduct of contin- ued improvement in clean water access is the participa- tion in new occupations, in the form of water treatment practices. Such detrimental occupational outcomes caused by the lack or limited access to clean water are evidence of a great occupational injustice. In order to enforce occupational justice, afforded from clean wa- ter, on a global scale, a fueling passion of change must be experienced by a collaborative force in a focused ef- fort. Avenues to make a global change can be enacted by raising awareness and advocating by supporting pieces of legislation, direct aid, partnering with local, national, and worldwide nonprofit and humanitarian aid organi- zations. Occupational health is of universal concern as it fuels ones developmental, “spiritual, mental, physi- cal, or economic well-being” (Whiteford, 2010, p. 323). Therefore, clean water should not be an amenity for the privileged but a mandated affordance for all. References American Occupational Therapy Association. (2014). Occupational therapy practice framework: Domain and process (3rd ed.). American Jour- nal of Occupational Therapy, 68(Suppl. 1), S1–S48. http://dx.doi.org/10.5014aj ot.2014.682006 Berney, M., Weilenmann, H.-U., Simonetti, A., & Egli, T. (2006), Efficacy of solar disinfection of Esch- erichia coli, Shigella flexneri, Salmonella Ty- phimurium and Vibrio cholerae. Journal of Ap- plied Microbiology, 101(4): 828–836. Blakeney, A. B., & Marshall, A. (2009). Water quality, health, and human occupations. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 63(1), 46-57. Boyle, M., Sichel, C., Fernández-Ibáñez, P., Arias- Quiroz, G. B., Iriarte-Puna, M., Mercado, A., ... & McGuigan, K. G. (2008). Bactericidal effect of solar water disinfection under real sunlight conditions. Applied and environmen- tal microbiology, 74(10), 2997-3001. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2012). Assessing access to water & sanitation. Re- trieved from http://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/ global/assessing.html Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2013a). Global WASH fast facts. Retrieved from http:// www.cdc.gov/healthywater/global/wash_statis tics.html Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2013b). Information on water-related emergencies and outbreaks. Retrieved from http://www.cdc. gov/healthywater/emergency/fast_facts.html Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2014a). OCCUPATION: A Medium of Inquiry for Students, Faculty & Other Practitioners Advocating for Health through Occupational Studies November 2015, Volume 1, Number 1