The Second Century of Occupational Therapy

As occupational therapy begins its second century as a profession, our world faces many of the same challenges and opportunities that helped shape the profession during the 20th century. Automation of jobs by machines continues to displace workers. Wars and political unrest have led to the largest refugee crisis since WWII. Soldiers continue to return from their respective battlefields with life-changing physical and psychological impairments, requiring extensive rehabilitation in order to reintegrate back into society. Advances in neuroscience and healthcare continue to inform and shape our intervention strategies.

In the 21st century, these challenges have become increasingly more nuanced, demanding an ever-evolving response. For example, the merger of artificial intelligence with machines is allowing automation to excel and replace jobs that were once considered too complex for machines to perform. Civilian populations are increasingly at risk of displacement and starvation as they flee war-torn regions. We are just beginning to experience the effects of climate change as extreme weather patterns result in longer droughts, more famines, and a rise in mosquito-borne illnesses. As the population of our planet continues to both rise and experience an upward shift in its median age, resources will become increasingly strained. However, with these challenges come many opportunities for our profession. Artificial intelligence as a therapeutic modality will make assistive technologies even more effective, impacting everything from communication devices for those with autism to driverless cars for the blind. The Internet of Things and advances in robotics will allow an aging population to age in place even longer. Our understanding of the human genome will continue to result in healthcare solutions that are tailored to each individual. An emphasis on holistic, sustainable health care is aiding in the development of occupational therapy in countries around the world. 3D printing will impact everything from prosthetics development to making universal design more ubiquitous, and advances in neuroscience will improve our understanding of mental illness from a biological and physiological perspective. It truly is an exciting time to be an occupational therapy practitioner.

As the next 100 years of occupational therapy begin, we should be inspired by the wisdom and foresight of the profession's founders as they sought to navigate a complex landscape of political, social, technological, and environmental forces. In doing so, we must think outside the box, focusing on the limitless possibilities afforded by continued 21st-century progress. We must reach farther, imagine greater, and leverage new and exciting resources in order to advocate for our patients and ensure occupational justice for all.

This blog, The Second Century OT, is a place for big ideas, covering topics ranging from technology, sustainable healthcare, and advances in science to climate change and even interplanetary travel (think occupational participation on Mars!). The ideas presented here are meant to provide a unique lens through which the future of occupational therapy may be viewed as well as serve as a source of inspiration. By anticipating future trends when developing evidence-based practices, we will usher in a new century of occupational therapy that continues to be relevant into the 22nd century and beyond.