Date of Graduation

5-2019

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science

Degree Level

Undergraduate

Department

Rehabilitation, Human Resources and Communication Disorders

Advisor/Mentor

Gallagher, Kaitlin

Committee Member/Reader

Koch, Mark

Committee Member/Second Reader

Muir, Sherry

Committee Member/Third Reader

.

Abstract

Occupational therapy crosses physical-mental health boundaries. It has been stated that occupational therapists have an innate duty to work with not only individuals, but society as a whole when individuals experience social and occupational injustices. An example of a social/occupational injustice that an individual may experience is human trafficking. Human trafficking not only affects the individual physically and emotionally, but it also has a pervasive impact on the individual’s ability to function as an occupational being. These experiences have the potential to affect the individual in varied contexts and environments, and over the lifespan. Due to an occupational therapist's proficiency in providing trauma-informed care to address physiological, cognitive, and psychosocial rehabilitation, there is support for the beneficial role of occupational therapy in addressing the problems of victims of human trafficking.

Keywords

human trafficking; occupational therapy; trauma; unconventional career

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