In this episode of OT Evidence in Action, hosts Thandi and Sara explore the concept of social participation in paediatric occupational therapy through the lens of a compelling systematic review by Ana Cristina Cardoso da Silva and Fátima Corrêa Olivera, titled “Social Participation and Occupational Therapy: What Are We Talking About?”

This article challenges traditional views of social skills and reframes participation as a deeply contextual, political, and justice-oriented concept in OT.

🔗 Read the full article here: https://doi.org/10.4322/2526-8910.ctoAR1883

Tune in as Thandi and Sara discuss:

• How social participation is shaped by inequality, exclusion, and cultural norms
• Practical ways to assess and support meaningful participation
• Creative interventions that promote social participation an inclusion
• Real-life stories that highlight the transformative power of participation

Whether you're an OT student or an experienced clinician, this conversation will inspire you to think more broadly about your role in supporting every child's right to belong.

In this episode of OT Evidence in Action, hosts Mathabo Khosa and Thandi Mashimbe explore the vital role of self-care in the development of children and youth aged 5 to 21 in South Africa. This discussion unpacks how Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) like dressing, hygiene, and toileting are taught, supported, and adapted in diverse South African contexts.

Drawing from international evidence, today's hosts explore evidence-based interventions such as cognitive strategies and video modelling. They reflect on how these can be creatively adapted to suit local realities, including resource limitations, cultural diversity, and infrastructure gaps.

🔗 Referenced Article:
Laverdure, P., & Beisbier, S. (2021). Occupation- and Activity-Based Interventions to Improve Performance of Activities of Daily Living, Play, and Leisure for Children and Youth Ages 5 to 21. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 75(2), 7502205050p1–7502205050p48.
👉 https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2020.039636

This episode offers valuable insights for OTs, students, and caregivers striving to empower young people with meaningful, contextually relevant self-care skills. Tune in to hear practical examples, inspiring adaptations, and a call to action for more locally grounded research in occupational therapy.

In our second episode of OT Evidence in Action, Jessica and Bianca delve into the crucial role occupational therapists play in supporting children’s success at school.

We review the article “Interventions within the Scope of Occupational Therapy to Improve Children’s Academic Participation: A Systematic Review” by Lester Coloma Grajo, Christine Candler, and Amira Saraf, published in the American Journal of Occupational Therapy. This systematic review synthesises evidence from 46 studies and explores how OT interventions can improve academic participation for students aged 5 to 21 using occupation-centred and activity-based approaches.

You can access the article here: https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2020.039016

We unpack:

• The evidence for commonly used sensory strategies like weighted vests and stability balls, and what to consider when recommending them.
• Why yoga in schools shows moderate evidence for improving participation and regulation.
• Creative and collaborative strategies that improve literacy engagement
• The strong evidence supporting OT-led handwriting interventions (and why therapist skill matters more than the program)
• Key takeaways to help you advocate, document, and collaborate more effectively as a school-based OT

Whether you’re a student, an early career OT, or simply curious about occupational therapy in education, this episode will give you some insights into applying evidence in practice and expanding the ways we support academic participation meaningfully and ethically.