Where you are:

Housing LIN > News > Housing LIN celebrates Occupational Therapy Week

Housing LIN celebrates Occupational Therapy Week

OT 25 week image sml

Occupational Therapy Week (OT Week) is our national awareness-raising campaign dedicated to celebrating the life-changing power of occupational therapy, led by the Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT).

This year’s campaign highlights how occupational therapists can help people stay well for longer and avoid crises by getting support sooner across all areas of practice and every stage of life, including later life.

Occupational therapists play a vital role in supporting good health and wellbeing through housing. Being able to advise on housing design as early as possible is crucial to ensuring that homes are planned, built, and adapted to be as accessible and adaptable as possible.

A growing number of OTs have developed specialist expertise in advising on the design of new builds and refurbishments of housing with care. Their understanding of accessible design and its impact on people’s lives is invaluable in ensuring housing truly works for everyone.

Below we are delighted to draw attention to a selection of key resources and insights from Housing LIN that showcase the value of occupational therapy in housing and design:

  • Social model of disability and the DDA – by Kate Sheehan, Occupational Therapist and Fellow at the University of Worcester. In this Housing LIN guest blog, Kate explores the social model of disability and the impact of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA). Written in the lead-up to 30 years since the DDA, Kate’s blog ties in with our upcoming HAPPI Hour webinar on Tuesday, 11 November. Register here.

  • Adaptations Without Delay – This guide addresses the delays that often occur in the delivery of adaptations (both minor and major) across all tenures. It promotes a proportionate, needs-based response to ensure people can live independently and safely at home.

  • TAPPI (Technology for our Ageing Population: Panel for Innovation) – RCOT sat on the TAPPI 1 board, supporting this initiative that provides the knowledge and tools to improve how technology enables people to live independently for longer.

  • The Inclusive Housing Design Guide – Written by Jacquel Runnalls and peer reviewed by Marney Walker (both Housing Occupational Therapists), this guide offers practical advice on creating accessible, adaptable, and inclusive homes for people of all ages and abilities.

Thank you to TACT (Trusted Assessing & Care Training) for their support of the webpages below.