Advocacy & Empowerment:Building Capacity Together in South America

The United Nations Convention for the Rights of the Child guarantees rights for freedom of expression and thought for children as well as outlining the responsibilities of parents to provide direction and guidance for these... [ view full abstract ]

The United Nations Convention for the Rights of the Child guarantees rights for freedom of expression and thought for children as well as outlining the responsibilities of parents to provide direction and guidance for these children. Families and local communities are recognized as the foundation for a child to be an active and dynamic part of their own growth and experiences so that they can enjoy these aforementioned freedoms. Children with differing abilities (disabilities) may be at risk for exploitation, developmental delays, and loss of these freedoms because they may not be able to explore personal interests and environments. More specifically, in Ecuador, UNICEF statistics as of 2010 reflect that emigration, malnutrition, poverty, limited education, community inaccessibility, and lack of resources contribute the overall landscape of the country. The proposed framework supports a child's capacity to explore, to develop performance capacity, and provide opportunities for engagement in occupations. The Model of Human Occupation (MOHO) provides a theoretical background for this endeavor. MOHO poses that all humans have the capacity to engage in activities of choice in environments. Occupational stewardship and collaborative engagement link the child to occupational therapy personnel. Advocacy and empowerment through service and education is required to build capacity in the community and to support a child’s development. This poster presentation will explore experiences from service visits and education sessions in Ecuador from between 2011-2014. These contributions provide the background for a needs assessment and to pose a framework to build capacity in the community for these children.