Abstract Introduction The rise in the number of adolescents diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder has highlighted the need for strength‐based approaches to support them. The accessibility of online gaming has made it a popular avenue for autistic adolescents to socialise and connect with others while enhancing skill development. This study aimed to explore online gaming from the perspectives of autistic adolescents and their caregivers, including the impact gaming may have on daily participation and functioning. Methods This study employed a mixed methods research design. Both autistic adolescents and their caregivers completed online surveys comprising a combination of Likert‐scale and open‐ended questions. The survey responses were descriptively and thematically analysed. Consumer and Community Involvement Survey questions were reviewed by volunteer staff (including autistic staff members) of a local autistic community coding club to ensure readability and accessibility of the survey. Results In total, 45 participants (23 caregivers and 22 autistic adolescents) responded to the survey. Themes relating to online gaming were identified, including social communication, emotion regulation, and skill development while also highlighting caregiver concerns of online safety and excessive screen use. Most autistic adolescents reported feeling happy when playing online games and most caregivers agreed online gaming supported their child to build better relationships with others. Over half of autistic adolescents agreed that online gaming helped them feel more confident in social situations with others. Conclusion Allied health professionals, including occupational therapists, may utilise online gaming, incorporating strength‐based learning and skill development, when working alongside autistic adolescents and their caregivers to facilitate social participation and promote online safety.
Abstract Introduction Pressure injuries are a significant health concern for individuals with mobility impairments, impacting participation and quality of life. Sport is a meaningful leisure occupation for many but poses unique occupational, physical, and environmental challenges which increase the risk of pressure injuries. Occupational therapists can support those with mobility impairments in balancing pressure injury risk and participation in sport; however, little is known about effective management in sport. This scoping review aimed to map existing evidence on pressure injury prevention and management approaches among individuals with mobility impairments participating in disability sports. Methods A systematic search of six databases, grey literature, policy documents, and guidelines was conducted in August 2025. Sources were included if they addressed individuals of any age, participating in sports using adaptive equipment and reported prevention or management approaches for pressure injuries. Findings were synthesised using the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) framework. Consumer and community involvement Consumers and community members were not involved in this scoping review. Results Ten sources met inclusion criteria, with representation from eight disability sports: seven quantitative studies, one mixed methods study, one position statement, and one clinical guideline. Owing to the immaturity of the field, both the clinical guideline and position statement drew on minimal evidence specific to sport, limiting their applicability. Conclusion Evidence on pressure injury prevention and management in disability sport is largely focused on the body functions and structures domain, with limited consideration for activities, participation, and environmental factors that influence risk. The evidence base remains underdeveloped, limiting occupational therapists' access to evidence‐informed strategies for pressure injury prevention and management in this population. Future research should prioritise occupational analyses of sports participation, mapping tasks, environments, and equipment interfaces across different sports and athlete groups. Generating sport‐specific evidence will enable robust guidelines and occupation‐based interventions that align with athletes' real‐world experiences.
Abstract Introduction Emerging scholarship highlights the dominance of Western epistemologies in disaster research, limiting diversity and participation in knowledge production. The occupational therapy profession faces similar critiques of epistemic and hegemonic blind spots, prompting calls for critical reflection on professional assumptions. Drawing on narratives and guided by Whiteford's Occupational Justice PLUS model, we explore how learnings from community members' responses to a bushfire event could broaden our understanding of occupational, epistemic, and hermeneutic justice in the context of disasters and, more broadly, other injustices. Methods This qualitative study used a phenomenological hermeneutical approach to explore narratives of disaster recovery. Data included a written narrative from ‘Doing Our Best’ and the film ‘We Are Conjola’. Analysis followed Lindseth and Norberg's three‐step process: naïve reading, structural analysis of themes, and comprehensive interpretation informed by literature and theories. Findings Findings revealed interconnected injustices. Occupational injustice arose from restricted access to resources during bushfire response and recovery, with community‐led initiatives critical to restoring occupational justice. Epistemic injustice was evident in government disregard for climate science and Indigenous knowledge, compounded by media erasure, prompting the community to create its own narrative through film. Hermeneutic injustice occurred when aspects of social identity were obscured from collective understanding; residents responded through artistic expression to reclaim identity, share lived experience, and communicate systemic failures. Discussion Community‐driven action addressed occupational, epistemic, and hermeneutic injustices following the Conjola bushfire. These findings highlight the relevance of the Occupational Justice PLUS model for disaster contexts, emphasising the need for occupational therapists to adopt critical, justice‐oriented approaches that privilege community voice and foster community‐led action in disaster recovery and knowledge creation. Conclusion Advocacy for community voice and future research on applying the Occupational Justice PLUS model are essential to support inclusive, community‐driven recovery and strengthen knowledge creation in disaster contexts.
INTRODUCTION:Autistic transgender and gender diverse (TGD) adults often report additional barriers to health-care access and occupational participation. Gender-affirming hormone therapy (GAHT) consists of hormonal medications a person may choose to take to increase alignment of physical features with their gender identity. CONSUMER AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT:This research project was conducted in response to patient and clinician feedback; however, no consumers were involved in the setup or analysis of the study. METHODS:Six autistic TGD adults undergoing GAHT at a statewide tertiary gender endocrinology clinic participated in in-depth semi-structured interviews and underwent an Adolescent/Adult Sensory Profile (AASP) assessment. Secondary analysis of qualitative data utilised thematic analysis and triangulation with AASP results through the lens of the doing, being, becoming, belonging framework to understand how autistic TGD adults achieve occupational identity. RESULTS:Autistic TGD adults experienced improved quality of life, mental health, and occupational identity outcomes as a result of GAHT. Being TGD and autistic posed unique challenges for autistic TGD adults in doing tasks associated with GAHT, including navigating health-care and social environments. Gender-affirming physical changes and experiences increased participants' engagement in gendered occupations and roles. CONCLUSION:For autistic TGD adults who choose to medically transition, GAHT can be an important gender-affirming occupation in enabling occupational identity acquisition. The results of this study highlight a role for occupational therapists within gender-affirming care settings to enhance patient care.
INTRODUCTION:Chronic pain is a biopsychosocial experience that can impact peoples' ability to participate in everyday occupations. Mobile health applications, or apps, have the potential to make chronic pain services more effective and accessible. However, the quality of many health apps is not known, which creates a critical challenge for occupational therapists who aim to deliver evidence-informed intervention. This study rated the quality of apps available for Australian occupational therapists to use with clients who have chronic pain. CONSUMER AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT:No consumer and community involvement. METHODS:This study used a cross-sectional descriptive design to (1) identify chronic pain-relevant apps through browser and app store searches, and through a survey of Australian occupational therapists; and (2) evaluate the quality of the apps relevant to occupational therapy practice, at a single point in time, using the Mobile Application Rating Scale. RESULTS:A total of 27 eligible apps were identified (n = 27). The 27 apps were rated for quality. The mean Objective Quality score of all apps was 3.33/5.00 (acceptable), with a range of 2.14 (poor) to 4.13 (good). The mean Objective Subsection Quality scores were 3.88 (acceptable) for Functionality, 3.25 (acceptable) for Aesthetics, 3.23 (acceptable) for Information, and 2.96 (poor) for Engagement. The mean Subjective Quality score of all apps was 2.67 (poor), with a range of 1.00 (inadequate) to 4.25 (good). CONCLUSION:There was no consistent standard to the quality of chronic pain-relevant apps identified. Occupational therapists may not be identifying all high-quality chronic pain-relevant apps currently available. Findings highlight that occupational therapists lack access to an easy method to identify and verify high-quality apps for use with clients who have chronic pain. Further work is needed to ensure occupational therapists can identify and evaluate the quality of chronic pain-relevant apps in a rapidly changing field of practice.
