The Opportunity for Occupational Therapy in Pediatric Disaster Recovery

Abstract

As natural disasters increase in frequency throughout the world, more children and families are exposed to disaster-related stress and trauma. Many children with disaster exposure face occupational disruption, in which common activities, roles, and relationships are damaged or destroyed. In this descriptive column, we explore the impact that natural disasters have on children, the contribution of pediatric occupational therapy to disaster management, and the opportunity for occupational therapy practitioners to engage in collaborative psychosocial and activity interventions during disaster recovery. Through trauma-informed occupational therapy, children in traditional and community-based services will benefit from assistance in restoring normalcy. With this column, we aim to contribute to the continued exploration of roles in pediatric disaster prevention and recovery and a call for qualitative and quantitative scholarship in this setting.