DREAMS, DILEMMAS, AND DECISIONS FOR OCCUPATIONAL-THERAPY PRACTICE IN A NEW MILLENNIUM - A CANADIAN PERSPECTIVE

This article presents the hope that, in the 21st century and the mille nnium it ushers in, the world will eliminate the concept of handicap b y creating an environment where persons with different abilities can l ive with dignity. In this world, the focus of occupational therapy wil l shift from reducing impairment through purposeful activity to preven ting handicap through enablement Basic assumptions about occupational therapy and its values are provided, including that the ultimate goal of practice is the enablement of occupational competence.