Collen-Francqui leerstoel by Prof. Suzanne Guidetti : 'Participation through occupations that giving a meaningful everyday life '

The sudden changes in people's life world that is experienced as the subjective, historical, social, concrete and practical world can lead to one no longer being able to do the activities that one usually does in everyday life. Our previous qualitative studies showed that after a stroke, people no longer experienced their daily activities as a matter of course, that is, activities that are performed automatically and without thinking.

Rehabilitation strategies could increase individual autonomy and participation in daily activities to enable people to make decisions and act as they wish.  Our previous qualitative studies identified that, for example, occupational therapists used different therapeutic strategies in their interventions, such as providing structured instructions or feedback on specific client-identified activities and initiating adaptations in a familiar context. To strengthen the client/person-centered perspective in rehabilitation, it was necessary to understand the needs, priorities and goals of people and their families.