Introduction: Health promotion beyond the traditional medical model is increasingly important in occupational therapy and is vital for our profession’s growth. Interprofessional education is also crucial, acknowledged as such on multiple healthcare professional associations’ official documents. Service-learning activities that combine these elements benefit students, community partners, and academic programs. We Can Do It! (WCDI) is an interprofessional service-learning activity designed to promote physical activity and healthy eating among individuals with intellectual and/or physical disabilities.
Objectives: Session participants will be able to describe elements of the WCDI program that promote healthy engagement in occupation, physical activity and healthy eating choices. They will also be able to Identify strategies and resources to incorporate WCDI or other service-learning approaches in their academic, practice, and/or community settings.
Approach: Last year, the WCDI program included 145 student learners from 4 academic programs, collaborating with 3 community organization partners and 96 community participants. Learning outcomes and service-learning process evaluation data will be discussed, along with case examples.
Practice implications: This session will discuss generalizable learning activities and assignments that inspire students to confidently promote engagement in occupations, physical activity, and healthy eating. By fostering client-centered interpersonal skills in an interprofessional context, these activities drive positive change and innovation in future practice.
Conclusion: These experiences can address education accreditation standards, prepare students for interprofessional care, and provide a real-world environment for teaching necessary interpersonal skills, all while benefiting the community. Given the geopolitical climate regarding healthcare, similar models may become increasingly essential in occupational therapy education.