Engagement: A Concept and Some Possible Uses

ABSTRACT

This article examines how the term engagement has been used in various literatures. The construct of engagement is found to have advantages over other similar constructs in that it portrays degrees of involvement, it readily assumes the point of view of the person with disability, and it conveys involvement in interpersonal relationships as well in ongoing imagined or directly experienced activities. The article concludes with a set of points that can help create a framework for incorporating the construct of engagement into clinical practice, including the creation of climates for fostering engagement and indicators for measuring it.

KEYWORDS

Engagement - participation - discourse analysis

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