Example occupational therapy dissertation topic 3:

A qualitative investigation into the barriers faced by the deaf and mute in finding meaningful employment within the retail sector.

This dissertation topic is inspired by the experience of interacting with a deaf and mute member of staff working in the customer service (returns department) a leading High Street department store and food specialist. Focusing upon both the institutional and personal barriers that deaf and mute people face in securing employment within the retail sector – and the positive and negative experiences that those who do secure such work have enjoyed/endured – this is a dissertation that not only addresses a sensitive area within occupational therapy but will also ensure a thorough knowledge of data protection issues as well as ethical research guidelines. As opportunities for the deaf and mute continue to grow this is a dissertation that should be readily publishable as a consequence of the proposals relating to further integration into the workplace that it should advance.

Suggested initial topic reading:

• Wheeler-Scruggs, K. (2002). Assessing the employment and independence of people who are deaf and low functioning. American Annals of the Deaf, 147(4), pp. 11-17.
• Winn, S. L. (2007). Employment outcomes for the congenitally deaf in Australia: Has anything changed? American Annals of the Deaf, 152(4), pp. 382-390.
• Zhang, T. Y. (2007). Deaf-mutes, illiterates, and women. Feminist Media Studies, 7(4), pp. 381-396.