Marshall Co. Parks Department: Miracle League Of Western Ky, 2024 Belmont University
Marshall Co. Parks Department: Miracle League Of Western Ky, Ragan Harris Winters
OTD Capstone Projects
This doctoral capstone project was completed by Ragan Harris Winters through a partnership with the Miracle League of Western Kentucky at Mike Miller Park to develop a training video for volunteers participating in future baseball seasons. The focus of this project was to develop a brief volunteer training video with beneficial information to prepare volunteers to assist players before, during, and after the games. The training video aimed to educate volunteers of the Miracle League to assist players with varying disabilities and what to expect when volunteering at the CFSB Field of Dreams. The project also included administrative tasks related …
Flip For Function Program Development To Increase Effectiveness Of Current And Future Program Offerings, 2024 Belmont University
Flip For Function Program Development To Increase Effectiveness Of Current And Future Program Offerings, Brianne Dombrowski
OTD Capstone Projects
This doctoral capstone was completed in partnership with Flip for Function, a therapeutic gymnastic program that combines occupational therapy practices to serve children with developmental differences. The goal of this project was to address gaps in the company from perspectives of the current program and the population it serves, to increase satisfaction of all those involved in Flip for Function. This capstone project focused on creating updated training protocols, developing effective curriculum for class offerings, and furthering marketing content for current and future programming. Resources were created for the onboarding process to ensure each new hire is provided with all …
Enhancing Participation In Play Through Staff Training At We Rock The Spectrum, 2024 Belmont University
Enhancing Participation In Play Through Staff Training At We Rock The Spectrum, Megan Poppens
OTD Capstone Projects
This doctoral capstone was completed by partnering with We Rock the Spectrum in Franklin, Tennessee. We Rock the Spectrum is an inclusive, sensory-safe play environment for all children. The goal was to provide education, coaching, and practical tips for staff to foster increased inclusion and participation in play. A training manual was created with topics including the impact of play, development, respectful disability language, disability terms and abbreviations, sensory regulation, safety, common misconceptions, pediatric diagnoses, strategies for leading groups, behavior management, and interacting one-on-one with children. The educational resources were used to enhance the staff member’s knowledge, confidence, and skills …
Childhood Cancer Survivorship: Navigating A New Normal In Middle Tennessee, 2024 Belmont University
Childhood Cancer Survivorship: Navigating A New Normal In Middle Tennessee, Karli M. Beaumont
OTD Capstone Projects
Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt in partnership with Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center offers REACH for Cancer Survivorship, a pediatric cancer survivorship clinic. REACH provides a full range of follow-up care designed to meet the physical, emotional, and practical needs of survivors and continuous surveillance of deleterious effects of cancer and its treatments. The purpose of this project was to meet population and agency needs through research of long- and late-term sequela while advocating for occupational therapy’s role in the oncology population through the proactive therapy and prospective surveillance models. The process of creating this project included synthesizing the literature, …
Expanding The Availability Of Adapted Athletics For Youth With Physical Disabilities In Middle Tennessee, 2024 Belmont University.
Expanding The Availability Of Adapted Athletics For Youth With Physical Disabilities In Middle Tennessee, Alexandra Hurd
OTD Capstone Projects
This doctoral capstone project was completed in partnership with ABLE Youth in Nashville, TN. ABLE Youth is a non-profit organization that uses sports as the motivation for children who use wheelchairs to reach their goals of independence. The two main goals of this project were as follows: One, to facilitate the Music City Wheelchair Basketball Tournament, the largest adaptive athletics event in Tennessee, and Two, to expand the variety of sports offered at the monthly Super Sports Saturday events. By the end of this capstone experience, volleyball and lacrosse were introduced to the ABLE youth program participants. Ideas for future …
Promoting Participation In Individuals With Parkinson’S Disease Through The Development Of Accessible Occupation-Based Resources, 2024 Belmont University
Promoting Participation In Individuals With Parkinson’S Disease Through The Development Of Accessible Occupation-Based Resources, Kelly Struthers
OTD Capstone Projects
This doctoral capstone project was completed through partnership with Rock Steady Boxing Music City, a non-profit organization that provides boxing classes for individuals diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease and other motor-related disorders. The purpose of this project was to understand the participatory barriers that are common within the Parkinson’s disease community and develop solution-oriented resources in response to these barriers. All developed resources were intentionally created to maximize accessibility and explored areas such as driving, fatigue, caregiving, and memory. These resources were compiled and distributed to the “fighters” of Rock Steady Boxing via an in-person “OT Corner” bulletin board, the weekly …
Occupation-Based Fine Motor Activities For Individuals With Parkinson's Disease At Rock Steady Boxing, 2024 Belmont University
Occupation-Based Fine Motor Activities For Individuals With Parkinson's Disease At Rock Steady Boxing, Caylin N. Dean
OTD Capstone Projects
This doctoral capstone project represents a collaborative effort with Rock Steady Boxing (RSB), an organization dedicated to supporting individuals with Parkinson’s Disease (PD). Many individuals with PD experience fine motor deficits which highlights the importance of addressing these challenges. The primary objective of this project is to identify and address such deficits among participants at RSB Music City and Franklin through the development of occupation-based fine motor activities. Qualitative surveys were utilized to understand participants' satisfaction with their fine motor abilities and the impact on quality of life. The outcome of this project is a set of occupation-based fine motor …
Bridging The Gap: Equipping Caregivers With Skills To Promote Development, 2024 Belmont University
Bridging The Gap: Equipping Caregivers With Skills To Promote Development, Victoria Long
OTD Capstone Projects
This doctoral capstone project was completed through a partnership with Alverson Pediatric Therapy, a private, community-based pediatric practice. Alverson Pediatric Therapy aims not only to meet the child’s needs, but also to equip all parents with the skills and confidence to help their child reach the next stage of development. The primary focus of this project was to develop accessible caregiver education on various occupation-based and developmentally appropriate topics. These topics included developmental milestones, emotional regulation, sensory processing, dressing, and so forth. Outcomes of the project included fourteen weeks of social media programming and four, in-depth video module scripts with …
Bridging The Gap Between The Occupational Therapy Department And The Education Department At An Inclusive Preschool, 2024 Belmont University
Bridging The Gap Between The Occupational Therapy Department And The Education Department At An Inclusive Preschool, Brenna C. Hunt
OTD Capstone Projects
This doctoral capstone project was completed through a partnership with First Steps Inc. in Nashville, TN. First Steps Inc. is both an outpatient therapy clinic and an inclusive childcare facility that provides education for children with special needs alongside their typically developing peers. This project sought to bridge the gap between the occupational therapy department and the education department at First Steps to promote participation, inclusion, and developmental growth in the classrooms. The focus of the project was the development and implementation of various OT tools and resources to be used in the classrooms. Deliverables included choice boards, visual schedules, …
A Parent's Guide To Pediatric Wheelchair Equipment, 2024 Belmont University
A Parent's Guide To Pediatric Wheelchair Equipment, Gianna M. Sarli
OTD Capstone Projects
This capstone project was completed through a partnership with Permobil. Permobil is an assistive technology company that makes assistive technology solutions that enrich the lives of individuals with disabilities. They create a wide range of assistive technology products including power wheelchairs, manual wheelchairs, cushions, extremity supports, positioning equipment, and so much more. The focus of this project was to create the Content Brief for a pediatric landing page on their website. This webpage is focused on how Permobil products can support a child’s occupational participation and help them achieve their daily goals. The goal of this content was to have …
Increasing Staffs’ Awareness Of Adaptive Swim Lesson Methodology And Enhancing Agency’S Infant Lesson Programming, 2024 Belmont University
Increasing Staffs’ Awareness Of Adaptive Swim Lesson Methodology And Enhancing Agency’S Infant Lesson Programming, Chloe E. Volpi
OTD Capstone Projects
This doctoral capstone project was conducted in partnership with Sunshine Swim Center, located in Elk Grove, CA. Sunshine is a small-scale swim lesson company that is proud to offer their community small class sizes and personalized swim instruction. The focus of this project was to educate agency staff on the importance of adaptive swim lessons for children with disabilities and enhance the current infant lesson programming. The staff education material included information on instruction modification, informal behavior modification, alternate forms of communication, cueing, skill grading, and the sensory properties of water. Enhancements to the infant programming included adding fifteen new …
Supporting Adolescent Parents Involved In Younglives, 2024 Belmont University
Supporting Adolescent Parents Involved In Younglives, Rachel Fister
OTD Capstone Projects
This doctoral capstone project focused on creating educational tools and resources for adolescent caregivers, volunteer mentors, and staff associates involved in YoungLives. YoungLives is a branch of the non-profit outreach organization YoungLife, that supports adolescent/teen parents and expecting mothers worldwide. The goal of this project was to supply accessible and user-friendly resources for the population to gain knowledge on pediatric topics such as child development, age appropriate milestones, sensory processing, as well as activities to promote occupational skills. The project outcomes resulted in a guidebook and deliverables for education and training purposes, a social media platform for nationwide connection and …
The Implementation Of Animal Assisted Therapy In Adult Neurological Rehabilitation, 2024 Belmont University
The Implementation Of Animal Assisted Therapy In Adult Neurological Rehabilitation, Rachel Camilleri
OTD Capstone Projects
This doctoral capstone project was completed through a partnership with Pi Beta Phi Rehabilitation Institute at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. The focus of this project was to develop animal assisted therapy interventions that could be utilized amongst occupational therapy practitioners with the clinic’s facility dog in an effort to increase utilization of animal assisted therapy. The process for this project required a thorough review of the literature on animal assisted therapy and neurological rehabilitation, conversations with current and past facility dog teams to learn about their work, and trialing animal assisted therapy activities in patient sessions. The outcome of this …
Providing Sensory Integration Education And Transition Tools For The Tennessee Baptist Children’S Homes, 2024 Belmont University
Providing Sensory Integration Education And Transition Tools For The Tennessee Baptist Children’S Homes, Thuy-Duong D. Huynh
OTD Capstone Projects
This doctoral capstone project was completed through a partnership with the residential department of the Tennessee Baptist Children’s Homes, a state-wide ministry that cares for children whose families are in crisis. There were two primary focuses for this project: (1) providing sensory integration education to house parents and (2) creating tools to ease transitions. Outcomes included a presentation and training on sensory integration, a booklet with easily accessible sensory integration information, a local activity guide for day visits with families, and a routine schedule of home visits to ease transitions.
Education And Advocacy For Universal Design And Accessibility In Housing, 2024 University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences
Education And Advocacy For Universal Design And Accessibility In Housing, Apisara Vairojanakich, Amy Lyons-Brown, Molly Wuebker
Spring 2024 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium
In the United States, there is a lack of adequate numbers of universally designed and accessible houses in the housing market for the older population and people with disabilities. Many barriers, such as financial support and lack of knowledge for housing-related professionals, can prevent this population from participating in home occupations. The project developed educational products, including the universal design housing experience booklet, universal design housing checklist, and universal design blueprints. These products were delivered through the blog post on Uncurbed LinkedIn website. The needs assessment was conducted to provide the guidelines for the chapters in the booklet and checklist. …
Encouraging Participation For Trainees At Autism Career Training, 2024 Belmont University
Encouraging Participation For Trainees At Autism Career Training, Sydney L. Stahl
OTD Capstone Projects
This doctoral capstone project was completed with Autism Career Training (ACT), a non-profit organization that teaches vocational skills to young adults with autism. The purpose of this project was to improve the participation of ACT trainees in all aspects of programming. To do this, various strategies; social activities; and community networking were implemented. Strategies to improve classroom participation, social conversation, and address sensory needs were developed and incorporated, along with a sensory profile assessment. Social activities were introduced, and partnerships were started with various employers in the community. An activity analysis was done per each job position available at these …
Fighting Against Parkinson's: A Collection Of Occupation-Inspired Workouts For Rock Steady Boxing, 2024 Belmont University
Fighting Against Parkinson's: A Collection Of Occupation-Inspired Workouts For Rock Steady Boxing, Landis Llewelyn
OTD Capstone Projects
This doctoral capstone project was completed through a partnership with Rock Steady Boxing in Hendersonville, North Carolina. Rock Steady Boxing provides group workout classes for all stages of Parkinson’s disease with a focus on improving quality of life through empowering individuals to fight back against Parkinson’s. The purpose of this project was to analyze various occupations deemed as difficult by the participants of Rock Steady Boxing in Hendersonville, North Carolina, and create workouts directly targeting the skills needed to successfully perform these occupations. These workouts were implemented into classes at Rock Steady Boxing and modified to accommodate a wide range …
Mental Health And Wellness Programming For Adults With Down Syndrome, 2024 Belmont University
Mental Health And Wellness Programming For Adults With Down Syndrome, Chloe Samter
OTD Capstone Projects
This capstone project was completed in partnership with GiGi’s Playhouse located in Brentwood, TN. GiGi’s Playhouse is a non-profit organization that offers free programming for individuals with Down syndrome and their families. The focus of this project was addressing the mental health and wellness of adults with Down syndrome. The goal of this project was to provide meaningful lessons and activities for participants to learn about mental health, coping strategies, and emotional exploration. Participants had the opportunity to learn and practice meditation, mindfulness, self-advocacy, healthy relationships, creative expression, and more. Participants completed The Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale (WEMWBS) as a …
Living With Chemo Brain – Tips And Tricks To Improve The Quality Of Life For Individual’S Diagnosed With Cancer, 2024 Belmont University
Living With Chemo Brain – Tips And Tricks To Improve The Quality Of Life For Individual’S Diagnosed With Cancer, Jamie Brown
OTD Capstone Projects
This doctoral capstone project was completed through a partnership with Gilda’s Club of Middle Tennessee, a non-profit organization focused on creating a sense of community and support for individuals who are impacted by cancer. The focus of this project was to develop a resource for members that addressed executive functioning changes that occur with chemo brain with a goal of making it both applicable and user friendly. The deliverable sought to provide members with basic tips and tricks for improving their quality of life. Utilizing an occupational lens, this manual contains practical strategies to address decreased memory, cognitive fatigue, processing …
Navigating Dysautonomia: A Workbook For Empowered Living, 2024 Belmont University
Navigating Dysautonomia: A Workbook For Empowered Living, Madison Thornton
OTD Capstone Projects
Dysautonomia Support Network (DSN) is a nonprofit organization composed of volunteers who have a passion for serving the population of individuals with dysautonomia. Dysautonomia is a complex and often debilitating disorder affecting the autonomic nervous system, which regulates involuntary bodily functions such as heart rate, blood pressure, digestion, and temperature control. Those living with dysautonomia face a myriad of challenges ranging from chronic fatigue and dizziness to gastrointestinal issues and cognitive impairment. The unpredictability of symptoms can significantly impact daily life, leading to feelings of frustration, isolation, and helplessness. However, amidst these challenges lies the potential for empowerment and transformation. …