Digital Commons Network^™

Call For Papers

GrandFamilies: The Contemporary Journal of Research, Practice and Policy

Authors are invited to submit manuscripts presenting exemplary and innovative approaches of practice and model programming to best support kinship care families, analysis of primary or secondary data on emerging issues involving caregivers and the children in their care, and the effects of public policy on the well-being of grandfamilies. International authors with work that extends global knowledge and understanding about custodial grandparents are strongly encouraged to submit.

Manuscript Formats:

Full Articles (25-page max, double-spaced)

Research Briefs (15-page max, double-spaced)

Practice Briefs (15-page max, double-spaced)

Policy Briefs (15-page max, double-spaced)

Submission Deadline: January 12, 2026

Complete Issue Vol. 8, Issue 1

GrandFamilies: The Contemporary Journal of Research, Practice and Policy

Complete Issue Vol. 8, Issue 1 (10th Anniversary)

Analysis Of Disparities Within The Ncaa’S Name, Image, And Likeness Rule, Madison Salzenstein

Honors Theses

Abstract

This paper analyzes disparities with the NCAA’s Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) Rule. The 2021 introduction of the NIL Rule was a landmark event, allowing college athletes to profit from their personal brand. While NIL has resulted in many positive opportunities for college athletes, it is not without fault. Specifically, this thesis will explain how NIL amounts differ between both male and female athletes and revenue and non-revenue sports, and will explain the key factors contributing to the disparity in each area.

Using data obtained from the NCAA’s NIL Assist Data Dashboard for the period January through December 2024, …

Preface To A Translation Of John Gower's Cronica Tripertita, Georgiana Donavin, Eve Salisbury

Accessus

This preface conveys the editors' introduction to Robert J. Meindl and Mark T. Riley's new poetic English translation of John Gower's Cronica Tripertita

Art, Nature, And Occupational Therapy In The Arctic Circle, Erin Barrus

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Even Edvardsen, a Norwegian occupational therapist and artist, provided the cover art for the Winter 2025 issue of the Open Journal of Occupational Therapy (OJOT). “Loppa 1” is a 60 x 80 oil on canvas that shares a glimpse into living in the Arctic Circle. It is the first in a series of 10 variations of the island of Loppa, a small island off the coast of Norway, further north of Tromsø. Even’s paintings are what he calls meditations on nature and everyday moments; he invites viewers to slow down and reconnect with the world around them. In today’s fast-paced …

Addressing The Needs Of Jewish Clients And Students Through A Trauma-Informed Approach, Amiya Waldman-Levi, Robin Akselrud, Zahava L. Friedman, Lola Halperin, Shifra K. Leiser, Rivka Molinsky

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

The worldwide Jewish community is notoriously nomadic because of persecution and displacement through several millennia. The diasporic experience of global Jewish communities led to traumatic events such as historical expulsion and genocide. These experiences embody all five components of occupational injustice. The recent rise in antisemitism has triggered intergenerational trauma among individuals, families, and communities. This paper, grounded in trauma-based research, aims to guide occupational therapists treating Jewish clients and/or teaching Jewish students. The paper outlines trauma-informed implications for therapist-client collaboration in the context of supporting occupational justice for diverse populations. The distinct role of occupational therapists in effectively serving …

Openness To Critique Is Essential, Brenda L. Beagan, Niki Kiepek, Heidi Lauckner, Paula W. Rushton

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

No abstract provided.

Establishing Reliability And Validity For A Professional Development Tool For Graduate Health Care Programs, Lisa Handler, Amiya Waldman-Levi

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Professional development ensures practitioners develop the necessary skills to succeed in multifaceted clinical roles. To provide evidence-based best practices, health practitioners need to possess critical thinking, executive functioning, and emotional intelligence skills. Study aimed to establish psychometric properties to the Inventory of Professional and Academic Reasoning (IPAR). Two cross-sectional studies of reliability and validity were used. The participants included 139 health profession students, of which 93 students participated in the first study and 46 occupational therapy students participated in the second study. Data were collected online and at fieldwork sites using a background questionnaire, IPAR, Executive Function Index, and the …

From Theory To Practice: Integrating Safe Patient Handling And Mobility Into Occupational Therapy Curriculum (Part 2/2), Kimberly Santorufo, Asha Roy

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Occupational therapy academic institutions continue to teach manual patient handling as the standard of practice despite recent evidence, legislation, and guidelines from the American Occupational Therapy Association on hazards of manual approaches. A paradigm shift is necessary in occupational therapy academic curriculums to include didactic education and hands-on training of safe patient handling and mobility informed approaches. There is currently no standard of practice available in occupational therapy education on how to incorporate safe patient handling and mobility into preexisting curriculum, which emphasizes manual patient handling as the standard of care. The guidelines presented offer academic institutions recommendations on how …

From Theory To Practice: Integrating Safe Patient Handling And Mobility Into Occupational Therapy Curriculum (Part 1/2), Kimberly Santorufo, Asha Roy

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Occupational therapists are at high-risk of musculoskeletal injury because of the manual and physical demands of job-related tasks. Many occupational therapists are sustaining injuries or changing careers because of an injury. Safe patient handling and mobility approaches should be used in occupational therapy practice to ensure the safety of both patient and therapist while assisting patients in meeting occupation-based and patient-centered goals. However, despite legislation, guidelines from the American Occupational Therapy Association, and recent evidence, most occupational therapy academic programs and educators continue to teach manual patient handling as the standard of practice. To ensure safety, longevity, and career-retention, academic …

Professional Behaviors As Forced Assimilation: A Critical Reflection On The U.S. History Of Education And Beyond, Quinn P. Tyminski, Karla Reese, Linn Wakeford

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Historically, education has been used as a mechanism of assimilation for marginalized identities in the United States, demanding conformity to the dominant culture and society. The occupational therapy (OT) profession is not immune and must examine and understand how our educational systems have erected and maintained barriers designed to exclude people from historically minoritized communities through the lens of professional behaviors. Professionalism and professional behaviors are not well-defined constructs in OT, and there is significant variability among educational institutions in how professional behavior standards are written, communicated, and applied. There is significant inconsistency across OT educational programs in the US …

An Academic Self-Regulation Program For First-Generation Students In Occupational Therapy: A Preexperimental Study, Pola Ham

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

First-generation students at U.S. universities have lower academic performance than their continuing-generation counterparts. They also have a lower level of academic self-regulation and academic self-efficacy. Bandura’s social cognition theory and Zimmerman’s self-regulation theory were used as theoretical frameworks to guide an intervention program relating to self-efficacy and self-regulation. A pretest and posttest survey measured changes in the participants’ use of the academic self-regulatory strategies and level of confidence in using those strategies. An open-ended questionnaire provided a detailed account of the participants’ lived experiences of the program. The researcher-facilitator designed an academic self-regulation program using Zimmerman’s (1998) self-regulated learning framework …

Comprehensive Breast Cancer-Related Lymphedema Management Programs Addressing Both Psychosocial And Physical Needs: A Scoping Review, Amanda Wheeler, Claudine Campbell, Chenchen Cui

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Breast cancer is the leading cause of female cancer worldwide, which can lead to many negative sequelae, with up to a third of women developing breast cancer-related lymphedema. Breast cancer-related lymphedema requires chronic maintenance and is associated with worse physical and mental health outcomes compared to women without lymphedema. Occupational therapists are well-positioned to address the complex needs of women with breast cancer-related lymphedema. This review aimed to identify existing research that reports outcomes of lymphedema management programs addressing both physical and mental health needs of women with breast cancer-related lymphedema.

Method: A scoping review was conducted …

Linking The International Classification Of Functioning, Disability And Health (Icf) To Occupational Therapy Skilled Nursing Home Interventions, Janel Anne Belarmino, Laura Novak, Vanessa D. Jewell

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Rehabilitation practitioners use the ICF as a framework to guide clinical decision-making, demonstrate the focus of interventions, and bridge interprofessional communication. The aim of this study was to examine occupational therapy interventions implemented with older adults for short term rehabilitation in skilled nursing facilities and link the interventions to the ICF.

Method: Through secondary analysis of previously collected field notes of skilled nursing facility occupational therapy interventions, the researchers linked 60 interventions to 133 third level ICF categories.

Results: Of the 133 categories, 62% (n = 82) were linked to Activities and Participation, 23% (n = 31) were …

The Lived Experience Of Therapists During The Covid-19 Pandemic: A Qualitative Study Using Photovoice Methodology, Alison De La Montaigne, Catana Brown, Sarah A. Anderson, Tamara Turner

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: The purpose of this study was to explore the experience of therapists during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Method: A qualitative phenomenological design using photovoice methodology for collecting data was used (Wang & Burris, 1997). The study participants included twelve therapists. Using photovoice methodology, the participants used a picture to represent their experience and wrote an accompanying narrative to address the question, “How has COVID-19 impacted your life?” Thematic analysis was used to code and develop themes for the participant photovoices and the virtual focus group transcripts (Braun & Clark, 2006). Zoom was used as the virtual platform for the virtual …

An Occupational Therapy Work-Self-Efficacy Intervention For Lgbtq+ Young People In Transitional Housing, Emily K. Simpson, Monika I. Robinson

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) young people who are unhoused experience barriers transitioning into adult roles and responsibilities which negatively impacts workforce participation.

Methods: The purpose of this pilot study was to examine the impact of a work self-efficacy intervention on self-efficacy and goal attainment in LGBTQ+ young people at a transitional living facility (TLF). Nine residents and three staff participated in this convergent mixed methods design investigating a work intervention.

Results: The total median score on the General Self-Efficacy Scale (p = 0.042) and the Work Self-Efficacy Scale (p = 0.043) …

How Acute Care And Inpatient Occupational Therapists Describe Their Experiences With Secondary Traumatic Stress, Julie Suto, Ashley E. Lane, Rocio Torres, Emily K. Simpson

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: The primary purpose of this research was to explore how occupational therapists in acute care and inpatient rehabilitation settings describe their experiences of secondary traumatic stress (STS).

Methods: Researchers used a convergent parallel mixed methods design. Electronic surveys (n = 181) and qualitative data collection through interviews (n = 6) and a focus group (n = 3) were used. Qualitative data were analyzed with content analysis, and quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Both data sets were compared to identify patterns.

Results: Five main categories were identified: (a) supports to worker role, (b) barriers to worker role, (c) …

A Multisensory, Interdisciplinary Approach To Visual Neglect For Enhancement Of Visual Attention Following Basal Ganglia Hemorrhage: A Case Report, Leah G. Allan

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: This case report provides a review of the medical background and inpatient rehabilitation course of a 41-year-old female presenting with right basal ganglia hematoma in the setting of hypertension and polysubstance use. Emphasis is placed on analysis and discussion of the interdisciplinary, multisensory therapy approaches used to address her visual neglect and homonymous hemianopia.

Method: Single-patient case report

Results: On the Disability Rating Scale, the patient’s score improved from a Day 16 score of 10 to a Day 58 score of 7. On the Modified Barthel Index, her performance improved from a Day 16 score of …

Psychosocial Occupational Therapy Interventions For Pediatric Traumatic Brain Injury: A Scoping Review, Sabina Khan, Christianah Edema

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: We aimed to examine the psychosocial interventions used by occupational therapists in managing pediatric TBI, and to identify unique psychosocial needs in this population.

Methods: The scoping review was guided by Arksey and O'Malley's framework. Four databases were searched for relevant studies namely: Embase (Elsevier), Medline (PubMed), Cochrane Library, and PsycNet. Included studies were studies written in English reporting on psychosocial interventions for pediatric TBI by occupational therapists and/or the psychosocial needs of children with TBI.

Results: The search identified 13 relevant studies published from 2006 to 2020. Multiple psychosocial interventions were pinpointed in these studies, …

Exploring The Relationship Between Handwriting Legibility And Praxis In Third And Fourth Grade Students, Denise K. Donica, Larymi Beck, Kathryn Mumford

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background. Research suggests praxis and sensory integration contributes to handwriting legibility in primary students. However, little research has demonstrated performance-based measures of praxis and its relationship to handwriting legibility. This study examined performance-based praxis skills of third and fourth grade students with and without handwriting difficulties (HD).

Method: Handwriting legibility and praxis were examined in 33 third and fourth grade students at a local primary school using the Handwriting Legibility Scale and five praxis tests from the Evaluation in Ayres Sensory Integration. Participants were categorized into two groups based on their handwriting legibility scores: students with HD (n = 6) …

State Of The Journal: The Importance Of Human Occupation, Diane Powers Dirette

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

No abstract provided.

60th International Congress On Medieval Studies, Medieval Institute, Western Michigan University

International Congress on Medieval Studies Archive

The printed program of the 60th International Congress on Medieval Studies (May 8–10, 2025), together with the Corrigenda.

Geological And Environmental Sciences - 2025, Dept. Of Geological And Environmental Sciences

Geological and Environmental Sciences News

• Greetings from the Department Chair
• Faculty Updates
• 2025 Geological and Environmental Sciences Department Alumni Achievement Awardee Mr. Thomas Hanna
• 60 Years - Telling Our Story
• Empowering the next generation of geoscientists

Department Of Occupational Therapy At Drake University

OJOT Sponsor Profiles

No abstract provided.

Women, Dance And Parish Religion In England, 1300–1640: Negotiating The Steps Of Faith, By Lynneth Miller Renberg, Clint E. Morrison Jr

Medieval Feminist Forum: A Journal of Gender and Sexuality

No abstract provided.

Femina: A New History Of The Middle Ages, Through The Women Written Out Of It, By Janina Ramirez, Jo Koster

Medieval Feminist Forum: A Journal of Gender and Sexuality

No abstract provided.

Collections As Data: A Data Literacy Tool For Community Engagement, Daria Orlowska, Lynn Houghton

University Libraries Faculty & Staff Publications

The Collections as Data initiative begun by Thomas Padilla strives to reframe digital objects as data that is community-oriented, contextualized for easy reusability, and empowering reimagination in creative ways. In an effort to increase the accessibility of University Libraries archival collections to researchers and students, we began investigating the feasibility of this initiative on our campus using the digitized South Haven Lighthouse Log Collection as a starting point. The lighthouse logs are a series of digitized journals originally compiled at South Pierhead Light in South Haven, Michigan, recording passing vessels, weather remarks and lighthouse expenditures between 1878-1892. A collection assessment …

The Once And Future Sex: Going Medieval On Women’S Roles In Society, By Eleanor Janega, Emily C. Francomano

Medieval Feminist Forum: A Journal of Gender and Sexuality

No abstract provided.

Remember The Hand: Manuscription In Early Medieval Iberia By Catherine Brown, Lara Farina

Medieval Feminist Forum: A Journal of Gender and Sexuality

No abstract provided.

Gender And The ‘Natural’ Environment In The Middle Ages, Edited By Theresa L. Tyers And Patricia Skinner, Danielle Allor

Medieval Feminist Forum: A Journal of Gender and Sexuality

No abstract provided.