Digital Commons Network^™

Enhancing Workplace Readiness Through Social Skills Training For Adults With Idd, Caroline Crowe

Entry-Level Occupational Therapy Doctorate - Doctoral Capstone Symposium

Adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) often experience barriers to employment related to limited opportunities to develop and practice professional social skills within supportive environments. This capstone project aimed at enhancing workplace readiness among adults with IDD by implementing a structured social skills training program focused on professional communication. The program was conducted at a day center for adults with IDD and served 10–15 participants seeking employment opportunities, with staff involvement to support sustainability.

A mixed-methods approach was used, incorporating informal staff interviews, participant observations, weekly skill demonstration scoring, and post-intervention surveys completed by both participants and staff. The …

Generative Ai In An English Language Program: Practitioner Action Research In A Community Of Practice, David Patent, David T. Lind, Amy M. Walker, Olga Oganesyan, Jeff W. Jiang, Haley L. Berl, Tara K. Manion, Kelsey Rae Gillette

College of Professional Studies - All Scholarship

Generative AI (GenAI) adoption in English language programs (ELPs) has outpaced training and institutional support. This practitioner action research (AR) study investigates how eight professionals in a university-based ELP navigated GenAI integration through structured inquiry within a Community of Practice (CoP) framework (Wenger, 1998). Following Burns's (2010) cyclical AR model and Whitehead and McNiff's (2006) living theory approach, participants engaged in a semester-long AR cycle (January–April 2025). Data comprised transcriptions of three recorded meetings and four researcher journals, analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2006). Five themes were identified: implications of GenAI on professional practices, personal and professional …

A Community Showcase Of Student-Led Projects In Crj 377: Crime And Society, Ziwei Qi

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

This poster presents an experiential learning initiative in CRJ 377: Crime and Society from the Criminal Justice Program at FHSU. Through student-led service-learning projects, students applied course concepts to real community needs in four areas: animal welfare and public health, community awareness with DSNWK, overdose and poison control prevention, and technology-facilitated abuse education. While each project focused on a distinct issue, all emphasized community wellbeing, public education, and outreach. The initiative shows how experiential learning can strengthen civic responsibility and turn classroom knowledge into practical community action.

Building A Sustainable Culture Of Assessment In Mae, Ben Akih Kumgeh, Xiyuan Liu, Karen Martinez Soto, Anupam Pandey, Mehmet Sarimurat

One University Assessment Celebration

No abstract provided.

Nutrition Science Graduate Students Engage In Assessment Practices In An Accredited Program, Claire Cooney, Nikki Beckwith

One University Assessment Celebration

No abstract provided.

Emergence, Differentiation, And Modeling Of Hematopoietic Stem Cells In Developing Embryos, Lucy Shive

Caroliniana Undergraduate Research Journal

In the field of developmental biology, the understanding of embryogenesis is driven by ever-advancing techniques of studying embryos’ structures and behaviors. Yolk sacs are critical to an embryo’s survival and its function in producing a mature organism from a simple zygote. A hallmark of embryonic yolk sacs is their production of primitive hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). Recent research has explored the mechanisms by which these HSCs develop and migrate, as well as the mechanisms by which they differentiate into various cell types. This more thorough understanding of HSCs is the basis for the development of embryo models, peri-gastruloids, from stem …

Hungary For More? Russian Storm-1516 Narratives And Engagement Tactics Targeting Hungary’S 2026 Parliamentary Election., Ella Murray, Darren Linvill, Patrick Warren

Media Forensics Hub Reports

This report identifies and analyzes a coordinated influence operation aligned with the Russian Storm-1516 ecosystem and targeting Hungary’s 2026 election. The campaign leverages a network of inauthentic social media accounts to disseminate fabricated narratives, amplify political attacks, and undermine trust in Hungarian opposition leader Péter Magyar and the TISZA party. The campaign reflects a broader evolution in Russian influence operations, combining established narrative laundering techniques with new amplification strategies. These include the use of fabricated media outlets, paid influencers, and a network of commercial marketing accounts with links to Africa. The campaign leverages likely compensated influencer accounts as well as …

Building An Inclusive Workforce: Closing Equity Gaps In Community Colleges And Vocational Schools With Elliott’S Embodied Inclusion 360 Framework, Niki Elliott Ph.D.

Inclusion in Postsecondary Education

Community colleges and vocational schools serve as critical access points to higher education and upward mobility, yet historically marginalized neurodiverse students—particularly men of color—continue to face inequitable outcomes in retention, completion, and career readiness. Despite rising enrollment in career and technical education programs and increasing workforce demand, institutional practices often rely on fragmented supports that overlook the interplay of physiology, environment, culture, trauma, and instructional design. Closing these equity gaps requires a holistic, embodied approach informed by neuroscience, trauma studies, and culturally responsive pedagogy. Elliott’s Embodied Inclusion 360 (EI 360) Framework offers such a model, integrating five interdependent domains—physiological, relational, …

Dialectical Inquiry: Questions And Conversations That Enhance Learning And Encourage Development Of Self-Governance, Linda Barrett

Master of Arts in Classical Studies

This research considers the influence of dialectical questions and conversations on learning and the development of self-governance. The term dialectic has roots in the Greek dialegesthai, meaning to talk through, or to converse. Dialectic is a form of dialogue that pursues truth through questions that consider opposing or multiple perspectives of an idea or issue and conversation toward a clearer understanding of those perspectives. The dialectic is the “spirit of inquiry” at the heart of classical Christian education. It is often the locus, or place, of learning because asking questions and engaging in dialogue are essential ways in …

A Counterfactual Analysis Of The Impact Of Stock Market Absence On Economic Growth In Selected Sub-Saharan African Countries, Etsub Tekola Jemberu, Adriana Knápková, Bruce Dehning

Accounting Faculty Articles and Research

Despite the global expansion of financial markets as a strategy for financial reform over the past century, around one-sixth of the world’s countries lack a formal stock market. This paper provides novel evidence from nine sub-Saharan African countries on how the absence of stock markets impacts economic growth. Using the synthetic control method (SCM), we estimate the counterfactual GDP per capita these countries would have experienced had they established a stock market during 1993–1995. The findings reveal that the absence of a stock market resulted in substantial losses for most countries, including Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Comoros, Guinea, …

Virtual Reality For Clinical Education In The Department Of Communication Sciences & Disorders: A Student-Driven Evaluation, Charles Nudelman

One University Assessment Celebration

No abstract provided.

Student Engaged Assessment Of Abet Student Outcome 4 Through Senior Design Projects In Civil And Environmental Engineering, Yilei Shi

One University Assessment Celebration

No abstract provided.

Learning And Connecting 360: Adding Student And Alumni Voices To Program Assessment, Jane Read

One University Assessment Celebration

No abstract provided.

Understanding Post-Nicu Caregiver Mental Health And Occupational Participation: Implications For Healthcare Practice, Emily S. Knight

Student Capstone Papers

This capstone project explored the mental health challenges experienced by caregivers following their infant’s discharge from the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and the resulting impact on occupational participation. Using a mixed-methods design, data was collected through an anonymous survey of 46 post-NICU caregivers, incorporating both quantitative and qualitative responses. Findings revealed that caregivers commonly experienced significant mental health concerns, including stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms, particularly within the first year following discharge. Although results demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in mental health over time, many caregivers reported limited access to mental health resources and professional support. Importantly, the study …

The Scarlet - Volume Civ, No. 10 (April 10, 2026), Scarlet Staff

The Scarlet (Student Newspaper) (2011-present)

The April 10, 2026 edition of The Scarlet (est. 1939), Clark University's student-run newspaper. The Scarlet is intellectually and editorially independent of the University. This issue is a satirical April Fools Day edition of The Scarlet.

Cultivating Wisdom And Virtue: A Professional Development Model For Teachers Entering Classical Schools, Andrea Lyons Wells

Morehead State Theses and Dissertations

A capstone submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Education in the Ernst and Sara Lane Volgenau College of Education at Morehead State University by Andrea Lyons Wells on April 10, 2026.

Grade School Population With Autism And The Development Of Social Emotional Skills, Sabrina Cheney, Cynthia Haynes

Spring 2026 OTD Capstone Symposium

The purpose was to create and evaluate the efficacy of an occupational therapy informed program that addressed social skills, promoted emotional well-being, and fostered a sense of belonging for grade school students with ASD by enhancing communication, interaction, and relationship-building skills.

From Assessment To Action: Evaluating Support Components In Accelerated Induction To Teaching Programs For Enhanced Candidate Satisfaction And Program Improvement, Traci Catto, Kelli Moransais

Graduate Student Dissertations, Theses, Capstones, and Portfolios

The transition from preservice teacher preparation to full-time teaching represents one of the most critical and vulnerable periods in an educator's career, with research consistently demonstrating that nearly half of all teachers leave the profession within their first five years. Alternative certification pathways have emerged nationwide to address persistent teacher shortages, yet the quality and intensity of support embedded within these pathways, rather than the pathway type itself, most strongly predicts teacher retention and effectiveness. The Accelerated Induction to Teaching (AIT) program at an R1 University in Florida places teacher preparation candidates into unfilled teaching positions as teachers of record …

Patient Perceptions Of Empathy In Medical Student Encounters: Comparing Electronic And Handwritten Notetaking Methods, Harish Karthikeyan, Asad H. Siddiqui, Stacey Algren, Angellar Manguvo

Innovations in Health Sciences Education Journal

Objectives: Patient interviews are central to clinical practice, serving as both an information-gathering tool and a foundation for rapport and empathy. With the increased use of electronic documentation during clinic visits, concerns have been raised about technology detracting from the patient-clinician connection. This study examined whether medical students’ notetaking modality (electronic vs handwritten) influenced patient perceptions of empathy during clinical encounters.

Study Design: This study employed a causal-comparative approach, as student groups occurred naturally, combined with a survey design to collect data from patients.

Methods: A total of 135 student–patient encounters were analyzed at the University of Missouri–Kansas City School …

Cebuano For Missionaries - Missionary Training Center Grammar Book, Jaden Sigua

Instructional Psychology and Technology Graduate Student Projects

This project presents the design and development of Cebuano for Missionaries, a grammar resource created to support language instruction at the Missionary Training Center (MTC). The purpose of the project was to align grammar instruction with communicative missionary tasks and support learners in achieving Intermediate-Low proficiency on the ACTFL scale. The resource was developed using an iterative design process informed by stakeholder interviews, task analysis, and pilot testing. Key design features include simplified grammar explanations, visual reference charts, and task-based study activities to support classroom instruction, tutoring, and independent study. The project also outlines implementation plans, evaluation strategies, and …

Leading Through Stability: How Relational Leadership And Stability Transformed The Culture Of Boone Middle School, Luke P. Thuston

Dissertations

Principal turnover remains a persistent challenge in American education, yet limited research has examined the long-term cultural consequences of chronic leadership instability or the mechanisms through which schools recover. This convergent mixed-methods case study investigated how leadership stability and intentional relationship-building practices influenced the transformation of school climate and culture at Boone Middle School, a suburban middle school in Missouri with a sustained history of administrative turnover. Between 2001 and 2022, the school experienced seven principals and fifteen assistant principals, contributing to normalized instability, diminished relational trust, and skepticism toward organizational change. This study examined the period of leadership stabilization …

The Power Of Connection: Evidence-Based Strategies For Supporting Learners With Autism At Illuminate Academy, Sloan E. Sylvan

OTD Capstone Projects

This doctoral capstone project was completed in partnership with Illuminate Academy, an alternative educational program serving children with autism and developmental disabilities. The project aimed to provide evidence-based support for the organization’s classroom strategies and improve communication of these approaches to families and staff. Key outcomes included the development of a parent-friendly, evidence-based overview of Illuminate Academy’s core strategies, highlighting their role in supporting regulation, engagement, and participation. A concise literature synthesis was created to reinforce these approaches, focusing on sensory processing, co-regulation, play, and participation. Additional contributions included observing a learner during a classroom transition and developing individualized supports …

Enhancing Family Centered Care, Participation, And Well-Being In The Nicu, Abigail Schweickhardt

Entry-Level Occupational Therapy Doctorate - Doctoral Capstone Symposium

Background

Caregiver mental health is often overlooked or not addressed in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). When diving into the literature, themes of anxiety, stress, depression and PTSD are reported from NICU caregivers. A metanalysis study reported many caregivers received short discharge notices, and NICU staff deemed caregivers competent in using their child’s medical equipment after a 15-minute brief. The short notices and lack of knowledge in medical equipment causes caregivers to not feel confident in taking care of their infant (Padratzik, 2022). To help improve caregiver mental health, the family centered care model is the gold standard. Caregivers …

Holding Hope: Empowering Parents Through Perinatal And Nicu Palliative Care, Huntington N. Cotten

Entry-Level Occupational Therapy Doctorate - Doctoral Capstone Symposium

Families receiving perinatal and neonatal Palliative Care (PC) services can experience significant emotional and practical challenges while caring for a child with medical complexities. The Care Companion, a family centered, educational resource, was created in response to survey findings indicating that rehabilitation therapists (OT, PT, and SLP) encountered challenges in providing PC services, followed by site‑specific insights that highlighted additional gaps in family support, education, and parent–infant bonding. This Occupational Therapy (OT) Capstone project was completed within a large academic pediatric medical center providing interdisciplinary PC services to families whose infants have been diagnosed with serious, life‑limiting conditions. The purpose …

Parental Awareness And Response To Cyberbullying: A Qualitative Study Of Nigerian Parents, Adaobi Jennifer Iloakasia, Nneka Anthonia Obumse

Jurnal Kajian Bimbingan dan Konseling

The problem of cyberbullying has been gaining momentum in modern society because of the dynamic development of digital technologies and the extensive use of social media by adolescents. This paper thus examined the parental cognition and reaction to cyberbullying of Nigerian parents with a particular emphasis on Anambra State. The research design in the study was a qualitative one, based on a phenomenological approach to reflect the experiences of parents. Purposive selection of parents with children in secondary schools was done (30 parents). The collection of data was done via semi-structured interviews, and thematic analysis was used to analyze the …

The Perceptions Of Special Education Teachers In The Sultanate Of Oman Regarding The Challenges They Face In Enhancing The Cultural Identity Of Their Students In The First Cycle Of Basic Education., Ruqayah Bint Hassan Al-Hadbiya, Zakia Bint Rashid Bin Amer Al-Siyabi

Journal of Arts and Social Sciences

The current study aimed to reveal the challenges faced by first-year special education teachers in the Sultanate of Oman towards enhancing cultural identity among deaf students. To achieve the goal of the study, an open interview was used, which in its final form consisted of ten main questions on a sample of 15 teachers, in various specializations. The results of the study indicated that the challenges lie in the lack of appropriateness of the curriculum for the hearing disabled, the lack of linguistic stock among the hearing disabled, the difficulty and scarcity of educational resources and means, the difficulty of …

The Image Of Omani Society And The Factors Shaping It Among Non-Omanis., Rahma Harith Nasser Al-Harrasi

Journal of Arts and Social Sciences

The current study sought to identify the image of the Omani society among non-Omani. Random stratified sampling was used to recruit 245 non-Omani academics working at Sultan Qaboos University, where online questionnaires were distributed. The study revealed that the respondents’ evaluation of the image of the Omani society was high which means that the image of Omani society among non-Omanis is positive. Moreover, the highest evaluation was for the phrase “Omani society is a cohesive society that supports each other”. The study identified several factors that shaped the Omani society’s image among non-Omani such as personal communication, social media, academic …

Volume Cxlv, Number 17, April 10, 2026, Lawrence University

The Lawrentian

No abstract provided.

Forecasting Future Precipitation In Basrah City, Iraq Using The Statistical Downscaling Model (Sdsm), Ahmed Sagban Khudier

Warith Scientific Journal of Engineering and Technology

Accurate rainfall predicting has become for securing managing water resources, chiefly in light of escalating climate crises. Basrah is among the Iraqi cities most vulnerable to these changes, as climate fluctuations are clearly impacting water availability and hydrological sustainability indicators in the region. The results of this study, through using the Statistical Downscaling Model (SDSM), indicate that the future precipitation was predicted for Basrah Governorate/Iraq up to 2085. Future precipitation projections were developed under group of Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP) scenarios which RCP (2.6, 4.5, and 8.5). The CanESM2 global climate model was used to generate large-scale atmospheric predictors for …

Puddles Of Grace, Bruce Kuiper

Faculty Work Comprehensive List

"... dignity, truth, and beauty do not originate from the platform. They originate from the source."

Posting about ­­­­­­­­ordinary yet profound moments in life from In All Things, an online hub that offers insight into maintaining and faithful and orthodox Reformed Christian worldview while fearlessly engaging in every aspect of contemporary life – until all is made new.

Puddles of Grace