Digital Commons Network^™

Transitions To Independent Living For Adults With An Intellectual Disability/Down Syndrome, Samantha Blashinsky

Occupational Therapy Doctoral Student Capstone Posters

This capstone included an 8-week curriculum designed and implemented to meet the needs of individuals with an intellectual/developmental disability at The Down Syndrome Association of Northeast Ohio. This program addressed transitions to independent living skills, such as post-secondary education, employment skills, and overall life skills to increase independence in their community.

Care Partners As The Client: Understanding The Needs Of Informal Care Partners Of Older Adults With Dementia And Addressing Their Challenges, Mariam Boulos

Occupational Therapy Doctoral Student Capstone Posters

This capstone at Brush Development produced an educational dementia program to meet the specialized needs of at-home care partners. Content within this program addresses the challenges for both the care partner and the person with dementia through strategies that improve their purpose in everyday activities and quality of life.

Northeast Reintegration Center Leisure Program, Jessica Mravec

Occupational Therapy Doctoral Student Capstone Posters

Occupational therapists have the opportunity to develop programming for inmates to increase skills and engagement in meaningful leisure activities, and to help inmates successfully reintegrate into the community. Through the collection of data from my needs assessment, I created a 12-leisure program outline to educate the women on types of leisure and how leisure participation can be impacted by different barriers, with the ability to participate in a variety of leisure activities. Also, I created a Community Resource Guide that will allow the women to have access to resources in their community upon release to become stable and independent.

Optimizing Effects Of Occupational And Physical Therapy Post Stroke, Taylor Joseph

Occupational Therapy Doctoral Student Capstone Posters

Even after rehabilitation, 40% of individuals post-stroke are left with upper extremity residual deficits. This capstone, completed at Cleveland Clinic's Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, focused on current research that is being conducted to optimize the effects of rehabilitation post-stroke. A manuscript was completed that focuses on research findings on the efficacy of bimanual upper extremity training that will be submitted for publication.

Occupation-Based Wellness Within The Veteran Population, Jennie Burdette

Occupational Therapy Doctoral Student Capstone Posters

Transitioning from military to civilian life often leaves veterans with long-lasting difficulties which includes physical and mental health challenges that affect different aspects of daily functioning. This capstone, at Baldwin Wallace University’s Student Veteran Center, provided occupation-based education and resources to promote mental health and overall well-being of student veterans.

Understanding The Impact Of Trauma-Informed Interventions On Child And Family Mental Health, Dynamic, And Engagement In Occupations, Jaela Kynard

Occupational Therapy Doctoral Student Capstone Posters

This capstone, conducted at the Cuyahoga County Board of Developmental Disabilities, determined the efficacy of assessments and interventions for children and families affected by trauma. Comprehensive resource guides were developed regarding occupational therapy's role and trauma-responsive methods to support the interdisciplinary trauma teams and improve the quality of life for the families they serve.

Enhancing Hospice Care: Integrating Altered Engagement In Occupations Through The Dimensions Of Doing, Being And Becoming, Heather Raible

Occupational Therapy Doctoral Student Capstone Posters

Evidence demonstrates engagement in occupation at the end of life is perceived as insignificant and disregarded, therefore, often absent from care. My capstone identified new avenues for facilitating meaningful engagement in occupations that fulfilled individual needs and desires during each stage of hospice through altered engagement in occupation.

Using The Nintendo Switch As An Exercise Modality To Increase The Enjoyment, Motivation, And Determine Feasibility Of The Use Of Exergaming In Community-Dwelling Older Adults, Monica Samboa

Occupational Therapy Doctoral Student Capstone Posters

About one-fourth of older adults are inactive. Exergaming can provide older adults with physical activity to increase their well-being. The capstone focus was to examine feasibility of the Nintendo Switch as a home exercise modality for older adults and create a Switch Clinical Decision-Making Manual. The trial study involved 4 older adults completing a 10-week Switch gaming trial, reporting feasibility, enjoyment, and motivation outcomes. The results of the study describe how the Switch is a feasible tool for older adults’ exercise engagement. Using client-centered games can help with engagement, enjoyment, and motivation to exercise.

Justice Involved Individuals And Sensory Processing, Anessa Kleem

Occupational Therapy Doctoral Student Capstone Posters

Incarcerated individuals can have sensory processing challenges - these challenges can be exacerbated by the corrections environment. This capstone, at the Ohio Department of Rehab and Corrections, advocated for education of staff on sensory processing. This program provided staff with knowledge and valuable resources on sensory rooms and tools.

Increasing Occupational Therapists' Knowledge And Awareness Of Service Dogs, Emily Freyberg

Occupational Therapy Doctoral Student Capstone Posters

This capstone involved the development and dissemination of a resource manual on service dogs for children based on collaboration with the 4 Paws for Ability organization. This manual provides occupational therapists with education on the purpose and scope of service dogs to increase recognition and understanding in the profession.

Occupational Therapy Program Fostering The Development Of School Readiness Skills In Refugee Children, Grace Reminder

Occupational Therapy Doctoral Student Capstone Posters

U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI)- Cleveland offers programming and services that help immigrants, refugees, and uprooted individuals transition to life within the United States. Refugee children face challenges with socialization, mental health, and experience a great deal of trauma and are unable to engage in meaningful activities. This paper aims to highlight programming that was created throughout a 14-week capstone experience at USCRI Cleveland that fostered the development of school readiness skills needed for pre- school aged refugee children and exposed them to new occupations and skill development, increased their quality of life, self-esteem and self-confidence

Promoting Skill Development, Inclusion, And Participation By Implementation Of Activity-Based Sensory-Enriched Programs For Children, Amanda Pearson

Occupational Therapy Doctoral Student Capstone Posters

Both neurotypical and neurodivergent children need more opportunities to engage in activity-based programs to promote overall development. We Rock the Spectrum Kids Gym is an OT-based facility designed for children of all ages and abilities. This facility promotes socialization between children and caregivers as well as provides a variety of sensory input. During this experience, I collaborated with We Rock the Spectrum to modify and develop programs geared towards children of all abilities and ages within the community to promote inclusion, skill development, and participation.

Ai And Mobile App Utilization For Hand Therapy Among Patients With Lower Socioeconomic Status, Olivia Trickett

Occupational Therapy Doctoral Student Capstone Posters

Background: The capstone project aims to enhance upper extremity rehabilitation in underserved communities by creating educational resources for practitioners on mobile app usage. Methods: Conducted interviews with a hand therapist, and conducted a literature review on mobile app usage for lower SES hand therapy patients. Results: Developed educational materials and implemented mobile apps to improve therapy accessibility and outcomes, showing promise in engaging lower SES patients. Challenges include digital literacy, smartphone access, and data security concerns. Conclusions: Mobile apps can aid hand therapy accessibility, but addressing digital literacy and smartphone access is vital. Collaboration is crucial for user-friendly app design …

Occupational Therapy Practitioners’ Perspectives On Pain Management Following Spinal Cord Injury, Helen Saul

Occupational Therapy Doctoral Student Capstone Posters

This capstone was done in collaboration with MetroHealth Rehabilitation Institute and Cleveland State University. This qualitative study explored the role of occupational therapy in pain management for individuals with spinal cord injuries. The specific strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of the profession were evaluated to enhance service delivery.

Life Skills And Young Adults With Intellectual And Developmental Disabilities, Kara Stults

Occupational Therapy Doctoral Student Capstone Posters

This capstone included the development and implementation of a 5-week life skills program for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities at Beyond the Challenge. This program focused on improving self-determination and life skills for these adults to increase independence in their daily life.

Resiliency Program Implementation On Children With Chronic Pain And Caregivers, Madison Palmer

Occupational Therapy Doctoral Student Capstone Posters

This capstone included the implementation of an 8-week resiliency-building program for children with chronic pain and their caregivers. This program provided the children and caregivers with education on mindfulness, coping strategies, and social support to overcome challenges they experience to promote resiliency while improving their overall quality of life.

Is A Patient Navigation Program More Helpful Than A Referral Program For Reducing Depression And Improving Quality Of Life Among Women Living In Neighborhoods With Few Resources?, Reach Dissemination Committee, Maine, Usa

REACH: Research Evidence-to-Action for Community Health

The research team compared two programs designed to help women with feelings of depression who live in neighborhoods with few resources. Both programs lasted four months.

All Clear For Virtual Simulation In Transition To Practice, Stephanie Barrett Msn, Rn, Onc

Posters

A knowledge gap in emergency management was identified through transition to practice program (TTPP) data and discussions with new nurses and nurse leaders. In response an Emergency Management Virtual Simulation (EMVS) was implemented. This evidence based educational method is engaging and is shown to increase confidence and learning outcomes. Virtual simulation gives new graduate nurses an opportunity to collaborate, critically think in stressful situations, and “experience the real-life chaos” in a safe learning environment.

Zooming In On Justice: The Case For Virtual Bioethics Conferencing., Bruce P Blackshaw, Daniel Rodger, Daniel J Hurst

Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine Departmental Research

No abstract available.

Occupational Therapy In The U.S. Criminal Justice System: Assessing Leisure Engagement And Parental Roles Within The Criminal Justice Setting, Kelly Dezsi

Occupational Therapy Doctoral Student Capstone Posters

In collaboration with Northeast Reintegration Center, this capstone examined the effects of leisure engagement on nurturing relationships between incarcerated mothers and their children. Furthermore, it advocated for occupational therapy services in the criminal justice setting by identifying critical needs and educating incarcerated women on the importance of engaging in healthy leisure activities to enhance their parental roles.

Promoting Positive Maternal Mental Health: Co-Occupational Education, Engagement, And Empowerment In The Perinatal Period, Elyse Mueller

Occupational Therapy Doctoral Student Capstone Posters

This capstone, which took place at University Hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, focused on enhancing maternal well-being and the maternal/infant dyad. This was promoted and advocated for through telehealth sessions for perinatal individuals and by increasing the awareness and practice of impactful co-occupations within the hospital’s NICU.

Addressing Burnout Among Caregivers Of People With Spinal Cord Injury, Rachael Vance

Occupational Therapy Doctoral Student Capstone Posters

This capstone, completed at Louis Stokes Cleveland Veterans Affairs Medical Center, involved the implementation of a 6-week occupational therapy program to address the mental health needs of veterans with spinal cord injury. As part of this program, a needs assessment was conducted to explore the mental health needs of their caregivers. Findings of the program and needs assessment were presented to an interdisciplinary team.

Health Leadership Perspectives On Challenges To Providing & Expanding Withdrawal Management Capacity In Maine, Sarah Mclaughlin Mph

Substance Use Research & Evaluation

Currently, the Maine Department of Health and Human Services (Maine DHHS) and the Cutler Institute’s Substance Use Research and Evaluation Team (SURE) are working together through the SUPPORT for ME Cooperative Agreement to monitor and assess Maine’s behavioral health system. As a part of this Cooperative Agreement, Maine DHHS and the SURE team have identified withdrawal management (WM) as an area of interest and have determined that more information is needed to understand the landscape of WM in Maine, especially as it pertains to non-opioid substances. Therefore, this project will involve collecting data through interviews with health care leadership from …

Columnas: The Honors Program Newsletter At Bentley University, Clara Williams, Micaela Corzo, Naeelah Desanges, Alyssa Galin, Isabella Ramirez

Honors Program

Page 1: WHY ARE NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS SO HARD TO KEEP? By Sahil Raut ’27

Page 2: THE CAPITALIST INFLUENCE ON HIGHER EDUCATION By Kevin Heintz ’26

Page 3: THE IMPORTANCE OF MENSTRUAL HEALTH MANAGEMENT By Sid Goel ’24

Page 4: CAN TECHNOLOGY SOLVE EDUCATIONAL INEQUALITY? By Ariana Ramirez ’27

Page 5: DATA PORTABILITY CAN CHANGE THE DIGITAL WORLD By Kassidi Thompson ’27

Page 6: THE POWER OF VULNERABILITY By Peter Epp ’24

Page 7: THREADS OF BELIEF By Yudao Song ’26

Reaching Teachers Of Early Multilingual Learners Through Professional Development: A Systematic Literature Review, Hazel Vega, Emily Howell, Rebecca Kaminski, C.C. Bates

Publications

This systematic literature review synthesises 49 studies exploring teacher professional development (PD) focused on the education of multilingual learners (MLs). Specifically, we examined PD design for in-service mainstream classroom teachers serving MLs in early elementary grades. We followed the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines for transparent reporting in systematic reviews, including the four phases of identification, screening, eligibility, and inclusion. Findings show that although the content of PD has covered foundational literacy areas, such as vocabulary and comprehension, more attention is needed on integration of culture and MLs’ linguistic repertoires. Results also show that PD …

Commencement 2024 Honorary Degree Recipients: The Rev. Ken De Groot, O.Praem., ’58, And Sister Melanie Maczka, Hmied, Rev. Matthew M. Dougherty O. Praem., ’09, Ph.D.

Citations

In recognition of his distinguished service to the church, Catholic higher education, and the many communities he has served, we are proud to bestow upon the Rev. Dennis H. Holtschneider, C.M., Ed.D., the degree of Doctor of Laws, honoris causa.

Exploring The Relationships Between Interracial Adoption, Adoptees’ Identity Development And Mental Health: A Systematic Literature Review, Erin Mackey

Social Work Student Work

Interracial adoption, which is the practice of placing a child or youth of a specific race or ethnicity with a family of a contrasting race or ethnicity, has become more prevalent in today’s world because of the overrepresentation of children and youth of color in the child welfare system. Although interracial adoption has been a controversial topic with little information in the past, it is known that identity plays a huge role in the development of children and youth as they grow. Experts have expressed concerns that interracially adopted children and youth are at risk for loss of identity including …

Intersections Between Childhood Maltreatment And Social Functioning In Adolescence: A Systematic Literature Review, Morgan Messina

Social Work Student Work

Childhood maltreatment is a public health concern in the United States that affects families and children annually. Childhood maltreatment can be defined differently for every individual including; sexual abuse, physical abuse, neglect, or emotional maltreatment. Childhood maltreatment can have multiple negative effects including depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, and several internalizing or externalizing symptoms. Individuals who experience maltreatment in childhood are more likely to experience revictimization later in life, particularly in the form of peer victimization, bullying, gang affiliation, or substance use. Some of these issues may start emerging in adolescence as part of social contexts. This systematic literature review evaluates …

A Case For Changing The Age Of Majority From 18 To 22 Years Of Age In Massachusetts, Gabriella M. Barbuto

Social Work Student Work

The age of majority is when a person is considered legally responsible and culpable for their actions (Cox et al., 2022). Since the advent of the legal system, there seems to be no consensus regarding the ideal age of majority. This is demonstrated by the age varying from state to state and nationally. In the United States, the age of majority has been as low as 14 years old. Until the 19th century, 14-year-olds could be processed in the adult justice system as well as sentenced to the death penalty. As of 2019, 38 of the 50 states, including North …

Enhancing Rotating Machinery Fault Diagnosis: A Dual-Head Attention Mechanism In Deep Learning Neural Networks, Qing Snyder

Dissertations

Rotating machinery is crucial to production efficiency and safety in manufacturing industries for an extended time. Ensuring machinery reliability necessitates effective diagnostic systems, particularly for rotating bearings, the key components of such equipment. Fault diagnosis in rotating machinery is essential to prevent failures and minimize downtime, thereby playing an important role in industrial operations. The application of advanced neural network techniques in industry has risen recently. Among these, attention-based neural networks, especially the Transformer models, are originally noteworthy for their sequential data handling capability. This research delves into attention-based algorithms for rotating machinery fault diagnosis, signifying a substantial advancement in …