Disability and Equity in Education Commons^™

Feeding And Swallowing Disorders In Children With Autism: What Caregivers Need To Know, Olivia Hopkins

Undergraduate Publications

This study investigates the complex topic of feeding and swallowing disorders in children with autism, highlighting the significant challenges they pose, particularly related to sensory sensitivities and oral motor difficulties, and the persistent lack of understanding. We examine diagnostic criteria, risks, familial impacts, cultural nuances, and evidence-based intervention strategies, with a focus on practical guidance for caregivers, to equip them with resources for navigating these challenges (Schulz & Eden, 2016). Despite the prevalence of these disorders, many remain unaware of the struggles, underscoring the urgent need for targeted investigations and supportive measures. Specifically, this paper aims to provide Speech Language …

Evaluation Of A Guide To Accessing Accommodations During Medical School Created By And For Students With Disabilities, Nora Newcomb, Emily Coughlin, Zainub Dhanani, Kie Fujii, Lily Upp, Harika Kottakota, Rahul Mhaskar, Andrew Galligan

Journal of Science Education for Students with Disabilities

Medical students with disabilities constitute 7.6% of allopathic (MD) and 4.3% of osteopathic (DO) programs, and they are entitled to reasonable accommodation, per the Americans with Disabilities Act. However, research has demonstrated that disabled medical students often encounter barriers when accessing accommodations. In response to these barriers, Medical Students with Chronic Illness and Disability (MSDCI) National created the MSDCI Guide to Accessing Disability Accommodations During Undergraduate Medical Education (the Guide). We conducted a program evaluation to evaluate the efficacy of the Guide as a resource to the members of MSDCI, a program evaluation was conducted. A Qualtrics survey was distributed …

Exploring Perceptions Of Accommodations In Ot Fieldwork: A Mixed Methods Study, Courtney A. Gohean, Courtney Gohean

West Chester University Doctoral Projects

This study employed a convergent parallel mixed-methods design to explore the perceptions and experiences of occupational therapy (OT) fieldwork educators, academic fieldwork coordinators (AFWCs), and Level II OT students with disabilities regarding accommodations during fieldwork. Quantitative data were collected through an online Qualtrics questionnaire completed by 45 fieldwork educators. Qualitative data were gathered through semi-structured interviews with seven AFWCs and seven OT students/new graduates who had used Section 504 accommodations during Level II fieldwork. Thematic analysis revealed key themes among students and AFWCs, including barriers to disclosure, variability in support and communication, the need for proactive planning, and concerns regarding …

Adjusting Your L.E.N.S: Learn And Educate With Neurodiverse Students, Jenna Potter

Entry Level Occupational Therapy Doctoral Capstone Projects Class of 2025

This doctoral capstone project, Adjusting Your L.E.N.S: Learn & Educate with Neurodiverse Students, focused on how occupational therapy (OT) can play a unique role in contributing to an inclusive postsecondary higher education (IPSE) program at a local university. This capstone project focused on supporting faculty, staff, and peer academic coaches, developing a transition camp for high school students, and enhancing the university’s current IPSE program to ensure that students with intellectual disability and autism can access higher education and learn within an inclusive and supportive setting. A faculty, staff, and academic coach training program was implemented to equip participants with …

Exploring Institutional Stratification: Minority-Serving Institutional Pathways To Medical School Acceptance In The United States, Amanda K. Burbage, Eushekia Y. Hewitt

EVMS School of Health Professions Faculty Publications

Introduction

Recruiting and training a diverse pool of physicians from historically excluded groups is vital to solving complex scientific problems and increasing access to patient care. Disparate educational and health outcomes of COVID-19 amplified this need. In stratified higher education systems, underfunded institutions that serve greater numbers of underrepresented in medicine (URM) students face unique barriers to entering physician training. However, pathways from historically underfunded minority-serving institutions (MSIs) in the United States to medical school (MD) are not well understood.

Method

A hierarchical logistic regression analysis of 328 488 de-identified applicants to US MD-granting medical schools for academic years 2017-2018 …

Otolaryngology Applicants' Preferences For Virtual Vs. In-Person Interviews During The 2023-2024 Application Cycle, Taylor S. Erickson, Robert Frederick, Steven D. Pletcher, Aileen Dowden, Dana Dunleavy, Eric J. Dobratz

Department of Otolaryngology (ENT) Faculty Publications

Background Since the shift to virtual residency interviews, applicants and programs have reported difficulty distinguishing themselves in a virtual format, reduced exposure to medical campuses, and limited opportunity to establish personal connections. The 2023-2024 application cycle was the first time virtual and in-person interview formats were available in otolaryngology–head and neck surgery (OHNS). Programs offered one or both formats, and in some cases, applicants were given the choice between the 2.

Objective To assess the perceptions of OHNS applicants regarding virtual versus in-person interviews during the 2023-2024 application cycle.

Methods A 20-question survey was distributed via email through the Association …

The Geography Of Care: Rural Versus Urban Caregiver Perspectives On Community Resources For Parkinson’S Disease Management, Rebecca Jones

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study investigated the experiences and perceptions of caregivers for individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD) in rural versus urban settings, with particular emphasis on their access to and utilization of community resources. Through semi-structured interviews with 30 caregivers, the research explored how geographical location impacts caregiving challenges, support systems, and resource accessibility. Using Andersen's Behavioral Model of Health Services Use as a theoretical framework, the study revealed both universal caregiving challenges and location-specific barriers. While all caregivers reported significant emotional burden and healthcare system navigation difficulties, rural caregivers faced distinct challenges related to resource accessibility and specialized care availability. …

Development Of A Personalized Conversational Health Agent To Enhance Physical Activity For Blind And Low-Vision Individuals, Soyoung Choi, Jooyoung Seo, Ashwath Krishnan, Sanchita Kamath, Justin Haegele

Human Movement Studies & Special Education Faculty Publications

Background: With the advancements in mobile health (mHealth) technologies, sighted individuals can benefit from mobile apps and wearable devices to more easily manage their physical activity (PA) and wellness data through intuitive touch gestures and effective data visualizations. However, for blind and low-vision (BLV) individuals, these conventional interaction methods are often challenging, not only limiting their ability to use these technologies but also potentially diminishing their motivation to adopt them to support health-promoting behaviors. We aimed to develop a health monitoring application called Personalized and Conversational Health Agent (PCHA) that supports BLV individuals with self-monitoring and management of their PA …

Facilitators And Barriers For Occupational Therapy Using Ayres Sensory Integration® (Ot-Asi) For School-Aged Autistic Students: Special Education Team Perspectives, Brooke E. Loughery, Ms, Otr/L

Post-Professional Occupational Therapy Doctorate Culminating Presentations

Introduction: Occupational therapy using Ayres Sensory Integration® (OT-ASI) is an evidence-based approach that addresses sensory integration differences to support participation for autistic students in daily occupations, including education (Hume et al., 2021; Schaaf & Mailloux, 2015). However, its evidence for its use in school-based practice is still emerging (Whiting et. al., 2023; Whiting et al., 2025). A recent study showed that occupational therapists feel this approach is valuable and are interested in using it in schools (Cerase McKeon et al., 2024), but more information is needed to explore teacher and school administrators’ perception of its use.

Objectives: To explore the …

Gender Segregation In Caring Labor: The Impact Of Social Norms On Career Choices, Evelyn Xinhui Cheng

CBER Conference

Women engage in work stereotypically seen as "women's work," or work based on the perceived "natural" female tendency towards caring and relational thinking (Tung 2000). In pre-reform China, Shu (2005) found that women were more concentrated in the lowerpaying collective sector compared to men in the state-owned sector, contributing to the gender wage gap. China's horizontal occupational segregation by gender has significant implications for gender pay gaps, workforce attachment, and the perceived value of caring labor in society. Feminist scholars argue that gendered norms around caring originate that conflate womanhood with nurturing (England 2005; Litt & Zimmerman 2003). The main …

Parent Perceptions Of Modified Toy Cars Influence On Play For Children With Disabilities: A Case Study, Taylor Brown, Angela Labrie Blackwell, Erik Pérez, Karen Aranha

Fall 2024 OTD Capstone Symposium

Play is a crucial childhood occupation because it facilitates the growth of various developmental skills. Children with disabilities (CWD) often exhibit intrinsic factors that can prevent them from participating in meaningful childhood occupations, such as play. Mobility play is a specific type of play that refers to any means for the child to explore and move around their environment, which can be accessed through the use of commercially available toys, including motorized toy cars. However, these commercially available toys are not always accessible to this population due to their unique presentation that hinders performance and participation in the desired and …

Adapting Classroom Activities To Increase Social Engagement, Ivie Hacker, Mary Jan Greer Ph.D., Otr

Fall 2024 OTD Capstone Symposium

This capstone program focuses on enhancing the development of children with disabilities through adaptive play strategies. It aims to create a supportive, engaging environment that accommodates the unique needs of children on the autism spectrum. By incorporating individualized play techniques, the program promotes social, emotional, and cognitive skills, fostering greater communication, creativity, and physical coordination. The project explores the role of adaptive play in improving social interactions, reducing sensory sensitivities, and building self-confidence, ultimately contributing to the overall well-being and development of children with autism.

Representation Of Women At Select Academic Ophthalmology Institutions In The United States, Hazem M Mousa, Camryn Thompson, Sri Meghana Konda, Keke Liu, Jay Rathinavelu, Terry Lee, Katherine Peters, Kevin J. Jackson, Laura Enyedi, Pratap Challa, Sharon Fekrat

Journal of Academic Ophthalmology

Purpose: To investigate the representation of women among ophthalmology faculty members at select academic institutions in the United States (US).

Design: Cross-sectional study

Subjects: Clinical faculty members at the top 20 academic ophthalmology institutions in the U.S. according to US News and World Report ranking

Methods: Gender as reported on institutional websites either directly or via pronouns, academic rank, medical school graduation year, and subspecialty were collected about clinical faculty members with MD, MD/PhD, MBBS or DO from their respective institutional websites. The number of publications for each faculty member was collected using Scopus ® (Elsevier, …

A Global Comparison Of Communication Intervention Strategies For Justice-Involved Youth, Sophia Janeiro Martinez

OUR Journal: ODU Undergraduate Research Journal

Purpose: This paper explores the intricate relationship between communication disorders and delinquent youth behavior. It will explore the detrimental impact of zero-tolerance policies and their contribution to the school-to-prison pipeline. It will introduce issues, such as complex Miranda warning diction, and the benefits of including speech-language pathologists (SLPs) to aid in youth comprehension. Additionally, it will propose the integration of SLPs within the juvenile justice system to assist in communication between justice-involved youth (JIY) and justice professionals during conversations, questioning, and trials or hearings. Furthermore, this paper examines the roles of SLPs within juvenile justice systems abroad, including Canada, …

"Not A Cookie Cutter Situation": How Neurodivergent Students Experience Group Work In Their Stem Courses, Sophia Salvatore, Claudia White, Stephen Podowitz

College of Life Sciences Faculty Papers

Background: Although group work is increasingly used in STEM courses and may lead to improved academic outcomes, there is evidence that some implementations of group work may lead to unintended barriers for certain students’ learning. Despite the growing number of neurodivergent undergraduate students, there is limited research on neurodivergent students’ experiences with group work in STEM courses. To address this knowledge gap, the current research investigated the experiences of 22 neurodivergent undergraduate students with group work in STEM courses at a range of institution types and in a variety of STEM disciplines. Participants shared experiences with in-class and out-of-class group …

Providing End-Of-Life Counseling: A Narrative Inquiry, Carol Hecht, Sibyl West

Adultspan Journal

This qualitative study aimed to address the gap in the research related to end-of-life counseling by exploring the experiences of counselors working with clients at end of life. While counseling literature and education are lacking regarding end of life, many counselors will work alongside clients approaching death. The purpose of this study was twofold: (a) to better understand the nuanced experiences of counselors providing end-of-life counseling and (b) to explore the supports and preparations helpful for counselors to provide end-of-life counseling. A narrative approach, using the Listening Guide (Gilligan, 2015), was employed to analyze and present the stories of three …

Considerations Of Medicare Telehealth Services With Older Adults, Sonah Kho, Amanda Dediego

Adultspan Journal

The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic set in motion a rapid expansion of mental health services offered via telehealth. With this rapid expansion came the need to examine how policy and practice should be shaped in a future where telehealth is considered common in counseling practice. For counselors to understand how to support older adult clients in using telehealth services, they must understand telehealth policy. Following the eligibility of licensed counselors to participate in Medicare, counselors need to stay abreast of regulatory changes regarding restrictions and regulations on use of telehealth for mental and behavioral health services, including video and …

Impact Of County-Level Urbanicity On Quality Of Life For People With Intellectual And Developmental Disabilities In A Rural State., Alyssa M. Smith, Allison Caudill

Developmental Disabilities Network Journal

People with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) face challenges, such as decreased access to physical, environmental, and social health-related services that can negatively impact their overall quality of life (QoL). Additionally, people living in rural communities may experience geographic distancing and other factors, like decreased transportation and available housing, that contribute to increased isolation and decreased health outcomes, overall. It is important to consider the QoL of people with IDD living in these communities given the additional intersectional constraints of rurality and having an intellectual disability or other co-occurring conditions. A secondary data analysis reviewed closed and open-ended survey data …

Disability Education In Medical Schools: A Paradigm Shift For Inclusive Care, Hannah Ship Md, Mph, Sahana Shankar M.D., Rochelle Baer Lcsw, Jeffrey Brosco M.D., Ph.D., Jairo Arana, Damian Gregory, Robert Irwin M.D., Gauri Agarwal M.D., Sabrina Taldone Md, Mba, Sheryl Eisenberg Michalowski Ma, Daniel Quintero M.D., Anna Shah M.D., Frank Woo M.D., Michelle Schladant Ph.D., Ashley Falcon Phd, Mph

Developmental Disabilities Network Journal

Disability education for medical students is often insufficient and can contribute to health disparities for people with disabilities. Our interdisciplinary curriculum development team created a longitudinal 4-year disability education model aimed at improving patient care for people with disabilities. Central to our curriculum are progressive sessions aligned with students' medical journey, including three required sessions covering interdisciplinary healthcare teams, implicit bias, health disparities, disability culture, shared decision-making, communication, and self-determination. Through the inclusion of people with disabilities, an interdisciplinary curriculum development team, and trainee-driven advocacy, our longitudinal multi-phasic disability education curriculum seeks to mitigate health disparities. Our innovative approach addresses …

Ot's Role In Community Accessibility At Public Parks And Playgrounds For Parents With Disabilities, Janae Paulo, Amy Lyons-Brown, Stacy Frauwith, Lena Gipson Showalter

Summer 2024 OTD Capstone Symposium

Public parks and playgrounds play a crucial role in fostering parent-child interaction, social inclusion, and community engagement. However, these essential recreational spaces often remain inaccessible to individuals with disabilities (Lynch et al., 2020). Research underscores the benefits of inclusive playgrounds, yet many are not designed to accommodate adults with disabilities, thus creating barriers for parents with disabilities who wish to engage with their children (Dalpra, 2022; Jacob et al., 2017). Although occupational therapy (OT) practitioners are instrumental in ensuring environmental accessibility within home settings, their involvement in the design of public spaces is limited. Young et al. (2019) advocate for …

Self-Harm In Female Youth With Undiagnosed Adhd: Implementing American Academy Of Pediatrics Screening Guidelines, Roselie M. Woodard

Dissertations

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. If undiagnosed or untreated, ADHD can lead to severe psychosocial issues such as academic failure, substance abuse, unplanned pregnancy, and incarceration. The financial burden in the U.S. from diagnostic errors creates an immense, rising fiscal impact. Early diagnosis and management are crucial to prevent these complications.

Females with ADHD, particularly those with the inattentive subtype, often face diagnostic challenges due to symptom masking and over-compensation. This results in poorer cognitive functioning and self-esteem compared to males with ADHD. ADHD is linked to autonomic nervous …

Thai Americans: A Poem Collection Featuring "Bilingual หมา Standard Poodle" And "Last Name กู Too Long", Simon Boonsripaisal, Ravadee Boonsripaisal

Journal of Southeast Asian American Education and Advancement

This is a co-authored poem collection focusing on Thai American life. In Bilingual หมา Standard Poodle, interactions and observations are made between a Thai American family and their supportive standard poodle named Pumpkin. This poem interjects on the disaggregated Southeast Asian American experience with inclusion of a pet companion. In Last Name กู Too Long, a Thai American graduate student discusses with their mother the challenges of gaining employment. This poem brings attention to hiring bias in the screening and interview process.

With Love, ; An Interdisciplinary And Intersectional Look At Why Creativity Is Essential, Theo Starr Gardner

Whittier Scholars Program

My Whittier Scholars Program self-designed major, Teaching Creativity, is a mixture of Art, Literature, and Education classes. My research and praxis classes have been focused on the ‘how?’s and 'why?’s of creativity, so it felt only right that my project should be a constructivist, generative project. The project I have been working on throughout my time at Whittier, and that has just fully come to fruition on April 11th, 2024, was a solo art gallery/open mic event entitled ‘With Love,’. With Love, was conceptually inspired by the research I’ve conducted on creativity and creative arts education over the past few …

Emotion Regulation Strategies And Perceived Emotional Intelligence: The Effect Of Age., Iwanna Sepiadou

Adultspan Journal

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between perceived emotional intelligence and the reported use of cognitive reappraisal and expressive suppression. We also investigated the possible effects of age on the aforementioned variables. The total sample consisted of 379 people (158 men, 220 women, 1 unreported). Across participants, 273 were young (20-39 years old) and 106 were middle-aged (40-65 years old). We found statistically significant positive correlations between the dimensions of perceived emotional intelligence and the reported use of cognitive reappraisal and negative primarily correlations between the dimensions of perceived emotional intelligence and the reported use of …

Funding Mechanisms For School Aged Children Who Qualify For Augmentative And Alternative Communication Devices, Hailey Johnson

Senior Honors Projects

Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) devices are used by individuals of all developmental ages who have difficulties with speech. Those who qualify to use an AAC device are able to practice independence, communicate their needs, and are able to engage in more opportunities where conversation with spoken communication is necessary. This comprehensive review of AAC within the school-aged population provides a detailed look at their overall use within the public school setting, and the funding mechanisms available to users and their families for these expensive devices. Interviews with a Speech and Language Pathologist, and a parent of a child with …

Comparing Children’S Engagement In Storybook Reading With And Without Access To Aac With A Literacy Supportive Feature, Brooke Zimmerman

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Purpose: This thesis evaluates the effects of comparing children’s engagement in storybook reading with and without access to high-tech augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) with a literacy supportive feature. Literacy skills are a fundamental cornerstone for engagement in the lives of young children. Among these skills, the ability to decode words, or phonetically sound them out, plays a pivotal role in the acquisition of literacy. Proficiency in literacy also broadens the communication capabilities of individuals with developmental disabilities who rely on augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) methods. However, existing AAC technologies currently fall short in adequately strengthening literacy development, particularly …

Inclusion Of Adoption As A Pregnancy Management Option In Prenatal Genetic Counseling Practice, Emma Billings

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Prenatal genetic counselors are essential to providing education, psychosocial support, and guidance on pregnancy options to patients who receive a fetal diagnosis of an anomaly or genetic condition. Therefore, genetic counselors should be well-educated on comprehensive pregnancy management options consisting of parenting, abortion, and adoption. The landscape of adoption education in genetic counseling practice was last characterized in 2010 by Perry and Henry, revealing substantial variability in both the inclusion of adoption-specific education in genetic counseling program (GCP) curricula and the discussion of pregnancy options with patients in prenatal practice. As a result, the authors published a call to action …

Peer-Mediated Family Support Project: Evaluation Of Changes In Family Quality Of Life, Preethy S. Samuel, Elizabeth Janks, Nia S. Anderson, Michael Bray, Christina Topolewski, Sharon Milberger

Developmental Disabilities Network Journal

The Family Quality of Life (FQOL) approach represents a paradigm shift from fixing to supporting people with intellectual/developmental disabilities (I/DD) by changing the focus from the individual to the family and highlighting strengths rather than deficiencies. Aging family caregivers of individuals with I/DD often encounter obstacles, including accessibility, acceptability, and affordability of services. Little is known about best practices to support aging families of adults with I/DD. Understanding how a state-wide peer-mediated family support project implemented in this study helped improve the FQOL of aging caregivers is important in broadening participation of other caregivers in these types of programs. To …

Interdisciplinary Treatment Approach To Youth With Intellectual Or Developmental Disabilities And Co-Occurring Mental Health Conditions, Ashley Greenwald, Erika Ryst, Diane D. Thorkildson, Lauren Brown

Developmental Disabilities Network Journal

Many individuals with Intellectual and/or Developmental Disabilities (IDD) have co-occurring mental health needs, yet service delivery options often do not allow for the integrated delivery of mental health treatment and social behavioral support services. Siloed treatment approaches often result in lack of collaboration between providers, increasing the difficulty in accessing comprehensive and coordinated treatments and reducing treatment potential and effective outcomes. Additionally, many service providers in behavioral support services are not trained to address significant mental health needs; similarly, providers of mental health services lack experience in modifying practices for differing cognitive needs. The lack of cross-training and cross-collaboration makes …

Improving Participation In Physical Education For Children With Disabilities, Randi Major, Susan Macdermott

Spring 2024 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

Participating in adaptive sports has many benefits for children with disabilities (CWD), however literature demonstrates that many barriers exist within community-setting adaptive sports which impact participation for CWD. There is currently a lack of understanding of the needs of CWD and the barriers that exist within schools that impact their participation in physical activities and sports. In addition, the literature demonstrates that many individuals with disabilities are not meeting the recommended minutes for daily physical activity which can impact the health and well-being of CWD (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2022).

The purpose of this capstone project was …