Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Metro Parks Adults With Disabilities - Health Management, Kaylee M. Lane

OTD Capstone Projects

This doctoral capstone project was completed through a partnership with Metro Parks adults with disABILITIES. This agency is a local day program focused on providing every Nashville citizen in Davidson County with intellectual and developmental disABILITIES with an equitable opportunity for safe recreational and cultural activities. Metro Parks offers a variety of age and ability appropriate activities that highlight the ABILIITIES of all members. The primary focus of this capstone experience was to create an evidenced based program designed specifically for this population. The goal of the project was to increase participation in meaningful occupations and overall wellbeing for attending …

Occupational Therapy Students’ Perceptions Of Their Experience In A Role-Emerging Level Ii Fieldwork Within Higher Education Student Services, Marie-Christine Potvin, Alexis Morales, Erin West, Mika Kalimi, Jeanne M Coviello

Department of Occupational Therapy Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Role-emerging settings - those where occupational therapy (OT) services have not traditionally been provided - are common sites for practice placements of entry-level occupational therapy students. A growing body of literature has attempted to determine the value and drawbacks of such practice placements on the professional preparedness of OT students with mixed findings. Benefits have been identified, including increased cultural understanding, advocacy, creativity, initiative, and problem-solving skills. However, OT students have been reported to perceive such placement as limiting their professional growth and preparedness to practice compared to traditional placements.

METHODS: A phenomenological study was conducted seeking the perceptions …

Ot's Perspective On Type 1 Diabetes Management In College Students, Nimmy Thomas, Cassandra Nelson, Elizabeth Pyatak

Spring 2024 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

To create a program guide to provide resources for freshman-year students to seek accommodations or helpful tips for students with type 1 diabetes to have a smooth transition to college enhance overall health management, and participate in leisure activities.

Expanding Impact To Promote Wellness And Functional Independence, Margaret Stacy

OTD Capstone Projects

This doctoral capstone project was completed in partnership with Spiral Spine Pilates (SSP). SSP is a studio that specializes in supporting the scoliosis community, offering a range of resources for everyone, no matter their age, curve, or where they are in their journey. SSP utilizes evidence-based methods to lengthen and strengthen the body while empowering clients to live happily, pain-free, and fearlessly. The objective of this project was to expand the positive impact SSP can make on promoting wellness and functional independence for its clients through the development and refinement of resources. This included increasing the usability and accessibility of …

The Role Of Occupational Therapy For Mothers With Children Who Have Had A Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (Nicu) Stay, Reagan Mclendon, Cynthia Haynes

Spring 2024 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

This study examined the occupational needs of mothers with a child who required a NICU stay and illustrates the potential roles of occupational therapy for this population.

Occupational Therapy’S Role In Creating An Educational Employment Program For Individuals With Disabilities., Jessica Tully, Cynthia Haynes

Spring 2024 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

The purpose of this poster was to explain the steps taken to create an educational employment program for individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities.

Promoting Parental Competence When Transitioning From The Nicu To Home: A Coaching Intervention, Vanessa Chavez, Angela Labrie Blackwell

Spring 2024 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

This handbook aims to improve the support system for families in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) by developing a coaching intervention that empowers parents, improves their confidence, and provides necessary home care skills.

Occupational Impacts Of Seizures, Stephanie Nailon, Karen Park, Kelly Rodenkirch

Spring 2024 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

This research looks at the occupational impacts of seizure disorders on the adolescent population. The research study explores how their condition impacts the adolescent and family unit. The research was gathered from multiple perspectives to gain an in-depth understanding to best aid occupational therapists and health care professionals to gain a deeper understanding of areas to address when working with this population.

Returning To Sexual Activity And Intimacy After Spinal Cord Injury, Hanna Bush

Occupational Therapy Doctoral Student Capstone Posters

Sexual activity and intimacy are meaningful occupations for many individuals, regardless of ability. According to the OTPF-4, sexual activity and intimacy are activities of daily living. It is also a right for persons to have access to engage in meaningful activities. However, there is significant information reported that individuals with spinal cord injuries are not receiving sufficient, or any, information for returning to sexual activity during occupational therapy treatment. A program manual, educational materials, and handouts were designed for those with spinal cord injuries seeking to return to the ADL of sexual activity and intimacy upon discharge from inpatient rehabilitation.

Adaptive Outdoor Recreation To Promote Health And Well-Being For Adults With Disabilities, Brittany Earle

Occupational Therapy Doctoral Student Capstone Posters

Individuals with physical disabilities are disproportionately excluded from leisure pursuits including outdoor recreation due to various barriers. In collaboration with Cleveland Metroparks, I created a program designed for adults with disabilities to enhance health and well-being through participation in outdoor recreation as well as increase awareness of opportunities available. The Adaptive Outdoor Recreation Program is intended to be implemented in spring 2025.

Empowering Fall Prevention: Development And Implementation Of Volunteer Peer Liaison Program Manual, Marissa Poalson

Occupational Therapy Doctoral Student Capstone Posters

This capstone project addressed the community's lack of knowledge and training in fall prevention strategies by developing and implementing a volunteer peer liaison fall prevention manual. The manual outlined guidelines and provided training to support participants of the fall prevention program offered by the Community Partnership on Aging.

Arm And Hand Functional Priorities Of Individuals With Tetraplegia, Ashley Giffen

Occupational Therapy Doctoral Student Capstone Posters

This research-based capstone conducted at MetroHealth Rehabilitation Institute determined specific functional arm and hand priorities among individuals with tetraplegia. The identification of these client values will inform the development of future rehabilitation processes and technological advancements to improve overall quality of life.

Plaay On The Move Manual For Dynamic Floor System, Brittany Henke

Occupational Therapy Doctoral Student Capstone Posters

The dynamic floor is an interactive projector that facilitates play opportunities for children with physical disabilities. The purpose of this capstone was to develop a manual that will be used to assist clinicians with use of the dynamic floor to improve opportunities of play within Cleveland State University's PLAAY on the Move.

Investigating How Children With Autism Respond To Virtual Environments, Mykaela Naragon

Occupational Therapy Doctoral Student Capstone Posters

Over 90% of individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder face sensory processing challenges. Virtual environments can trigger adaptive sensory responses akin to real-world experiences. This preliminary study explored how students with autism interact within virtual settings. Conducted at Julie Billiart Schools, where over 75% of students have autism and sensory differences, the project involved 35 participants aged 6-14 in six VR sessions. Data on Zones of Regulation, affect, and behaviors were collected. Results showed VR was enjoyable, with highly significant post-VR changes in Zone of Regulation (p<0.001). This suggests VR holds promise as a therapeutic tool for self-regulation in children with ASD.

Occupational Therapy's Role In The Area Of Eating Disorders And Body Image, Tayler Arjune

Occupational Therapy Doctoral Student Capstone Posters

The role of Occupational Therapy with the eating disorder and body image population is not widely addressed. This capstone, worked alongside TripleAWellness, to advocate for occupational therapy services within the population of body image and eating disorders by educating clients and staff on occupational engagement and enhancing occupational performance.

Increasing Cultural Inclusivity Within Your Practice: Dei Toolkit For Occupational Therapy Practitioners, Kaitlyn Deere

Occupational Therapy Doctoral Student Capstone Posters

In the world of healthcare, there is an alarming amount of health disparities and lack of access to quality healthcare for those belonging to marginalized communities. The purpose of this capstone was to create a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion tool kit for the Ohio Occupational Therapy Association that supports an occupational therapy practitioner's journey towards cultural humility.

Development Of A Dating Violence Prevention Program For Adolescents, Melissa Arellano

Occupational Therapy Doctoral Student Capstone Posters

This capstone focused on the development of an 8-session program with The Journey Center for Safety and Healing that aims to empower high school-aged adolescents through activity and leisure-based sessions to develop skills and routines to promote healthy dating by recognizing dating abuse, by developing social and emotional skills, and ultimately working to promote safe and healthy relationships and reduce instances of intimate partner violence.

Occupational Therapy And Human Trafficking Recovery: A Novel Educational Model, Jacklyn Voytko

Occupational Therapy Doctoral Student Capstone Posters

Human trafficking recovery frequently fails to address the complex needs of survivors. Occupational therapy is uniquely qualified to meet those needs, but is commonly overlooked. This capstone involved the development of an evidence-based educational model, emphasizing trauma-informed and culturally responsive practice, to increase occupational therapists’ knowledge on their role in ending the cycle of exploitation.

The Truth To Transitioning: Development Of A Trans* Specific Occupational Therapy Practice Framework Involving An Integrative Care Model, Amanda Gale

Occupational Therapy Doctoral Student Capstone Posters

Transgender and gender-diverse (TGD) clients are underserved by occupational therapy practitioners (OTPs) throughout their transition journey. This research based capstone involved completing stakeholder interviews with OTPs and TGD individuals to inform and update an existing occupational therapy model and improve best-practice standards within OT practice when providing services to TGD individuals.

Improving Community Integration Through A Leisure Program To Address Cyclic Veteran Homelessness., Breeanna Host

Occupational Therapy Doctoral Student Capstone Posters

This capstone worked to provide increased leisure opportunities and build leisure skills for homeless veterans through the development of a leisure program and community speaker series at Harry Donovan Jr. Valor Home. This program focused on improving community integration and quality of life through leisure education and hands on experiences.

Student-Athletes And Their Hidden Opponent: Assessing And Supporting Student-Athlete Mental Health And Well-Being, Dena Wenzinger

Occupational Therapy Doctoral Student Capstone Posters

Suicide is now the second most common cause of death among college athletes in the United States. This capstone involved conducting an in-depth needs assessment of the mental health resources in the Athletics Department at Cleveland State University. There was a collaboration with the Student-Athlete Academic Services staff and the Athletics Counselor to provide mental health resources reported to be needed by the student-athletes (SAs). This population can benefit from occupational therapy intervention as occupational therapists are educated on mental health practices. Resources were created and made available to the SAs on their “Community for Student-Athlete Engagement” Blackboard course.

Implementation Of Ot Services Through A Reverse Job Fair For Adults With Intellectual And Developmental Disabilities (Idd), Rachel Braunegg

Occupational Therapy Doctoral Student Capstone Posters

Employment rates for adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities (IDD) is extremely low, despite having the desire and skill sets to work (Friedman, 2019). This capstone, partnering with Cleveland State University's Center for Career Development & Exploration, provided RISE students with IDD an opportunity to prepare for and participate in a Reverse Job Fair through weekly OT intervention.

Promoting Occupational Justice Within An Adaptive Rock Climbing Program, Kate Bliven

Occupational Therapy Doctoral Student Capstone Posters

This capstone project enhanced Rec2Connect's adaptive rock climbing program through a contextual analysis which identified areas for improvement and guided the development of comprehensive resources for facilitators supporting individuals with and without disabilities. The project aimed to enrich engagement on and off the climbing wall, fostering inclusive, meaningful recreation within the program and the greater community.

Universal Guideline Manual (Ugm) For Inclusive Physical Education Service (Pes) Courses At Cleveland State University (Csu), Jamie Bartolovich

Occupational Therapy Doctoral Student Capstone Posters

In collaboration with the Department of Health Sciences and Human Services at Cleveland State University, this capstone included the development and dissemination of a Universal Guideline Manual for physical education instructors at CSU. Incorporating diverse teaching methods and adaptive strategies, this manual equips the instructors with guidance on how to accommodate students of all abilities, ensuring a supportive and enriching classroom environment.

Classroom Reintegration For Children And Adolescents With Traumatic Brain Injuries, Alli Perkins, Mary Greer, Keith Mcwilliams

Spring 2024 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

The purpose of the poster presentation is to increase the present knowledge regarding the process of school-based reintegration for children and adolescents who have experienced a traumatic brain injury. As children and young adults spend an average of 32 hours per week in the school environment, parents, educators, and rehabilitation professionals are ideally positioned to collaborate with one another to facilitate the reintegration process and enable students to return to their primary occupations of educational participation, social participation, play, and leisure. The presentation includes information from the development and implementation of a program for parents, families, and educators of those …

Percepciones De Las Tecnologías En Los Centros De Rehabilitación Y El Efecto En El Bienestar De Los Usuarios, Según Los Profesionales De La Salud En Arica, Chile, Liam Fleck

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Physical disability is a prominent problem throughout Chile, affecting 17% of the total population (Ministerio de Desarrollo Social y Familia, 2022). In Chile, the health system has two main sectors: public and private. Each sector has different physical rehabilitation centers, which often have large differences in the resources available, such as medical technologies, which could possibly affect the quality of care their respective users receive. The objective of this study is to learn the perceptions of different medical professionals, such as kinesiologists, occupational therapists, and nurses, about the impact of these medical technologies and how it may affect their patients. …

The Positive Impact Of Occupational Therapy Working With Foster Youth On Campus; Leading By Example, Nautica Bell

Occupational Therapy Doctoral Student Capstone Posters

Aged-out foster youth are under-serviced requiring support in the transition to adulthood. This capstone focused on the development of a guidebook and education on mental health, sensory needs, and life skills for foster youth. The resources showed a positive impact on students– demonstrating the value of occupational therapy.

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.