Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Reducing Inter-Rater Discrepancies During Administration Of The Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (Copm) Within An Interdisciplinary Research Team, Julia E. Moore

Entry-Level Occupational Therapy Doctorate - Doctoral Capstone Symposium

Background: Consistent administration of outcome measures is essential for producing reliable research data, particularly in stroke rehabilitation where client-centered goals guide intervention (Kelly-Hayes, 2004). The Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM) is widely used to evaluate self-identified occupational performance goals; however, variability in administration among research team members may introduce inter-rater discrepancies and bias in data collection (COPM) (n.d.). Within the Medical University of South Carolina Stroke Recovery Research Center, inconsistent COPM administration was identified during analysis of data and informal interviewing from an ongoing study. Informal interviews were conducted with 7 occupational therapists experienced in neurorehabilitation to identify barriers to …

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 …

Program Development Of Incorporating Dance Therapy Into Occupational Therapy Practice For Sensory Regulation In Autism Spectrum Disorder, Taylor Briske, Keisa Boykin, Katherine O'Hara

Spring 2026 OTD Capstone Symposium

The purpose of this project was to develop and implement a program to educate occupational therapists on how to effectively integrate dance therapy as an intervention to address sensory regulation in children with autism.

Bridging The Gap: Advocating For Improved Integrated Occupational Therapy Services In Prosthetic Care, Sarah A. Paddock, Keisa Boykin, Cheryl Sheffield

Spring 2026 OTD Capstone Symposium

This advocacy project focused on advocating for increased OT services in prosthetic care from pre-amputation to post-amputation.

Instrumental Activities Of Daily Living (Iadl) Education To Support Role Transition For Teen Mothers In Underserved Communities, Ayanna Johnson, Lakeisa Boykin, Jessica De Brun

Spring 2026 OTD Capstone Symposium

This project focuses on researching the unique challenges faced by teenage mothers in low-socioeconomic communities and developing occupation-based strategies to support their transition into motherhood. The aim was to enhance their independence and effectiveness in instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs), such as child-rearing, home and financial management, community engagement, and meal preparation.

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 …

From Missed To Measured: Understanding And Elevating Functional Cognition In Occupational Therapy, Taylor Card, Zeida Gutierrez, Gordon Giles

Spring 2026 OTD Capstone Symposium

Functional cognition is critical to occupational performance but is often inconsistently assessed in occupational therapy practice. This mixed-methods study explored practitioners’ perspectives, assessment practices, and barriers across clinical settings. Findings revealed a reliance on observation over standardized, performance-based assessments, despite strong recognition of its importance. Barriers included time constraints, limited resources, and role ambiguity. Results highlight a gap between current practice and evidence-based approaches, supporting the need for increased education and improved access to practical assessment tools.

Shift In Caregivers Occupations For Patients With Cerebrovascular Accidents, Hannah M. Ninan, Zeida Gutierrez

Spring 2026 OTD Capstone Symposium

The purpose of this capstone is to research the impact of assuming the caregiver role for individuals recovering from a CVA on the caregivers’ occupations and their occupational balance. Acquiring this information allows for a deeper understanding of its impacts and informs the implementation of support strategies and interventions to mitigate burnout within the first year of caregiving.

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.

Meeting The Needs Of Students With Low Vision Or Blindness: A Resource Guidebook Through The Occupational Therapy Lens, Zoe E. Wilson, Keisa Boykin

Spring 2026 OTD Capstone Symposium

The purpose of this project is to develop a guidebook and educational tools to support the academic and social participation needs of students with visual impairments. These tools are intended to help address common challenges children with low vision face in school including difficulties accessing classroom materials, participating in group activities, and keeping up with academic expectations. The guidebook will include evidence-based strategies such as the use of low-vision aids, optical devices, and activity-based supports shown to improve quality of life for children with low vision. By providing practical resources, this project aims to enable educators and occupational therapists to …

Promoting Safety And Community For Dancers, Lauren Tribeck

OTD Capstone Projects

This doctoral capstone was completed in partnership with MOVE Inclusive Dance in Nashville, Tennessee. MOVE Inclusive Dance is a nonprofit organization that empowers individuals of all ability levels to learn life skills through dance. The primary goal of this project was to promote safety for dancers and improve MOVE’s community outreach. The project included creating an injury prevention and body mechanics handbook that the studio would be able to keep for their dancers, parents, and teachers to access. A new framework of dance classes for individuals with Parkinson’s Disease, Alzheimer’s, and Dementia was created to allow MOVE to promote why …

Nashville Dolphins: Where Swimmers Are Built Beyond The Water, Makenzie Hendley

OTD Capstone Projects

This doctoral capstone project was completed through a partnership with Nashville Dolphins. The Nashville Dolphins offer free swim lessons and swim team programs for children and adults with disabilities. The organization serves over 300 swimmers each season and the programs are entirely run by volunteers. The focus of this project was to assist in develop programming and water safety resources. Deliverables provided to the organization include a 10-week swim curriculum for the Little Phins program, a new safety card with the Nashville Dolphins information, and list of schools and local swim teams for potential future partnerships.

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 …

Bridging Movement Science And Clinical Care: Advancing Evidence-Based Scoliosis Care Through Professional Education And Outreach Initiatives, Megan B. Tenery

OTD Capstone Projects

This doctoral capstone project was completed in collaboration with Spiral Spine Pilates (SSP), a Pilates studio specializing in scoliosis that serves clients from adolescents to older adults. SSP offers virtual and in-person private lessons, group classes, teacher training, and a scoliosis-focused retreat. These services are designed to educate individuals with scoliosis and movement practitioners on evidence-based, functional correction movements that support daily living. The primary objectives of this project were to expand SSP’s educational and community reach through the development of a new Pilates certification, an educational email series, a health and wellness podcast, and other outreach efforts. The primary …

Empowerment Of Patients Through Sexual Wellness Programming, Carly M. Busby

OTD Capstone Projects

Abstract:

This doctoral capstone project was completed in collaboration with Dr. Jenny Archer with Archer Physical Pelvic Floor Therapy. This project highlights empowerment of Dr. Archer and her team through administrative tasks and empowerment of clientele through education materials. The primary deliverable of my project is a six week ‘course,’ addressing pelvic pain through evidence-based therapy practices. Other deliverables include education materials that cover an expanse of pelvic floor and pregnancy related topics. The prominent goal of this capstone project was empowerment through education.

Advocating For Children And Youth With Special Healthcare Needs Through Development Of A Sustainable Ambassador Program At The Center For Courageous Kids.Pdf, Alexandria West

OTD Capstone Projects

Children and youth with special healthcare needs (CYSHCN) often benefit from community-based programs that promote participation, social engagement, and psychosocial well-being. The Center for Courageous Kids (CCK) is a nonprofit medical camp dedicated to providing empowering camp experiences for children with disabilities or lifelong illnesses and their families at no cost. During this doctoral capstone experience, a needs assessment identified limited structured university outreach, decreased volunteer awareness, and the need for improved long-term volunteer recruitment and advocacy efforts.

The purpose of this capstone project was to develop a sustainable ambassador program designed to increase community engagement, strengthen advocacy efforts, and …

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 …

Ot’S Role In Promoting Independence And Employment Readiness Skills For Adults With Intellectual Or Developmental Disabilities (Idd), Grace Tompkins, Cynthia Haynes

Spring 2026 OTD Capstone Symposium

This capstone project is a six-week program that addresses OT's role in work readiness skills for adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities (IDD) who are living independently in Jacksonville, Florida. This program consisted of six group sessions with topics including social participation, time management, stress management, financial management, personal hygiene, and executive functioning.

Bridging The Unemployment Gap For Individuals With Developmental Disabilities: An Educational Program, Desiree Polite, Cynthia Haynes

Spring 2026 OTD Capstone Symposium

Improving work readiness skills for individuals with developmental disabilities to increase work/volunteer opportunities.

Occupational Therapy In Action: Enhancing Diabetes Awareness And Support In Rural Schools, Sierra Cook, Cynthia Haynes

Spring 2026 OTD Capstone Symposium

The rising prevalence of type 2 diabetes among adolescents highlights the need for early prevention-focused interventions. This capstone project implemented an occupation-based program for middle school students targeting body awareness, nutrition, movement, and stress management. Five interactive workshops incorporated hands-on activities, including energy check-ins, meal planning, movement stations, and coping strategy development, to promote engagement and support the development of healthy routines.

The Role Of Occupational Therapy In Adaptive Sports: Implementation Of A Young Athletes Program In St. Johns County, Gabriellea Elizabeth Zito Fernandez, Cynthia Haynes

Spring 2026 OTD Capstone Symposium

This doctoral capstone project examined the feasibility and acceptability of implementing the Special Olympics Young Athletes Program (YAP) within St. Johns County, Florida, an area with limited early childhood adaptive sports opportunities. Grounded in Social Cognitive Theory and the occupation-centered program development model, the project aimed to support participation in inclusive recreation for children ages 2–7 with and without disabilities.

A comprehensive needs assessment, community resource mapping, and collaboration with Brooks Rehabilitation Adaptive Sports & Recreation informed program planning and implementation. A five-week YAP pilot program was conducted, focusing on foundational motor skill development through structured, play-based activities centered on …

Addressing Social Isolation, Role Loss, And Participation Challenges In Older Adults Post-Stroke: An Education Program, Djenane Fevrier, Zeida Gutierrez

Spring 2026 OTD Capstone Symposium

The purpose of the project was to develop four educational workshop to equip occupational therapists with resources to identify barriers to social participation such as social isolation, role loss, and participation challenges from the patient’s perspective in older adults. This capstone addresses a gap in current post-stroke care, where rehabilitation often prioritizes physical recovery while providing limited structured and evidence-based strategies to support social participation and role restoration. In response, four educational workshops were develop for occupational therapists highlighting findings from the needs assessments, review of six assessment tools, and building a screening tool to improved engagement in meaningful roles …

The Role Of Occupational Therapy In The Health Management Of Cancer Survivors, Morgan Mcguffee, Cassandra Nelson

Spring 2026 OTD Capstone Symposium

Cancer survivorship often results in ongoing physical, cognitive, and psychosocial challenges that disrupt daily routines, roles, and participation in meaningful activities. Despite these needs, occupational therapy remains underutilized in survivorship care. This capstone project, completed at the Cancer Support Community North Texas, developed and implemented a 6-week occupation-based wellness program to support re-engagement in daily life, promote health management, and enhance overall quality of life

Impact Of Dementia On Caregiver Quality Of Life And How Occupational Therapy Plays A Role, Alissa Diaz, Lakeisa Boykin, Katelyn Fell

Spring 2026 OTD Capstone Symposium

The purpose of this project is to provide an occupation-based website that focuses on dementia related educational material, local and online resources, and training support to improve caregivers' QoL.

Using Standardized Assessments To Guide Adl-Focused Interventions, Emily James, Keisa Boykin, Natalie Rivera

Spring 2026 OTD Capstone Symposium

This project sought to address challenges faced by acute care OTs by promoting the use of ADL-focused standardized assessments as a clinical guide for ADL interventions. Challenges such as large caseloads, productivity demands, time constraints, and staffing shortages limit OTs contribution within the acute care setting. With acute care also being a fast-paced environment in which medical necessity can overshadow rehabilitative needs, OT is often undervalued and the focus is shifted on mobility over function. Although standardized assessments are not commonly used in acute care due to time limitations, this capstone project successfully piloted an assessment tool based on the …

The Impact Of Vestibular System Stimulation On Emotional Regulation For Children With Disabilities, Mickayla N. Coyle, Zeida Gutierrez

Spring 2026 OTD Capstone Symposium

This capstone project is a mixed-methods research study that aimed to identify the impact of vestibular system stimulation on emotional regulation in children with disabilities. Throughout this research study, swing use was used as vestibular stimulation to identify its effectiveness in improving emotional regulation in children with disabilities. The study was conducted over the course of six weeks in a school-based setting.

Executive Functioning And Retained Primitive Reflexes In School-Aged Children, Haley A. Kane, Zeida Gutierrez

Spring 2026 OTD Capstone Symposium

This project aimed to provide teachers with education on EF and RPR and to improve access to educational materials. The education provided definitions of EF and RPR, what deficits in each may present in the classroom, and classroom strategies to mitigate the impact of the skills affected by these deficits. This educational program improved understanding of EF and RPR, evidenced by knowledge-based questions. These materials also increased awareness of RPR and their effects on students, as evidenced by responses to short-answer questions. These results align with the long-term goal of improving the academic performance of students impacted by EF deficits …

Examining The Correlation Between Emotional Well-Being, Leisure Engagement, And Leisure Preferences In Geriatric Long-Term Care, Katherine G. Stahl, Keisa Boykin, Sharon Glover

Spring 2026 OTD Capstone Symposium

This capstone project explores the relationship between emotional well-being, leisure participation, and activity preferences among older adults in an assisted living facility using a mixed-methods approach. Findings showed that participation frequency alone was not strongly associated with emotional well-being, as residents with varying levels of attendance reported similar well-being scores. Instead, factors such as personal interest, physical limitations, scheduling conflicts, and environmental preferences played a larger role in engagement. Residents preferred socially interactive and physically active activities, such as fitness classes and performances, and identified gaps in current programming where preferred activities were not consistently offered. Overall, the study highlights …

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

Spring 2026 OTD Capstone Symposium

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 …