Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Educational Class For Parents Of A Child Recently Diagnosed With Autism, Sarah Haugen, Marcie Sandeen

Occupational Therapy Capstones

The purpose of this scholarly project was to develop an education class for parents of children with autism. When discussing the term autism with parents it can lead to confusion, the term autism has changed greatly in the past few decades and today agreement on what the term means is still lacking. With a diagnosis of autism the parents are also going to face many challenges and added stress throughout their daily lives. These known problems helped to determine the need to create the product of this scholarly project. A review of literature and research was conducted to collect accurate …

Treating The Whole Child: Recognizing And Addressing Depression In Children With Physical Disabilities, Kathleen A. Koehn

Occupational Therapy Capstones

The purpose of this scholarly project was to develop a tool that would assist occupational therapy practitioners working with children with physical disabilities in recognizing and addressing symptoms of depression in that population. Ailey (2003) reported that symptoms of depression in children with developmental disabilities are frequently attributed incorrectly to a child's primary diagnosis, rather than depression. Because occupational therapists typically see these children more frequently than primary care physicians, they are in a prime position to assist in the screening and referral processes related to depression.

This project involved a comprehensive review of the literature, including data on the …

The Use Of Aquatic Therapy For Children With Neuromuscular Disorders, Chris Hydukovich, Troy Schmitz

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Purpose: The purpose of this literature was to determine the effects aquatic intervention has on children suffering from neuromuscular disorders compared to that of traditional land-based physical and occupational therapy services.

Method: A literature search was conducted using PubMed, OT search, AJOT online, CINAHL, the Mayo Clinic Triage, and various occupational therapy textbooks regarding the use of aquatic therapy in a neuromuscular population. Information was extracted from this literature to generate educational material for parents of child receiving aquatic occupational therapy.

Results: A review of literature presented cerebral palsy as the main neuromuscular disorder of study associated with aquatic therapy. …

Ideas For Inclusion: A Resource For Occupational Therapists, Jason Browning, Roxanne Hartje

Occupational Therapy Capstones

School-based occupational therapy practice is continually changing to meet the needs of the students and stay in alignment with federal mandates and current research. Current legislative regulations of No Child Left Behind Act of2001 (NCLB 2001; Public Law 107-110) and The Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004 (IDEIA 2004, Public Law 108-446) together require that education programs be provided in the natural or least restrictive environment. After the review of literature and personal interviews it was found that many occupational therapists, teachers and school based staff were having difficulty fulfilling this requirement, often using the direct, pull-out service …

Promoting Children's Health In The Home Environment: A Parent/Guardian Handbook, Shannon Troje, Stacie Voth

Occupational Therapy Capstones

The World Health Organization (2003) stated that "obesity is a global epidemic". The United States (U.S.) in particular has a statistically significant higher rate of obesity in children. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (2003), 15.3% of children between the ages of 6 and 11 years old are obese as a result of unhealthy habits and routines. Because these habits and routines often begin in the home environment, health promotion activities should involve parents/guardians (Manios, Kafatos, & Mamalakis, 1998).

At this time there are few resources available for parents/guardians and their children to promote wellness in the home environment. …