Rehabilitation and Therapy Commons^™

Exploration Of Ayres Sensory Integration® In School-Based Practice: A Clinician’S Perspective, Maria Cerase, Otd, Otr/L

Post-Professional Occupational Therapy Doctorate Culminating Presentations

Introduction: While Ayres Sensory Integration^® is an evidenced-based intervention for autism with potential application in school settings (Whiting et al., 2023; Steinbrenner et al., 2020; May-Benson et al., 2014), school-based occupational therapists perceive challenges in its implementation.

Objectives: To explore the current factors, including facilitators and barriers, identified by school-based occupational therapists impacting the use of ASI intervention in school-based practice.

Methods: Cross-sectional descriptive study using survey methodology from a national sample of school-based occupational therapists.

Results: Descriptive statistics calculated for frequency and percentages of reported responses. Top perceived barriers to ASI implementation in the …

School Participation Of Students With Autism Spectrum Disorder And Food Selectivity, Courtney Desol, Ms, Otr/L

Post-Professional Occupational Therapy Doctorate Culminating Presentations

Introduction: Children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are five times more likely to have feeding challenges than neurotypical peers (Sharp et al., 2013). Of these feeding challenges, food selectivity is among the most prevalent (Leader et al., 2020) and is defined as food refusal or limited food repertoire (Bandini et al., 2017). Food selectivity has been correlated with nutrition inadequacies (Bandini et al., 2010; Sharp et al., 2013) and poor diet quality (Johnson et al., 2014) in children with ASD. Additionally, correlations exist with sensory processing difficulties (Leader et al., 2020; Suarez et al., 2014), internalizing and externalizing behaviors (Johnson …

Autism Spectrum Disorder (Asd), Morgan E. Fambro, Kendahl Schlosser, Carmen H. Ausserer

Client Educational Handouts

Autism Spectrum Disorder is a developmental disorder often caused by genetic predisposition combined with environmental factors. ASD can be present in many different forms and severity levels. On the mild end of the spectrum people are often able to enter into mainstream education and integrate into the workplace with the use of therapeutic learned skills to improve their social skills. On the more severe end of the spectrum, autistic people may never learn functional social skills or ways to communicate. These barriers can be challenging for the autistic person and their family. It is a disorder that is lifelong. Treatments …

Sensory Adaptive Environment To Enhance Participation In Healthcare For Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder: An Interdisciplinary Design Thinking Approach, Lady Rios-Vega, Otd, Otr/L, Amy Carroll, Otd, Otr/L, Rachel L. Dumont, Otr/L, Dianne Treadwell-Deering, Md, Matthew Fields, Md, Roseann C. Schaaf, Phd, Otr/L, Faota

Department of Occupational Therapy Posters and Presentations

Introduction/Background

• Participation in healthcare for children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) can be overwhelming resulting in stressful responses safety concerns.¹
• Sensory features impact healthcare participation.
• Up to 84% of individuals with ASD experience atypical sensory features of : - Hyper or hypo reactivity to sensation.²
  - Unusual sensory interests in the environment.²
  - Poor sensory integration.²
• Families may refrain from participation in medical care to prevent negative experiences, contributing to occupational deprivation.¹
• Sensory Adaptive Environments (SAE) may improve participation for autistic persons.^1,3,4

The Simulated Café: A Virtually Delivered Pre-Employment Transition Program For Students With Autism, Leah Haller, Otd, Otr/L, Amy Carroll, Otd, Otr/L

Department of Occupational Therapy Posters and Presentations

Introduction

• Fewer than half the young adults diagnosed with autism are employed (Gotham et al., 2015; Chiang, et al, 2013).
• Individuals diagnosed with autism have a higher rate of unemployment compared to those with other disabilities (Buescher et al., 2014).
• Educators of individuals diagnosed with autism stress employment as a desired and measured outcome (Schall et al. 2012).
• Parents of individuals diagnosed with autism rated employment support as the greatest service priority (Neary et al.,2015).
• Individuals diagnosed with autism are 7.36 times more likely to be in paid employment if they receive vocational services (Park & Bouk, 2018).
• In the …

Exploring Community Recreation And Leisure Of Young Adults With Autism, Alexandria Taylor, Otd, Otr/L, Eis, Amy Carroll, Otd, Otr/L

Department of Occupational Therapy Posters and Presentations

Introduction

• Adults with autism participate less in the community compared to adults with other diagnoses (e.g., intellectual disability, emo tional disturbance, and learning disabilities) (Myers et al., 2015; Orsmond et al., 2013).
• Quantitative studies have shown the benefits of participating in recreation and leisure activities for young adults with auti sm (Bishop Fitzpatrick et al., 2017; Garcia Villamisar & Dattilo, 2010; Stacey et al., 2019).
• The use of qualitative research has been recommended to offer a deeper understanding (Stacey et al., 2019).
• The lack of opportunity for young adults with autism to share their experiences and opinions can lead to …

Ipads For Autism A Web Based Professional Learning Community For Teachers To Support Tablet Usage In Autism Classrooms, Emily E. Smith, Otd, Otr/L, Amy Carroll, Otd, Otr/L

Department of Occupational Therapy Posters and Presentations

Background and Significance

Since its emergence in 2010 the mobile technology of the iPad has excited both parents and teachers for its potential in the classroom. The portability of networked mobile technologies has helped students of all abilities to discover, influence, and examine knowledge as well as interact with educators and other students across the world.¹ While many school students have access to iPads, simply having technology in the school environment does not ensure teachers are ready to use it to their full potential.² Teachers need sufficient professional development to align knowledge of technology, pedagogy, and learning content. …

Neurodiversity Inclusive Practices In Higher Education: Using A Needs Assessment To Spur Change Throughout University Systems, Caitlin Rosica, Otd, Amy Carroll, Otd, Otr/L, Lady Rios-Vega, Otd, Roseann C. Schaaf, Phd

Department of Occupational Therapy Posters and Presentations

Introduction

• Approximately 50% of autistic people have average or above average intelligence, and growing numbers of autistic young adults attend college.¹
• Autistic students experience poor outcomes in college despite being academically well qualified. 34.9% of autistic young adults attempt college within 6 years of high school.² Of those, approximately 39% will graduate.³
• In higher education, there may be a mismatch in supports needed by autistic students versus supports provided.
• Autistic students report difficulty with sensory overload, mental health concerns, and daily living tasks.⁴
• The majority of supports for autistic students focus on academics, which is a …

Exploring Employment Experiences From The Perspectives Of Adults With Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Cross-Case Analysis, Hannah Dinsmore, Colleen Mcgovern

Occupational Therapy: Student Scholarship & Creative Works

Autism Spectrum Disorder, commonly referred to as ASD or autism, is a neurological disorder defined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual 5th edition. Persistent deficits in social communication and social interaction across multiple contexts, as well as restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, or activities are included in the diagnostic criteria (DSM-5). Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) face disproportionately high levels of unemployment and underemployment (Khalifa et al., 2020). Engagement in work is a meaningful occupation that helps shape one’s identity and is a vital part of an individual’s wellbeing (Hedley et al., 2018). One’s participation in work often …

A Systematic Review Of Ayres Sensory Integration Intervention For Children With Autism., Sarah A. Schoen, Shelly J. Lane, Zoe Mailloux, Teresa May-Benson, L. Dianne Parham, Susanne Smith Roley, Roseann C. Schaaf

Department of Occupational Therapy Faculty Papers

Sensory integration is one of the most highly utilized interventions in autism, however, a lack of consensus exists regarding its evidence base. An increasing number of studies are investigating the effectiveness of this approach. This study used the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) Standards for Evidence-based Practices in Special Education to evaluate the effectiveness research from 2006 to 2017 on Ayres Sensory Integration (ASI) intervention for children with autism. A systematic review was conducted in three stages. Stage 1 involved an extensive database search for relevant studies using search terms related to sensory integration and autism, interventions suggesting a sensory …

Exercise: An Antecedent Based Intervention To Address Sensory Motor Needs And Learning Readiness, Laura Greiss Hess, Heather Maurin

Collected Faculty and Staff Scholarship

• “Exercise (ECE) is a strategy that involves an increase in physical exertion as a means of reducing problem behaviors or increasing appropriate behavior while increasing physical fitness and motor skills”
• “ECE can be used effectively to address behavior, school-readiness, academic, and motor skills.” NPDC Exercise Fact Sheet, 2014

Occupational Therapy: Meeting The Needs Of Families Of People With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Heather Miller-Kuhaneck, Renee Watling

Occupational Therapy Faculty Publications

Occupational therapy has much to offer to families of people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, people outside the profession may be unaware of occupational therapy’s breadth and scope. It is our responsibility and our duty to express the full range of occupational therapy services through research, clinical practice, advocacy, and consumer education. This special issue of the American Journal of Occupational Therapy, with its focus on autism, embarks on this endeavor by highlighting research and theoretical articles that address the various aspects of occupational therapy practice that can help to fully meet the needs of people with ASD and …

Driving Characteristics Of Teens With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity And Autism Spectrum Disorder, Sherrilene Classen, Miriam Monahan, Yanning Wang

Collected Faculty and Staff Scholarship

Vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death among teens. Teens with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder (ASD), or both (ADHD–ASD) may have a greater crash risk. We examined the between-groups demographic, clinical, and predriving performance differences of 22 teens with ADHD– ASD (mean age 5 15.05, standard deviation [SD] 5 0.95) and 22 healthy control (HC) teens (mean age 5 14.32, SD 5 0.72). Compared with HC teens, the teens with ADHD–ASD performed more poorly on righteye visual acuity, selective attention, visual–motor integration, cognition, and motor performance and made more errors on the driving simulator pertaining …

Occupational Therapy And Sensory Integration For Children With Autism: A Feasibility, Safety, Acceptability And Fidelity Study., Roseann C Schaaf, Teal W. Benevides, Donna Kelly, Zoe Mailloux-Maggio

Department of Occupational Therapy Faculty Papers

Objective: To examine the feasibility, safety, and acceptability of a manualized protocol of occupational therapy using sensory integration principles for children with autism. Methods: Ten children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder ages 4-8 years received intensive occupational therapy intervention using sensory integration principles following a manualized protocol. Measures of feasibility, acceptability and safety were collected from parents and interveners, and fidelity was measured using a valid and reliable fidelity instrument. Results: The intervention is safe and feasible to implement, acceptable to parents and therapist, and therapists were able to implement protocol with adequate fidelity. These data provide support for implementation …

Imitation In Fragile X Syndrome: Implications For Autism, Marta Macedoni-Luksic, Laura Greiss Hess, Sally J. Rogers, David Gosar, Kerrie Lemons-Chitwood, Randi Hagerman

Occupational Therapy | Faculty Scholarship

To address the specific impairment of imitation in autism, the imitation abilities of 22 children with fragile X syndrome (FXS) with and without autism were compared. Based on previous research, we predicted that children with FXS and autism would have significantly more difficulty with non-meaningful imitation tasks. After controlling for full-scale IQ and age, the groups did not differ in their overall imitation accuracy scores, but analysis of error patterns revealed that children with FXS and autism made more groping errors and additional movements than the comparison group. These error patterns are consistent with the hypothesis that an action production …

Motor Abilities Of Children Diagnosed With Fragile X Syndrome With And Without Autism, C. Zingerevich, L. G. Hess, K. Lemons Chitwood, S. W. Harris, D. Hessl, K. Cook, R. J. Hagerman

Collected Faculty and Staff Scholarship

Background—Previous studies suggested that children diagnosed with Fragile X Syndrome (FXS) often meet criteria for autism or PDD. This study describes the fine motor abilities of children diagnosed with FXS with and without autism spectrum disorder, and compares the motor scores of those groups controlling for cognitive level.

Method—Forty-eight children, ages 12-76 months (SD=16) diagnosed with FXS were assessed with the Mullen Scales of Early Learning, and the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS). Their parents were interviewed with the Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R). We used a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) to determine if the fine motor scale …

Gross Motor Development, Movement Abnormalities, And Early Identification Of Autism, Sally Ozonoff, Gregory S. Young, Stacy Goldring, Laura Greiss Hess, Andriana M. Herrera, Joel Steele, Suzanne Macari, Susan Hepburn, Sally J. Rogers

Collected Faculty and Staff Scholarship

Gross motor development (supine, prone, rolling, sitting, crawling, walking) and movement abnormalities were examined in the home videos of infants later diagnosed with autism (regression and no regression subgroups), developmental delays (DD), or typical development. Group differences in maturity were found for walking, prone, and supine, with the DD and Autism-No Regression groups both showing later developing motor maturity than typical children. The only statistically significant differences in movement abnormalities were in the DD group; the two autism groups did not differ from the typical group in rates of movement abnormalities or lack of protective responses. These findings do not …

Assistive Technology Enhancement Of Written Expression For Individuals With Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Laura Greiss Hess, Kerrie Lemons Chitwood, Susan Harris

Collected Faculty and Staff Scholarship

This study involves the use of computer software to assess the use of assistive technology (AT) in individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders. We will present an update of the subjects in the study, including research issues, subject diagnoses and diagnostic trends as assessed through baseline and follow-up testing.

Assistive Technology Enhancement Of Written Expression For Individuals With Neurodevelopmental Disorders [Poster], Laura Greiss Hess, Kerrie Lemons Chitwood, Susan Harris

Collected Faculty and Staff Scholarship

The purpose of this project is to carry out an intensive training program in subjects with a broad range of neurodevelopmental disabilities to assess the efficacy of assistive technology (AT) intervention.

Occupational Therapy With Children With Pervasive Developmental Disorders, Jane Case-Smith, Heather Miller-Kuhaneck

Occupational Therapy Faculty Publications

Objective. Although the prevalence of children with pervasive developmental disorders (PDD) has increased, empirical data about the role and practices of occupational therapists have not been reported in the literature. This descriptive study investigated the practice of occupational therapists with children with PDD.

Method. A survey was mailed to 500 occupational therapists in the Sensory Integration Special Interest Section or School System Special Interest Section of the American Occupational Therapy Association in eastern and midwestern United States. The valid return rate was 58% (292 respondents). The survey used Likert scale items to measure frequency of performance problems observed in children …