Rehabilitation and Therapy Commons^™

A Qualitative Study On Mother's Occupational Engagement After A Nicu Experience, Rachel Garcia, Mary Ann Smith, Julie Heftie Ms, Otr/L

Spring 2024 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

Mothers who are “at-risk” for complications during pregnancy have an increased probability for mental health conditions following delivery, adversely affecting their engagement in motherhood occupations. This qualitative study identifies how best to address the needs of “at-risk” pregnant women. Through the process of conducting semi-structured interviews with women who have experienced NICU with their babies, and interviews with healthcare practitioners working in the NICU, their narrative addresses what approaches would support women while they are going through their “at-risk” pregnancies to assist them with the transition to their occupational roles as mothers and promote bonding with their baby.

Occupational Therapy For People With Dementia Who Have Occupational Performance Challenges Due To Depression, Ally Frazier, Steven M. Gerardi

Spring 2024 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

Individuals with dementia experience a multitude of barriers and challenges that impact their daily engagement throughout the environment. In addition, although the pandemic has concluded, noxious effects are still influencing people's lives. Residential care facilities have noticed continual acts of isolation that are presenting as barriers in mental health. Depression has known to be a common comorbidity in the ailment of dementia. Occupational therapy (OT) practitioners have the unique and valuable role in working with this population to target beyond the biomechanical aspects of a resident. Identifying barriers for mastery in leisure pursuits throughout someone’s day is crucial. When residents …

Ergonomics In Esports: A Video Training Series For Esports Athletes, Duy Do, Steven M. Gerardi, Braden Singleton

Spring 2024 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

Electronic sports, also known as esports, refers to organized and competitive video gaming against other players or teams. Unlike traditional sports, esports is sedentary, with athletes spending several hours daily seated at their gaming stations. Additionally, esports athletes lack the knowledge of ergonomic hazards and how to mitigate occupational overuse syndromes and mental health challenges. The purpose of this project was to create a video training series from an occupational therapy perspective to educate esports athletes on the ergonomic hazards of esports to improve participation, occupational performance, and quality of life of esports athletes.

An Occupational Therapy Approach To Improving Adl/Iadl Performance In Diabetic Adults With Stroke And Upper Extremity Pathologies, Halle Thomas, Cassandra Nelson

Spring 2024 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

This capstone presentation depicts the impact of diabetic management with an occupational therapy approach on upper extremity motor function for the adult stroke population. This program utilizes dietary management, a home exercise program, and task modification strategies to improve ADL and IADL performance.

A Manualized Occupational Therapy Communication Skills Intervention For Veterans With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Kiara Ainsworth, Steven M. Gerardi

Spring 2024 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) affects many individual's participation in daily activities. There is a lack of research in the area of occupational therapy (OT) treatment for veterans with PTSD. However, there has been an expressed need in the literature for a developed intervention for veterans with PTSD that includes communication skills as a component. To date, a manualized communication skills OT intervention for veterans with PTSD has not been created. The purpose of this paper was to develop a resource tool for occupational therapists to utilize as an intervention when treating veterans with PTSD using the framework of the Model …

A Guidebook For Latina Breast Cancer Survivors & Occupational Therapy Practitioners, Abigail Hernandez, Leslie Khan-Farooqi, Mary Ann Smith

Spring 2024 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

Many Latina women diagnosed with breast cancer face psychosocial challenges and do not have access or the necessary resources to assist them with these challenges which may lead to decreased quality of life. This study is designed to address the most common psychosocial issues associated with breast cancer to assist Latina women as well as occupational therapy practitioners.

Colors Of Connection: A Manual For Cultivating Social And Emotional Skills In Children With Disabilities Through Creative Arts, Allie Hertaus, Angela Labrie Blackwell Phd, Otr, Haleigh Freeman Otd, Otr/L

Spring 2024 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

Children with disabilities (CWD) are experiencing occupational deprivation due to limited involvement in extracurricular activities. This deprivation impedes their development of social-emotional skills. In attempt to mitigate this deprivation, the OTD student created and implemented Colors of Connection, a creative arts based, social and emotional learning program into an already existing after school program for CWD.

Play Over Talk: A Toolkit For Educators On Adverse Childhood Experiences, Brianna Gallegos, Mary Ann Smith, Cat Daniel

Spring 2024 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are traumatic experiences that can lead to negative, lasting effects on the health and well-being of the child. Students who have ACEs are more likely to struggle in school, have difficulty paying attention, lack self-regulation skills, and struggle to control their emotions and behaviors. Teachers and school staff may not recognize or know how to support students who have adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) which can impact the child’s occupational role as a student. To date, a resource for school staff with information on ACEs, interventions, and strategies has not been created. The purpose of this project …

Management Of Sensory Processing Challenges In The Classroom: An Educational Video Series For Teachers., Jasmine Guerrero, Steven M. Gerardi

Spring 2024 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

An educational video series for teachers on sensory processing and how to manage students with sensory processing challenges in the classroom. The video series includes evidence-based supports and strategies that may be utilized in the classroom to improve students' occupational performance.

Occupational Engagement In Recreational Sports For The Deaf And Hard Of Hearing: An Employee Guidebook, Colleen Mcerlean, Mary Ann Smith, Christopher Ebner

Spring 2024 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

An employee guidebook to help increase occupational engagement within recreational sports for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing population in the Austin, TX area.

Self-Regulation And Sensory Processing Education Program For Educators, Julianne Mendivil, Tina G. Bhakta, Angela Blackwell

Spring 2024 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

Children with low self-regulation skills may face many challenges in the classroom environment that can impact their performance in school-based activities. As teachers play a vital role in the development of young children, this educational program aims to improve teacher competence (knowledge, skills, and attitudes) in applying sensory processing and self-regulating concepts to the school environment.

The Transition To Adulthood For High School Students With Special Needs, Athena Hays, Mary Jan Greer, Jinna Danser

Spring 2024 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

The reason for many special needs students not engaging in occupations after high school is because many guardians have not had to navigate this type of transition before and are not provided enough education on what these opportunities include before their students graduate. Many students with special needs do not optimize their engagement in the community because guardians are not being provided with education on post-graduate opportunities.

The purpose of my Doctoral Capstone Project is to develop an educational transition service program for special needs students as well as guardians and teachers of these students preparing for high school graduation …

Play Is A Way Of Life: Play-Based Program For Parents Of Young Children (Ages Two To Five Years Old), Lauren Purdom, Angela Labrie Blackwell, Amanda Perdue Owen

Spring 2024 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

This play-based program was created for parents of young children (ages two to five years old) and is accessible through a website called "Play is a Way of Life". Within this program it includes, educational material on the differences between active and passive play and recommendations for each type of play that children in this age group should participate in each day. It also includes a 6-week program with a variety of active play activities that target specific skills that children (ages two to five years old) should participate in for their overall development.

The Ci-Asd Program: Implementation Of Contextual Interventions For Autism Spectrum Disorder (Ci-Asd) With Latino Families (Preliminary Report), Gabriel Gonzalez, Erik Pérez, Angela Blackwell

Spring 2024 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

Children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) experience sensory processing differences that affect their participation in daily activities and routines. Autism affects an estimated 1 in 36 children in the U.S. However, Latino children are diagnosed two years later than white children. Latino families still have the greatest disparities in accessing ASD resources throughout the U.S. compared to white families. The lack of ASD services and resources led to decreased parental self-efficacy, quality of life, and increased child behavioral problems.

Contextual Interventions Adapted for Autism Spectrum Disorder (CI-ASD) are an emerging intervention for occupational therapy (OT) practitioners. Recent literature shows …

Social Participation Program For Older Adults With Dementia Residing In Long Term Care Facilities, Keri Mcclelland

Student Capstone Papers

Social participation is characterized by activities that involve social interaction with others and supports social interdependence; individuals engage in this occupation through a variety of contexts including with their community, family, friends, and peers (American Occupational Therapy Association, 2020). Social participation has been discovered to influence general health and well-being, cognitive health, risk of dementia, and stress (Sommerlad et al., 2023). Dementia is a prevalent disease affecting approximately 50 million individuals worldwide (Sommerlad et al., 2023) causing increased dependence and disability among the older adult population and is shown to be growing as the aging population increases in number (Wang …

Program Development For Group Interventions Targeting Loneliness In Older Adults, Antoinette Cave

Capstone Projects

The topic of loneliness is complex and subjective in nature, and treatment of the condition requires the client-centered approach that occupational therapy encompasses within its scope of practice. Using an occupation-based, mental health approach to develop the program, weekly focus groups were created based on participant-preferred activities to decrease loneliness among older adults at PACE InnovAge’s outpatient and assisted living locations in Thornton, Colorado. Education was provided to participants and staff throughout the 14-week experience. Further training and sustainability efforts were created and distributed among participants and staff at the end of the experience through an occupation-based handout with external …

Enhancing Pre-Vocational Programs For High School Students With Disabilities: The Impact Of Occupational Therapy And Support Staff Education, Maria Calzada

Capstone Projects

Pre-vocational programs in high school serve as a crucial platform for supporting students in the transition from education to the workplace. These programs provide classroom instruction, hands-on training, and practical experiences to maximize students’ vocational skills post-high school. Pre-vocational programs provide a crucial platform for the development of IADL skills, task analysis, and the promotion of occupational engagement among diverse populations. The purpose of this DCE was program development within the pre-vocational program and provide additional education for the support staff at the high school setting. The goal was to improve vocational skills, including problem solving, self-advocacy, sequencing, and sustained …

Holistic Education To Empower And Enhance Women's Health Throughout Pregnancy, Birth, And The Postpartum Period, Hannah Wilson

Capstone Projects

Making informed healthcare decisions on behalf of oneself for optimal outcomes first begins with comprehending basic health education about one’s own body, typical bodily functioning and bodily processes and ends with empowered decision making. Health literacy is the ability of an individual to understand and apply basic healthcare information to their personal healthcare decision making and is integral for any and all healthcare providers to comprehend when educating patients in practice. Occupational therapists (OTs) are healthcare professionals that work with any demographic of people to improve satisfaction with performance of everyday living activities and quality of life. OTs’ scope of …

A Pilot Intervention For Adolescent Adoptees: The Interoception Curriculum, Francie X. Bailey

Capstone Projects

This pilot study sought to evaluate the efficacy of Mahler’s (2019) Interoception Curriculum on increasing emotional regulation and interoceptive awareness among adolescent adoptees. A pre - posttest design was employed to assess changes in emotional regulation and interoceptive awareness following a condensed, 10 - week version of the curriculum. Six participants, and their respective parent, completed pretest and posttest assessments following the completion of the weekly intervention. Results demonstrated minimal improvements in both parent and adolescent perceived emotional regulation competency but significant improvement in adolescents’ ability to notice and attend to their bodily sensations, listen to their body cues, and …

Trauma Informed Care Resources For Foster And Adoptive Families, Nitasha Cooper

Capstone Projects

Trauma informed care is meeting the needs of children who have undergone trauma by addressing the direct impact caused by the trauma the child experienced. My objectives looked to assist parents in the carryover from the occupational therapy clinic to home by providing videos on techniques to address behaviors occurring in and out of the home and building a connected relationship between child and caregiver as well as resources such as books for children and caregivers; podcasts; social media personnel; support groups; and a respite list. These objectives resulted in a plethora of resources for caregivers and families to access …

Inclusive Yoga Programming For Children With Diverse Needs, Allison H. Hansel

Capstone Projects

Limited research exists to support the use of yoga as an occupational therapy intervention for children with disabilities. In the studies that are available, yoga is primarily used to target children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Currently there is no research available that explores use of yoga in a group of children with a variety of disabilities and diagnoses. The aim of my doctoral capstone experience was to design and implement an inclusive yoga group for children with diverse needs. Objectives were created to guide this capstone project such as creating intake forms, pre/post surveys, weekly yoga curriculum and weekly …

Occupational Therapy's Role In Post-Secondary Transition Programing For Young Adults With Disabilities, Mallory Rubley

Capstone Projects

Post-secondary transition programs for young adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities (IDD) are designed to support young adults with IDD in areas of independent living, academics, relationships, financial management, health and safety, and employment. All of which are within the scope of occupational therapy (OT). Within the limited post-secondary transition programs that exist for these young adults, OT is rarely included as a provided service, creating an unintentional disadvantage to the students and clients. The purpose of this Doctoral Capstone Experience (DCE) was program development and advocacy for the role of occupational therapy within Ready for Life (RFL), a post-secondary …

Implementation Of A Bilingual Feeding Program For Hispanic Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Sarah Aguilar

Capstone Projects

Feeding is an important occupation that contributes to a child’s physical, emotional, and social development and is also influenced by cultural and environmental factors, (Korth & Maune, 2020). In individuals with developmental delays, specifically autism spectrum disorder (ASD), feeding difficulties have been reported in as many as 75% of children (Nygren et al., 2021). These difficulties often result in increased feelings of anxiety experienced by the child and caregiver. Limited information exists on the impact of these on minority populations, such as Spanish speaking families that face many challenges when accessing healthcare services like language and cultural barriers. Similarly, group …

Integrating Sport’S Vision Training Into Vision Therapy: The Role Of Occupational Therapy, Emily M. Beaird

Capstone Projects

Sports vision training (SVT) is a specialized area of vision therapy focused on enhancing an athlete's visual skills for peak athletic performance. Vision training is vital for athletes because “athletic performance can be one of the most rigorous activities for the visual system” (Khanal, 2015) and is responsible for upward of 80% of the sensory input received during an athletic performance. However, it is often overlooked in traditional training regimens. Focusing on advanced clinical practice and program development, an unmet need for SVT at Origami Rehabilitation was achieved. The main goal was to create an SVT program that catered to …

Mindful Teaching In Adolescent Dance Educaton: Prioritizing Mental Health, Camille Chimner

Capstone Projects

Mental health continues to be a concern for all ages, especially those within the period of adolescence. Adolescence is a time of great physical, cognitive, social, and emotional change that can be positively facilitated with support and strong coping skills. Adolescent dancers have additional demands placed upon them within the dance space. Adults can play a large role in this support, especially adults who serve as educators and coaches. Dance educators have the opportunity to work closely with dancers and can have great influence on both their physical and emotional health, but are not often trained to be mindful of …

Evaluating Sensory Processing And Functional Outcomes Of Children Participating In A Therapeutic Horseback Riding Read And Ride Program: A Single-Subject Research Study, Samantha Dunleavy-Shotsberger

Capstone Projects

Therapeutic horseback riding (TR) can be beneficial to various populations, such as individuals with disabilities, trauma, behavioral problems, anxiety, developmental delay, depression, and learning challenges. However, individuals come with a variety of complex needs and diagnoses, therefore more research is needed to determine how TR impacts the individual. Specifically, there is a lack of understanding of how the individual’s behavior, learning, and sensory processing is affected by TR intervention. Therefore, this study examined the effects of TR on childhood sensory processing and at-risk academic occupational performance in reading as it relates to behavior and attention. A single subject ABA design …

Implementing The Positive Approach To Care® Methods As An Effective Training Curriculum For Staff At An Adult Day Center, Delaney Acri

Capstone Projects

Dementia, a neurodegenerative disorder affecting multiple brain regions, significantly disrupts daily life (Feurich, 2023). Occupational therapists, guided by the Occupational Therapy and Performance Framework (OTPF-4), address cognitive and functional challenges in individuals with dementia (American Occupational Therapy Association, 2020). Therapists employ compensatory strategies to enhance quality of life of people with dementia, as well as their family caregivers. Adult day centers serve as valuable resources for family caregivers, offering respite care during working hours. Despite regulations in most states, Michigan lacks specific dementia training laws in some healthcare settings (Burke & Orlowski, 2015). As a result, many facilities that serve …

Sensory Room Protocol And Education On Sensory Processing Differences In The School Setting, Bethany R. Antor

Capstone Projects

This capstone experience and project targets the enhancement of sensory integration strategies within a school environment by upgrading a sensory room, educating paraprofessionals and teachers on sensory processing differences, associated signs, and regulation tips, and implementing new material within a sensory path for increased student regulation. Sensory processing difficulties can significantly impact a child’s learning and behavior, necessitating effective school - based interventions involving an occupational therapist. This project aims to shrink the gap between school staff’s knowledge of sensory processing differences and the needs of their students. The outcomes include improved functionality and utilization of the sensory room, increased …

Promoting And Sustaining An Adaptive Sports Program On A College Campus Through Outreach And Resource Developmen, Morgan E. Otero

Capstone Projects

Participation in physical activity is essential for an individual’s health and well-being. However, persons with disabilities have limited access to physical activity due to personal, environmental, institutional, and/or social barriers. This limited access increases a disabled individual’s likelihood of developing secondary health conditions, decreased mental health outcomes, and feelings of social isolation. To combat this, it is important that these individuals have equitable access to and knowledge of adaptive physical activity opportunities such as adaptive sport, recreation, and fitness. To address this need, this capstone project focused on promoting and sustaining an existing adaptive sports and recreation program through the …

Development Of Occupation-Based And Trauma-Informed Care Resources To Promote Successful Reentry Following Release From Prison, Anna Burch

Capstone Projects

This 14-week capstone project focused on program development and education to establish occupational therapy-based resources into the Region 4 OS Reentry program through Michigan Department of correction (MDOC). The project was based out of Kent County Parole Office with the target population focusing on people who are actively on parole. Region 4 OS Reentry provides those on parole with many resources including bus cards, transitional housing, food vouchers, clothing/self-care assistance, trauma counseling and more. The purpose of this project was to utilize an occupational therapy lens to create resources revolving around ADL/IADLs, mental health, connecting the program with other community …