Rehabilitation and Therapy Commons^™

The Effects Of Theatre-Based Interventions With Older Adults Diagnosed With Neurodegenerative Diseases, Calli Hudson

Capstone Projects

The Doctoral Capstone Experience evaluated theatre and the relation with occupational therapy to observe the potential connection theatre can create to improve shared experiences, emphasize collaboration, and improve quality of life through participation and engagement of theatre-based interventions. In general, theatre allows the foundation of occupational therapy to remain pertinent within the intervention process by remaining flexible, client-centered, and meaningful to aid with participation and engagement by dismissing signs and symptoms of Alzheimer’s with a concentration on novel activities. Within the site of the project, there is currently a gap with socializing of consumers, due to the diverse group population, …

Exploring And Implementing Evidence-Based Educational Approaches In An Entry-Level Doctoral Occupational Therapy Program, Hannah Schultheiss

Capstone Projects

As occupational therapy programs begin to shift from entry-level Master’s to Doctorate curriculum, progressing the rigor accordingly while holding true to the field’s occupational roots remains a crucial consideration. At a private university in the Midwest, faculty were working against time constraints while building an entry-level doctoral occupational therapy program from the ground up and sought to establish a healthy, professional culture between faculty and students. This capstone experience and project addressed these goals by exploring the role and expectations of working as an educator in the program. Learning experiences were centered upon developing content related to pediatric and adolescent …

Therashield, Llc A Company Designing Products To Increase Comfort And Maintain Skin Integrity, Alissa Remijan

Capstone Projects

TheraShield, LLC is a company producing products designed to increase comfort and maintain skin integrity while utilizing an unweighted harness system. TheraShield, LLC developed the product Harness Mates, which increase the surface area of contact points between the harness and skin reducing friction and shear, resulting in decreased risk of wounds and increased comfort for the client, as well as improved tolerance to time spent in the harness, allowing for an improved therapeutic response. Harness Mates come in 4 different sizes (long, wide, thick, narrow) to increase the versatility of usage. Harness Mates are designed to be impermeable, allowing to …

Occupational Therapy's Role In Serving Individuals With Social, Emotional, And Cognitive Deficits At Cheff Therapeutic Riding Center, Molly Ireland

Capstone Projects

This capstone aimed to gain experience and knowledge in developing evidence-based materials that positively affect the programming at the Cheff Therapeutic Riding Center. Within occupational therapy (OT), Equine-Based Therapy (EBT) has demonstrated positive outcomes for improving participation in meaningful occupations. However, based on a needs assessment with the Cheff Therapeutic Riding Center, a demonstrated increased need for outreach and enhanced mental health programming for trauma-related populations was evident. Therefore, the objectives to meet their needs were to develop a sustainable evidenced-based program utilizing EBT for individuals with trauma and provide input for their evaluation process and therapeutic riding classes within …

Dog And Owner Emotional Relationship Training, Andrea Sowles

Capstone Projects

The purpose of this capstone experience was to develop a program for emotional relationship training to create a human-animal interaction (HAI) with a dog and their owner. Along with promoting the importance of mental health and engagement in occupations. The program focused on helping the dog provide emotional support to their owner through participating in the training of the Canine Good Citizen (CGC) test. This outline helped deepen the bond between dog and owner and allowed them to become more connected as a team. There is a gap in knowledge between the use of animal assistance in therapy and the …

Substance Use Disorder: Parent Support Group, Alexandra Superson

Capstone Projects

The focus of this 14-week capstone project revolved around program development and implementation of a parent support group through Wedgwood Christian Services for parents who are raising adolescents who were struggling with substance use disorder (SUD). Very little is known regarding interventions available to support affected parents to cope with the high stress that comes with navigating the waters of raising a teenager with SUD. The purpose of this project was to improve mental health, family dynamics, and overall quality of life for the affected parents who attended the support group once a week for four weeks. Evidence of stress …

Increasing Quality Of Life: Providing Education And Resources For Parents Of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Jeanette Kymes

Capstone Projects

This 14-week capstone project aimed to develop and implement meaningful modifications to an early intensive behavioral intervention center from an occupational therapy (OT) perspective. An evidence-based evaluation of the existing program was conducted, and it was identified that parents of children 18 months to 6 years old with autism lacked the awareness of available resources to support their overall quality of life. A new process was developed and implemented for parents to get connected with resources that met their current needs, resulting in a total of 18 different categories of resources. Parents also received education regarding caregiver burnout and developmental …

The Role Of Occupational Therapy In Transition Programs For High School Students With Disabilities, Taylor Kehren

Capstone Projects

Public schools are required to provide reasonable accommodations to students with disabilities. Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) include transition planning to prepare for life after graduation focusing on employment and independent living. Although these services are required, high school students with disabilities have lower rates of employment and independent living compared to their peers. OT services are reimbursed under IEPs, but there is a gap in service with under-utilization in transition planning. The purpose of this DCE was program development with the transition program, Project SEARCH, while also exploring the role OT has in transition planning for high school students with …

Addressing Sensory Processing And Mental Health Needs In The Middle School Setting, Kate Bergsma

Capstone Projects

Rooted in policy and program development, this occupational therapy doctoral capstone experience focused on addressing sensory processing and mental health needs at Grand Rapids Christian Middle School (GRCMS). With a significant proportion of students suffering from sensory processing difficulties and mental health concerns, the field of occupational therapy is distinctly equipped to address both needs within the context of school (Nielsen at al., 2021, Mental health for adolescents, n.d.). Occupational therapy’s background and expert training in both sensory processing as well as mental health needs proved vital the completion of this capstone. An intensive literature review was conducted to guide …

Occupational Therapy's Impact Utilizing Trauma-Informed Care With At-Risk Youth, Kerri Lindeman

Capstone Projects

The 14-week capstone experience aimed to advocate and implement occupational therapy (OT) alongside a non-profit organization serving at-risk youth while utilizing trauma-informed care (TIC) approach. Alongside various staff and volunteers, this capstone project focused on aiding underserved children in a variety of age-specific after-school programs. This specific population of youth have limited resources at home. The families in the community have limitations with basic needs including food, water, and shelter. The organization was able to fulfill these basic needs along with activities to meet the developmental needs of each child. Due to their minimal resources, the children also have limited …

Efficacy Of Using Virtual Reality To Reduce Perceived Exertion During Therapy When Compared To Traditional Ot Intervention, Luke Lee

Capstone Projects

This project looked at the differences in perceived and actual exertion in virtual reality therapy interventions and upper extremity ergometer. The goal of this project was to quantify the efficacy of virtual reality interventions as an alternative to more traditional upper extremity interventions. This project wanted to address the lack of research focused on perceived exertion in virtual reality interventions. The student objectives focused on conducting research, familiarizing oneself with the use of virtual reality in the in-patient setting, and dissemination of the results. This study found that there was no significant difference in perceived exertion scores, changes in heart …

Occupational Therapy's Role In Medication Management With The Corewell Health System, Anthony Genna

Capstone Projects

Gap: Corewell Health lacked a competency program to assess their occupational therapist ability to provide medication management services. The occupational therapist required an educational resource to support the use of the Pill-Box Test. Additional resources were needed to identify evidence-based interventions and documentation tips to aid with reimbursement of services. The patient education library required a resource to highlight strategies to support clients in reaching their medication management goals.

Objective: To standardize practice of medication management services including evaluation, intervention, and documentation of outcomes for occupational therapy patients at Corewell health.

Outcomes: The health system was equipped with a medication …

Disability Advocates Of Kent County (Dakc) Consumer Follow-Up For Aging In Place, Bianca Cordova

Capstone Projects

Disability Advocates of Kent County (DAKC) is a non-profit organization with an occupational therapy (OT) department that aims to keep primarily community-dwelling, low-income, older adults safe and independent in their home. The organization provides home assessments which identifies the barriers and supports for daily activities within the home. After the home assessment evaluation, adaptive equipment and/or home modification recommendations are provided. Literature supports the restorative approach DAKC uses to facilitate aging in place. There was a lack of quantitative and qualitative evidence on how consumers were aging in place post-intervention. This capstone project focused on creating a pilot follow-up program …

Features Of Optics And Mounts That Facilitate Participation In Birding For Power Wheelchair Users: An Exploratory Study, Alexander Field

Capstone Projects

Birding as a leisure task may facilitate increased quality of life and regulate the nervous system through nature-based experiences; however, there are no prior published studies that examine adaptive birding equipment, making this research a crucial addition to the field of occupational therapy. Existing birding equipment is built very heavily, making it difficult for users to apply and reposition during the act of birding. This capstone project focused on adaptive birding equipment use by power wheelchair users to determine the supportive features that best facilitated participation in birding from their mobility devices. Researchers purchased lighter weight mounts and various optics …

Interdisciplinary Amputee Care From Injury To Independence: Medical, Occupational Therapy, And Prosthetic Intervention, Amanda Fox

Capstone Projects

During my doctoral capstone experience, I focused on advanced clinical practice of hand therapy and treatment of upper extremity amputees. I had the opportunity to observe and collaborate with surgeons and prosthetists to gain an improved understanding of my patients’ multi-disciplinary care. I assisted in teaching three upper extremity courses for WMU’s OTD program. I also evaluated and treated my site’s entire amputee caseload in addition to my site mentor’s more complex cases. Utilizing what I learned, I created educational resources and HEPs specifically geared toward amputees. Theses resources were supplied throughout the patient’s POC as needed and at my …

An Accessible Garden For Cds: Facilitating Participation, Building Skills, And Raising Awareness, Kelyn Rae Sckrabulis

Capstone Projects

The concentration area for this doctoral capstone experience (DCE) was program development, which occurred at the Community Connection Skill Building. This site provides services to adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Research has found that individuals with developmental and/or intellectual disabilities often face barriers to community participation which can lead to poor health outcomes, engagement in more sedentary activities, and a reduction in quality of life. Participation in garden-based activities can promote health and wellbeing and establish a sense of purpose within the community. A needs assessment at the DCE site revealed the need for additional programs that provide community …

Resident Reported Changes To Social Engagement And Quality Of Life Due To Increased Physical Activity Within A Senior Living Facility, Sydney Leroy

Capstone Projects

The purpose of this Doctoral Capstone Experience (DCE) was to see if regular participation in an exercise program could promote positive changes in social engagement and overall quality of life for older adults residing in an independent or assisted living facility. A standardized assessment and interview were completed with each participating resident before and after a 6-week exercise program to assess any changes in social engagement and quality of life. As a result, recruitment for this study and overall resident participation increased by advertising new and existing exercise classes throughout the senior living facility. In addition to the already scheduled …

Evaluation Of Soft Employability Skills In Students With Disabilities Attending A Vocational Training Program, David Gasser

Capstone Projects

The purpose of this capstone project was to create a customized assessment tool that evaluates soft employability skills and quantifiably measures progress made over time. This project was completed at the Michigan Career and Technical Institute (MCTI). MCTI is a post-secondary vocational and technical training center for adults with disabilities. This project was completed as current literature regarding vocational rehabilitation evaluation and soft employability skills is underdeveloped and requires further research. Also, existing vocational rehabilitation assessments are heavily focused on an individual's physical capabilities. Existing assessments that address soft skills also do not meet demands of MCTI and assessment customization …

Entry Level Ota Module Content: Sexual Activity As An Adl, Peightyn Larson

Capstone Projects

Sexuality is a “state of mind that represents how individuals feels about themselves, relate to other people, establish relationships, and express themselves” (AOTA, 2013). Occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants have the skill set necessary to address sexuality in practice, however, it is neglected in occupational therapy (OT) and occupational therapy assistant (OTA) programs throughout the United States of America (Lohman et al., 2017). The absence of sexuality in curriculum stems from lack of time, low priority, and various client factors including age, marital status, therapist safety, personal beliefs, and fear of offending the client (Lohman et al., 2017; McGarth …

The Benefits Of An Occupational Therapy Lens Within A Gymnastics Center To Promote Greater Inclusivity And Cohesion In Classes, Kimberly Ortiz

Capstone Projects

Inclusive programming has become more prevalent in many occupational pursuits for children, including that of leisure pursuits, or activities that a child engages in during their free time as they bring a sense of purpose and/or reward (Woodmansee et al., 2016). A major leisure pursuit of young children is organized sports and one that has demonstrated benefits for kids of all abilities and is growing in popularity is gymnastics (Gitimoghaddam et al., 2019; Mak & Cheung, 2018; Campain, 2014). While the benefits of participating in an inclusive gymnastics program are high for all children involved, the most benefits will be …

Interdisciplinary Collaboration Between Occupational Therapy And Dentistry For Autistic Patients And Sensory Processing Differences, Mallory Fox

Capstone Projects

Dental care is the most frequently cited unmet healthcare need for children with special needs (Cermak et al., 2015). Given the increased research linking oral health to overall health, it is important to ensure that dental care is accessible to all individuals. Oral hygiene and health management are both occupations included in the Occupational Therapy Practice Framework (4th ed). Combined with the unique training of an occupational therapist in sensory processing and environmental adaptations, the profession of occupational therapy has an important role in addressing the availability of dental care for those with disabilities.

The aim of my doctoral capstone …

Ins And Outs Of Running A Successful Non-Profit Organization At Northern Michigan Equine Therapy, Megan Morrill

Capstone Projects

My capstone experience took place at Northern Michigan Equine Therapy (NMET) and focused on leadership, administration, advocacy, education, and clinical practice skills. NMETs equine- assisted occupational therapy and HorseSense® self-development programs play an integral role in the northern Michigan community, yet insurance will not cover these services since they are flagged as “alternative” therapies due to utilizing a horse as a therapeutic tool. Because of this NMET relies on donations, grants, and fundraisers for program income. During a SWAT analysis NMET stated their biggest weakness and threat is not having enough program income to hire an additional part-time or full-time …

Service Gap In Kalamazoo County: Establishing A Reimbursable, Child-Led Multidisciplinary Feeding Tube-Weaning Protocol, Piper Friend

Capstone Projects

I partnered with the feeding team at Bronson Methodist Hospital (BMH) including outpatient pediatric occupational therapy, gastroenterologists, and dietitians to implement an evidence-based tube-weaning guideline for tube-dependent infant and pediatric patients. There is limited research in the area of tube-weaning and therefore limited national standards and guidelines to support clinicians and families going through this process. Current options for feeding tube-weaning services for Kalamazoo residents include traveling to Helen DeVos’s Intensive Feeding Program in Grand Rapids which places a heavy emphasis on behavioral intervention. This does not support the autonomy of the child or support the holistic occupation of feeding. …

Development Of A Community Living Coffee Shop, Micah Taniguchi

Capstone Projects

Providing employment opportunities for individuals with a disability has multiple benefits for the employer and for the individual (Lindsay et al., 2018). In addition, occupational therapy within a community-based living setting could decrease the risks for social isolation and increase engagement in occupation for older adults (Domville, 2019). This capstone project focused on program development at Self-Help Alternative Living of Michigan (SHALOM). SHALOM is a community-based living program who was seeking to provide additional employment opportunity for their participants with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Limited research available made it difficult to develop a training manual for coaches, participants, and volunteers …

Expanding Trauma Treatment With Sensory Based Occupational Therapy, Domonique Chambers

Capstone Projects

Sensory based occupational therapy is bridging the gap between the brain and body for individuals who have experienced complex trauma or have a barrier within their functional skills due to the integration of their sensory system. This can include individuals who have experienced complex trauma or individuals who are neurodivergent experiencing barriers to function in their lives. My objectives throughout my capstone experience is to support these clients seeking occupational therapy through educational handouts and videos on the what and why, pursuing grant information, and advancing my clinical skills within this outpatient clinic. These have resulted in increased resources for …

Occupational Therapy Integration In Psychosocial Rehabilitation: The Clubhouse Model, Kenzie Callahan

Capstone Projects

There is a growing need for individuals with any mental illness to receive services in community-based settings. The profession of occupational therapy uses occupation-based practice to engage people in daily activities of living, identify individualized goals, promote health, wellness, and quality of life. These practitioners are a component of the interdisciplinary care that complements holistic mental health treatment. The capstone project was designed to integrate occupational therapy practice into the clubhouse model setting. Primary modes of capstone project and experience included participating in the work-ordered day alongside members, informal assessments, lunch and learn educations, advocation for occupational therapy integration in …

Hope On The Slopes: Occupational Therapy's Role In Adaptive Ski Programming, Claire Hague

Capstone Projects

Adaptive skiing and Occupational Therapy (OT) have potential to merge well together. They both aim to enable individuals, regardless of ability, to engage in a purposeful activity or occupation through providing the appropriate supports or interventions (Lundberg et al., 2021; AOTA, 2020). Although OT is acknowledged as a service delivered in community-based settings (AOTA, 2020), there is limited evidence to support a collaboration between OT and its involvement in community-based adaptive ski programing. The purpose of this Doctoral Capstone Experience (DCE) is to explore the role of OT in a community-based adaptive ski program, Challenge Mountain. Through serving alongside the …

Creating Opportunity For The Homeless Population To Engage In Meaningful Occupations, Jada S. Toliver

Capstone Projects

Creating an opportunity for the homeless population to learn life skills, and improve their engagement in meaningful occupations is critical in helping people reintegrate back into the community. Through the development of Life Skills workshops the homeless population could learn appropriate life skills, receive education and advocate for their basic needs to be met. The needs addressed were increasing participation in occupations such as work, socialization, leisure activities, and promoting the importance of maintaining their health. The objectives were: (1) developing professional reasoning skills through scholarly exploration, (2) achieving greater resiliency by implementing goal attainment scaling, (3) utilizing evidence based …

Improving Efficiency Of Referrals And Documentation At Drive Well Michigan Driver Rehabilitation Clinic, Paige Norgan

Capstone Projects

The doctoral capstone project focused on developing a current website for Drive Well Michigan driver rehabilitation clinic that incorporated web content accessibility strategies and increased patient autonomy by allowing them to initiate referrals, schedule appointments online, and pay online. This mechanism was concurrently developed to decrease the amount of time that occupational therapists on site previously dedicated towards completing the entire referral, scheduling and payment process over the phone. Additionally, two electronic record systems were researched, demonstrated, and presented to site mentor, and two documentation summary templates were designed to be integrated into the chosen future system. Lastly, practice management …

Occupational Therapy's Role In Increasing Client Engagement In Substance Use Disorder Treatment Programming With A Community-Based Interdisciplinary Team, Jennifer Tornga

Capstone Projects

Substance Use Disorder (SUD) remains a prevalent problem in the United States despite consistent efforts by National, State, and local entities to improve access to treatment services. Even though attendance of treatment services is understood to be important for progress towards recovery goal attainment for those with SUD, limited study has been done to understand how SUD itself negatively impacts a person’s ability to engage in treatment meaningfully and consistently. This project was designed to explore and understand barriers to attendance of and engagement in SUD treatment stemming from executive functioning deficits commonly connected to SUD. An Occupation-based approach was …