Rehabilitation and Therapy Commons^™

Clinicians Perspectives On The Permobil Explorer Mini, Lilly Otoole

OTD Capstone Projects

Clinicians Perspectives on the Permobil Explorer Mini

Lipscomb Ideal: Promoting Independent Living Skills In Students With Intellectual Disabilities, Abigail Hamblen

OTD Capstone Projects

Lipscomb IDEAL: Promoting Independent Living Skills in Students with Intellectual Disabilities

Withdrawing Without Withholding: A Quantitative Report Of Factors Indicative Of The Need For Early Rehabilitation Services After Intrauterine Drug Exposure, Brooke G. Bohanan

OTD Capstone Projects

Maternal opioid use is a proliferative epidemic leading to a widespread increase in cases of Neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) and intrauterine drug exposure (IUDE). Much information has yet to be discovered regarding best practice in treatment and the long-term effects of these diagnoses. This retrospective chart review was conducted to increase awareness and achieve a greater understanding of early developmental deficits and intervention in this population. The researchers hypothesized that there are predictive factors of a later need for therapy services. Potentially influential factors and the prevalence of rehabilitation services provided after discharge from the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) …

Integration Of Occupational Therapy Into Primary Care, Averie Conn

OTD Capstone Projects

The Integration of Occupational Therapy into Primary Care is an emerging practice area only beginning to be explored. There has been a noticeable shift to support primary healthcare and its practitioners as it becomes clear the system is unsustainable for optimal patient quality care and outcomes. An occupational therapist has an in depth education in kinesiology/anatomy/pathophysiology, human development across the lifespan, cognition/perception, and psychology. Combined with their specific interest in client-centered clinical reasoning, an occupational therapist has a unique lens that allows them to facilitate a functional and fulfilling lifestyle for each person they work with. Throughout this project, the …

Integrating Occupational Therapy And Animal Assisted Therapy, Erin Trella

OTD Capstone Projects

Pet Partners is a non-profit organization that works to educate and register handlers of multiple species as volunteer therapy teams. While therapy animal programming offered by volunteer handlers provides an invaluable service to communities, there is also a growing body of practitioners who aim to incorporate the healing power of animals into their professionalized settings. The purpose of this project was to delve into the world of AAI in the professional setting and understand the current needs of practitioners in the field. Through interviewing a variety of professionals who utilize AAI in their practice, clear gaps in services were identified, …

Supporting Working Family Caregivers And Older Adults Through An Educational Employer-Based Eldercare Program, Chanté Bowens

OTD Capstone Projects

This doctoral capstone project was completed in partnership with AgeWell Middle TN, a non-profit agency that focuses on informed, positive aging, and being a champion, advocate, and trusted community resource for older adults. Working family caregivers of older adults are struggling to balance work and caregiving duties, while employers are experiencing loss in productivity and financial return. In response, AgeWell is developing a program called “Eldercare Coach” to provide guidance to employers and working caregivers. Thus, the primary focus of this project was to develop educational materials for AgeWell’s Eldercare Coach program. These educational materials include a list of interview …

Promoting Awareness And Healing In Persons In Mental Health And Addiction Recovery In Middle Tennessee, Savannah Rain Flint

OTD Capstone Projects

This doctoral capstone project was completed in partnership with Healing Arts Project, Inc., also known as HAPI. HAPI exists to fill a gap in recovery and rehabilitation services by providing free art supplies and art classes at partnered facilities, by providing art exhibition and publication opportunities for HAPI program participants, and by participating in outreach events throughout the year. These opportunities help spread awareness and inclusivity of mental health and addiction recovery within the community and helps artists to externalize their personal struggles, thoughts, and feelings through various creative outlets.

My project focus was to increase community awareness of HAPI …

Creating Home Modification Solutions For Individuals With Spinal Cord Injury, Ryan Heuer

OTD Capstone Projects

Tucker's House provides home accessibility assessments and modifications to children with disabilities and their caregivers. As a small non-profit Tucker's House is not able to tailor its process to specific conditions and diagnoses. The present project focused on creating and enhancing the evidence-based resources that Tucker's House can provide to individuals with spinal cord injury and spina bifida. These resources are designed to help this population safely participate in the home environment and improve their occupational performance and wellness.

An Occupational Therapy Approach To Developing Empowerment: Supporting The Recovery Of Women Affected By Substance Abuse In A Residential Treatment Facility, Margaret Schneider-Adams, Molly Schneider-Adams

OTD Capstone Projects

An Occupational Therapy Approach to Developing Empowerment: Supporting the Recovery of Women Affected by Substance Abuse in a Residential Treatment Facility Capstone project poster and presentation in fulfillment of Doctorate of Occupational Therapy Program at Belmont University.

Environmental Interventions And Modifications For Individuals With Down Syndrome: Creating An Assessment Tool And Social Story For Increased Participation, Erica Williams

OTD Capstone Projects

This poster is part of the doctoral capstone project completed with Tucker's House, an agency whose mission is to create safer and more accessible homes and environments for children and young adults with disabilities. This project focused on creating an assessment tool for individuals with Down Syndrome to be used during the home assessment process. A social story was also created to explain the home assessment process in an age appropriate manner to children.

Establishing Ot Programming Within A Local Correctional Facility, Kayla Kennedy

OTD Capstone Projects

This OTD capstone project was completed in collaboration with Davidson County Sheriff's Office in Nashville, TN. The criminal justice system is an emerging practice area for occupational therapy with limited established OT programs in jails and prisons. Individuals who are incarcerated have limited social interaction promoting positive behaviors, limited access to quality rehabilitative services, are separated from family/friends, may be placed in isolation and overall experience occupational deprivation. This capstone project aimed to establish OT programming in a local correctional facility using the Recovery Model and MOHO to address needs of residents of the Behavioral Care Center in a long-term …

Strategies For Promoting Engagement In Youth Advocacy Program, Dana Murray

OTD Capstone Projects

The focus of this capstone project was to increase participation in and awareness of Thiiirdspace, a youth program through Family Voices of Tennessee. This was primarily done through the use of Instagram and the creation of a marketing procedure.

Equine-Assisted Activities: Increasing Participation And Quality Of Life For Individuals With Disabilities, Melissa Mabry

OTD Capstone Projects

The author partnered with a nonprofit organization, Saddle Up!, to incorporate an occupational therapy perspective in its work with children with disabilities and equine-assisted activities as part of the OTD capstone project.

Reimagining Room In The Inn’S Housing Readiness Program: Providing Teaching Strategies To Reach All Participants, Kara Reed

OTD Capstone Projects

The intent of this project was to provide housing readiness skills to obtain and maintain permanent housing for individuals transitioning off of Nashville's streets. This housing readiness project focused on improving Room In The Inn's current "Housing Power Week" program through updating content, expanding educational tools, and providing teaching strategies/ training to staff. The project expanded three primary modules including "Life Skills: Kitchen Readiness," "Grocery Preparation," and "Basic Budgeting." Each of these primary modules has between one and three subsections to further explore skills required for success in the home.

Developing Power Skills And Effective Partnerships With Individuals With Intellectual And Developmental Disabilities, Madison Mclean

OTD Capstone Projects

This project partnered with Friends Life Community of Nashville, TN, in effort to advocate for, increase meaningful participation in, and promote independence in individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities through the implementation of several training tools. Staff and families at Friends Life expressed a need for more classes in a virtual capacity due to the COVID-19 pandemic, in addition to tools to guide Friends Life staff from an occupational therapy perspective. An occupational therapy-based training module was introduced to promote inclusion and teach activity analysis, goal-setting, and how to adapt tasks and the environment to maximize engagement and independence in …

Advocacy For Older Adults At A State Unit On Aging, Nicki Richardson

OTD Capstone Projects

As Tennessee’s state unit on aging, the Tennessee Commission on Aging and Disability (TCAD) advocates for the health, dignity, independence, and security of older adults through an array of programs and services that address multiple population needs. This doctoral capstone internship and project primarily consisted of activities to support the implementation, management, and sustainability of TCAD’s grant-funded statewide falls prevention program. Project outcomes included but are not limited to: completion of a grant proposal, analysis of data obtained from falls prevention program participants and presentation of results to stakeholders, and creation of resources to support the recruitment and training of …

Navigating The Community With A Disability: How Ability App Can Help And Why Ots Should Get Involved, Hailey Scandin

OTD Capstone Projects

Ability App was invented and founded by Alex Knoll, an incredible teenager with a passion for helping provide resources for individuals with disabilities. The app strives to serve people with disabilities, their families, and caregivers by providing a road-map of accessible public spaces and business locations around the world while raising awareness about the importance of accessibility and inclusion. The project goal was to network the app to different occupational therapy programs in order to help expand the number of locations that are available for Ability App users. Occupational therapists can use Ability App to advocate for individuals with disabilities, …

Grassroots Advocacy With Tennessee Disability Coalition, Sylvia Stenger

OTD Capstone Projects

Grassroots advocacy initiative to gather family feedback and recommendations on group 4 of the Employment and Community First CHOICES Program in order to advocate for continued refinement of the ECF CHOICES Program with TennCare.

Promoting Interprofessional Collaboration Through Education In The Inpatient Rehabilitation Setting, Emma Murphy

OTD Capstone Projects

As part of a 14-week occupational therapy doctoral capstone project, the author partnered with Vanderbilt Stallworth Rehabilitation Hospital to research and address interprofessional collaboration in the inpatient rehabilitation setting. The project sought to attain a comprehensive assessment of the current interdisciplinary collaboration environment at VSRH, improve communication between the therapy and nursing departments, provide rehabilitation education for nurses on staff-identified topics, and promote interprofessional collaboration as a whole.

Strategies For Hybrid Teaching, Julia Bilotta

OTD Capstone Projects

This project aimed to work alongside the occupational therapy department at Belmont University to research, develop, and disseminate strategies for hybrid teaching. As the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic required universities to rapidly switch to online teaching, the need for strategies to complete this effectively arose. Moving months ahead to present day, Belmont University has adapted a hybrid model for teaching, which includes both online and in-person learning. With that being said, the department of occupational therapy expressed the need for lab experiences and clinical skill competencies that follow the ACOTE standards, that can be delivered through a virtual …

Introducing Occupational Balance And Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction To Women At The New Beginnings Center, Piper Cleveland

OTD Capstone Projects

The New Beginnings Center is a workout facility that provides coaching in nutrition, fitness, and health behaviors for women experiencing obesity in low socioeconomic classes. The purpose of this project was to enhance the current 12-week curriculum based on reserch and client feedback, as well as create a potfolio for the marketing team of evidence and testamonies. The two curriculum additions focused on stress reduction through occupational balance and mindfulness. In the "Schedule Redesign" class, we focused on the importance of finding maladaptive time use in their schedule (e.g. watching too much TV, laying in bed too long, etc.) and …

Self Regulation Protocol For Move Inclusive Dance, Rebecca Denton

OTD Capstone Projects

Due to the prevalence of autism, Down Syndrome, and sensory processing disorder in the dancers of MOVE Inclusive Dance, a self regulation protocol was formed. This protocol will help the dancers transition from the studio to recital hall in a sensory inclusive way. The protocol is a holistic program that lasts 6 weeks and encompasses numerous aspects including yoga, sensory room, visual supports, social narratives, and optional nutrition guide.

Breaking Down Barriers: Utilizing Virtual Resources To Promote Occupational Balance Among Vulnerable Populations In The Midst Of A Global Pandemic, Roya Rezadoost

OTD Capstone Projects

The focus of this project was to utilize virtual media, resources, and technological advancements to create resource guidelines that facilitate the preservation of occupational balance and overall quality of life among under-served and marginalized populations during the COVID-19 global pandemic.

Increasing Access To Play: Establishing A Switch-Adapted Toy Library At Christ Presbyterian Church, Megan Moody

OTD Capstone Projects

The focus of this project was to advocate for the occupational potential of children with disabilities and promote increased access to play. This was completed through the establishment of a community-based lending library of switch-adapted toys, as well as through the creation of corresponding educational materials detailing play-based strategies for promoting development.

Ontime Self-Initiated Mobility, Katherine Sanders

OTD Capstone Projects

The project took place at Vanderbilt's Pediatric Rehabilitation, specifically in their pediatric seating and mobility clinic. The focus of the project was the Explorer Mini which is the first exploratory device for infants 12-36 months old. The research team created an literature-based introductory protocol on how to introduce the device to the child. My section specifically focused on the preparatory stage which is the very first stage and when the child explores the device before being put in it. I also created numerous handouts for the seating and mobility clinic along with reference cards for how to use the Explorer …

Exploring The World Of On Time Pediatric Power Mobility, Lauren Hanna

OTD Capstone Projects

Children with delayed or impaired self-initiated mobility are deprived of critical developmental learning experiences. All children deserve access to ON TIME mobility. The Explorer Mini is the first power mobility device in the world to provide ON TIME mobility to children 12-36 months.

Accessibility And Inclusivity At The Frist Art Museum, Andrea M. Boyer

OTD Capstone Projects

A doctoral capstone project to provide a comprehensive look at accessibility of the Frist Art Museum and its programming. Outcomes included a review of the literature, pre-visit materials (e.g., social narratives, visual schedule), a survey on accessibility experiences in the museum, a comparison of resources offered at other local institutions, and comprehensive observations and recommendations to increase accessibility of physical facilities, digital media, and assistive technology.

Addressing Challenges In Solid Food Transitioning In Infants, Stephanie Gonyea

OTD Capstone Projects

I collaborated with Elements, LLC to address challenges associated with solid food transitioning in infants. I collaborated with local pediatricians to advocate for the role of occupational therapy in supporting caregivers who are struggling to transition their infant to solid food, and marketed Elements as a resource for remediating any challenges families face. In advocating for Element's services, I provided doctors offices with a deliverable marketing their services.

Holistic Home Modification: Developing A Client-Centered Approach To Home Assessments And Quality Of Life Measures, Maggie Little

OTD Capstone Projects

This project is an appraisal of home assessments and quality of life measures in order to find the best fit for pediatric populations and their caregivers.

Demonstrating The Role Of Occupational Therapy In Hospice Care Through Fall Prevention Intervention Program Development, Lauren Schar

OTD Capstone Projects

Demonstrating the Role of Occupational Therapy in Hospice Care through Fall Prevention Intervention Program Development