Rehabilitation and Therapy Commons^™

Empower, Educate, Engage: Supporting Hispanic Families With Diabetes Through Occupational Therapy, Luis E. Perez

Occupational Therapy Student Capstones

The population of interest is Hispanic individuals and familiaes managing diabetes. Purpose: Close gaps in health literacy, daily routine-building, and family engagement through OT-designed tools and resources. Advocate for integration of OT into multidisciplinary diabetes-care teams, expanding access to holistic self-management support.

Play With Intent: A Community Based-Approach In Promoting Inclusive And Child-Led Engagement With Easterseals Superior California, Margerie Vergara Vinoya

Occupational Therapy Student Capstones

Neurodiverse children may require additional environmental support to successfully engage, socialize, and adapt due to differences in their sensory systems. However, there’s a lack of inclusive, child-led, and sensory-rich environments that promote meaningful participation and social success.

Assistive Devices For Individuals With Multiple Sclerosis, Maribel Gutierrez

Occupational Therapy Student Capstones

An epidemiology survey reported a prevalence of 2.8 million individuals diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) in the year of 2020. In Northern California the prevalence of MS has increased with an estimated 288 cases per 100,000 individuals. Studies report less than 40% of individuals with MS have used occupational therapy services, and when they do, it is frequently in reaction to more severe symptoms than taking preventative measures.

Implications Of Occupational Therapy In Veterans Returning And Reintegrating Into Higher Education, Michael Siyluy

Occupational Therapy Student Capstones

There is the need to expand the resources and support in the student veteran population for return and reintegration in higher education.

Promoting Effective Dental Care For Individuals With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Trina Hoang

Occupational Therapy Student Capstones

Problem/Purpose: Increase awareness of the challenges that individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder face at the dental office. Advocating for the role of Occupational Therapy (OT) in dental care. Bridging communication between OT and dentistry.

Exploring Mental Health Utilization Among First-Generation College Students, Sophia Kohgadai

Occupational Therapy Student Capstones

Background & Purpose: One or more parents did not earn a 4-year college degree. Compared to their non-firstgeneration peers, First Generation College Students face higher rates of unaddressed mental health issues and other unique challenges. Despite reporting greater symptom distress, they are less likely to utilize psychological services on campuses.

Enhancing Health Literacy Among Spanish-Speaking Individuals With Parkinson’S Disease, Christie Ledezma

Occupational Therapy Student Capstones

Parkinson’s disease may be significantly under-represented and inadequately treated in rural areas, specifically in the Spanish-speaking community due to lower health literacy levels and limited resources. Project: Determine barriers faced by Spanish-speaking individuals with Parkinson’s disease and implement into solutions.

Empowering Kidney Transplant Recipients: The Role Of Occupational Therapy For A Successful Transition Into Emerging Adulthood, Courtney Heller

Occupational Therapy Student Capstones

The transition into adulthood for kidney transplant recipients includes both the move from pediatric to adult healthcare settings and developmental shifts to pursue milestones associated with early adulthood. This period is marked by immense change and vulnerability where AYA kidney transplant recipients are at a heightened risk for negative health outcomes. There is a need to improve policies, protocols, and cement best practices to equip and empower young transplant recipients to thrive into adulthood with their gift of life.

Growing Through The Senses: A Sensory Garden Approach To Support Emotional Regulation And Sensory Awareness In Young Adults With Visual Impairments, Deanne Nguyen

Occupational Therapy Student Capstones

Young adults with visual impairments are at a greater risk of experiencing mental health challenges. Encounter unique challenges that impact emotional, social, and personal development.

Enhancing Response Through Occupational Therapy: Neurodiversity & Mental Health Training For First Responders, Haley De Los Santos

Occupational Therapy Student Capstones

Problem Statement: Lack of specific training protocol in the following areas; complex neurological, physiological, cognitive, and physical diversity. First responders are not adequately trained respond to complex, diverse calls within the community.

From Plan To Practice: Enhancing Lifestyle Management Through Effective Carry Over Strategies Using Occupational Therapy Perspective, Josephine Hernandez

Occupational Therapy Student Capstones

Explore and build on existing knowledge of occupational therapy’s role in lifestyle management techniques through embodied experience. Explore evidence-based research on embodied interventions with multidisciplinary care. Explore and exercise advocacy skills within a multidisciplinary team. Explore and apply marketing and outreach initiatives for increased community awareness of resources.

Form And Function : Ot In The Beauty Industry, Sheng Kaitlan Vang

Occupational Therapy Student Capstones

This capstone project purposes to address the high risk of musculoskeletal injuries among cosmetologists by integrating occupational therapy (OT) principles to promote ergonomic awareness and safe body mechanics by embedding injury prevention education into cosmetology training using the CEAS framework.

Play For All: Addressing Barriers And Promoting Equity In Sports Participation For Children With Disabilities, Kayla Swank

Occupational Therapy Student Capstones

Whether a child has a physical, cognitive, or invisible disability, there are many situations in which they aren’t given equal access to participate in team sports, individual sports, or physical activity in general.

Reclaiming Your Body, Reframing Your Mind: An Ot Perspective On Postpartum Exercise Participation, Abigail Waisner

Occupational Therapy Student Capstones

Perinatal Mental Health conditions affect up to 84% of birthing women. These include: Depression, anxiety, OCD, PTSD, Bipolar Disorders, and Psychosis. These mental health challenges may be influenced by stress, lack of sleep, role changes, family history, social determinants of health, etc.

Occupational Therapy In Adolescent And Young Adult Oncology: An Educational Guidebook, Bailee N. Fleming, Lesley Khan-Farooqi

Summer 2025 OTD Capstone Symposium

Adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer patients, typically aged 15 to 39, face numerous physical, emotional, and psychological challenges during and after treatment, which can significantly affect their quality of life and ability to engage in daily activities. While occupational therapy has proven effective in addressing these challenges, its integration into AYA cancer care remains underutilized. This project aimed to bridge the gap by developing a comprehensive guidebook for AYA oncology patients and their oncology care teams, providing an in-depth understanding of the impact of cancer and its treatments on occupational performance, and promoting the role of occupational therapy in …

Helping Children Cope With Sensory Overstimulation At Theme Parks: An Educational Video Series For Parents, Ashley M. Garcia, Steven M. Gerardi Phd, Otd, Mss, Otr

Summer 2025 OTD Capstone Symposium

Parents of children with sensory processing challenges often feel overwhelmed and unprepared when visiting high-stimulation environments such as theme parks. Loud sounds, bright lights, crowded walkways, and unpredictable routines can contribute to sensory overload, creating distress for both children and caregivers. Although theme parks aim to provide joyful family experiences, they may not fully account for the needs of neurodivergent children, including those with autism spectrum disorder, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, or sensory processing disorder. Parents of children with debilitating sensory issues are unsure and uncertain on how to prepare to assist their child to cope with the overwhelming sensory stimuli at …

Identifying And Addressing Maternal Health Needs: Using Occupational Therapy To Empower, Educate, And Support Mothers, Anne K. Lyles

Department of Occupational Therapy Entry-Level Capstone Projects

There is a critical need for extended maternal support, particularly when viewed through the lens of occupational therapy. This capstone project aimed to address this gap by conducting a needs assessment using the Maternal Occupational Therapy Health & Environment Risk Screening (MOTHERS) to gain a deeper understanding of the challenges mothers face during the prenatal and postpartum periods. Findings from the needs assessment informed the development of practical, evidence-based resources—including digital products, social media content, educational flyers, and a virtual course—designed to support postpartum mothers in a format that is both accessible and empowering.

Integrating Occupation-Based Activities And Habit Training To Support Independence In Senior Living Facilities, Jamie Spangler

Department of Occupational Therapy Entry-Level Capstone Projects

This doctoral capstone project was completed at Seaside at Fort Myers, a senior living facility encompassing Independent Living (IL), Assisted Living (AL), and Memory Care (MC) settings. The primary objective was to promote independence among older adults through two occupational therapy-informed initiatives: the development and facilitation of a structured habit training program and the creation of a practical activity planning checklist for staff. The 4-week habit training program focused on supporting daily routine development using analog tools such as calendars, checklists, and simulated planning tasks. These sessions targeted cognitive functions commonly impacted by aging, including task initiation, planning, and consistency. …

Feasibility And Preliminary Efficacy Of A Lymphedema And Fibrosis Self-Management Program For Head And Neck Cancer Survivors: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial, Jie Deng, Barbara Murphy, Lucy Andersen, Erin Mcmenamin, John Lukens, Joy Cohn, Karthik Rajasekaran, Ryan Quinn, Bryan Spinelli, Alexander Lin

Department of Physical Therapy Faculty Papers

OBJECTIVES: Survivors of head and neck cancer (HNC) are at high risk for developing lymphedema and fibrosis (LEF). Once diagnosed with LEF, survivors must engage in a lifelong program of self-care to minimize long-term adverse effects. However, evidence-based LEF self-management (SM) programs are lacking. To fill this void, we developed and pilot-tested a LEF-SM program for HNC survivors.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: The LEF-SM Program was developed using the Information-Motivation-Behavioral Skills model of health behavior change as a framework. The program was pilot tested in a three-group randomized controlled trial evaluating feasibility and preliminary efficacy. Fifty-nine participants were randomized to: Usual …

Fostering Inclusive Care: Advancing Cultural Humility In Healthcare Professional Education: A Micro-Credential, Delaney A. Williams, Lacey Spark, Angela Blackwell

Summer 2025 OTD Capstone Symposium

Health outcomes are the results of healthcare and rehabilitative therapy interventions and describe what a client can accomplish through the rehabilitative therapy process. To achieve positive outcomes, practitioners identify possible barriers impacting clients’ participation in tasks and administer interventions to address these barriers in order to facilitate participation. As a result, cultural humility has been labeled as “paramount in therapeutic practice” (American Occupational Therapy Association [AOTA], 2020) due to it being a foundational principle underpinning effective client care and professionalism. Cultural humility is an ongoing process of acknowledging one’s biases and limitations through self-reflection and self-critique, while actively seeking to …

Effect Of Gait Retraining In Minimalist Footwear Or Barefoot On Running Footstrike And Cadence: A Systematic Review, John Desrochers, Alexis Chow, David Rubin, Altamash Raja

Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine Departmental Research

Gait retraining programs take a structured approach to altering a runner's gait, often with the goal of decreasing footstrike angle and increasing cadence, as these outcomes have been correlated to a reduced rate of injury and optimal performance. Minimalist footwear, or running barefoot entirely, has been explored as a tool for gait adjustment in runners, largely due to the increased feedback from ground forces experienced by the runner. This systematic review aims to decipher the effect of gait retraining with minimalist footwear or barefoot running on footstrike angle and cadence. The comparison group included runners that underwent gait retraining in …

Enhancing Caregiver Support: Tailored Education For Families Of Veterans With Polytrauma, Riley J. Pullen

Department of Occupational Therapy Entry-Level Capstone Projects

No abstract provided.

Addressing The Occupational Therapy Faculty Shortage: A Capstone Experience In Academic Administration At Nova Southeastern University, Tiesha N. Henley

Department of Occupational Therapy Entry-Level Capstone Projects

The project aimed to address the critical shortage of occupational therapy faculty by understanding and mitigating factors that contribute to this shortage, ultimately strengthening recruitment pipelines and supporting long-term faculty development within a graduate-level occupational therapy program. I developed a pamphlet outlining concrete resources and strategies to attract and retain qualified educators. Additionally, I engaged in the daily responsibilities of a full-time OT faculty member by contributing to course instruction and creating graduate-level learning materials.

Occupational Therapy’S Impact On Heart Failure Readmission Rates In The Acute Care Setting, Morgan Breen

Department of Occupational Therapy Entry-Level Capstone Projects

No abstract provided.

The Role Of Posture And Balance In Fall Prevention For Older Adults: Implications For Daily Living Activities, Julia L. Otoski

Department of Occupational Therapy Entry-Level Capstone Projects

The purpose of this doctoral capstone project was to develop and implement a falls prevention program within a community-based organization to help reduce fall risk and maintain independence in activities of daily living (ADLs) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs), among older adults. The project focused on assessing fall risk using evidence-based tools, including the Timed Up and Go (TUG) and 4-Stage Balance Test, which identified all participants as being at risk for falls. Individualized treatment sessions were then implemented, emphasizing balance, posture, and the safe performance of ADLs and IADLs. The Otago Exercise Program was adopted and integrated …

Occupation-Based Foster Caregiver Toolkit, Jane L. Donat

Department of Occupational Therapy Entry-Level Capstone Projects

No abstract provided.

Peer-Led Recovery: Developing A Mentorship Program For Veterans With Spinal Cord Injuries At The Va, Alexis Smich

Department of Occupational Therapy Entry-Level Capstone Projects

No abstract provided.

Supporting Parent Confidence Through Accessible Education In Pediatric Occupational Therapy, Dylan Spruill

Department of Occupational Therapy Entry-Level Capstone Projects

This capstone project explored strategies to enhance parent confidence and engagement in pediatric occupational therapy. Guided by a needs assessment drawn from literature, clinical observation, and parent input, the project identified a lack of accessible, affirming educational materials for families. In response, strengths-based, plain-language resources were developed and distributed in both print and digital formats. These materials supported parent understanding of therapeutic goals and encouraged home-based carryover of clinical strategies. Additionally, participation in small-group summer programming and one-on-one parent conversations provided insight into family needs and informed the resource design process. Outcomes suggest that empowering parents through targeted education can …

Inspiring Internationalization For Students Across Asia With Aapi-Ot, Mike D. Palou-Morales

Department of Occupational Therapy Entry-Level Capstone Projects

This capstone project aimed to
provide opportunities for internationalization between occupational therapy (OT) students across Asia, specifically in Japan and South Korea, with the assistance of the Asian-American and Pacific-Islander (AAPI-OT) and student organizations at my capstone site. I developed educational material and provided opportunities for discourse on the benefits of internationalization and collaboration through the student platform for occupational therapy (SPOT) Europe and Americas.

Supporting The Fourth Trimester: An Occupational Therapy Approach To Maternal Function And Recovery, Cedrica Durham

Department of Occupational Therapy Entry-Level Capstone Projects

This capstone project focused on supporting mothers and infants during the prenatal and postpartum periods through a blend of occupational therapy, doula practices, and lactation support. The project investigated how occupational therapists can work with other maternal professionals to promote maternal recovery and overall wellbeing. This capstone project addresses this gap by implementing a brief, occupation-based screening tool that can be used by lactation consultants, maternal health professionals, and home health providers to identify clients who may benefit from occupational therapy services