Rehabilitation and Therapy Commons^™

Moving Beyond Traditional Multiculturalism: Dis/Ability Awareness In Counselor Education, Alicia B. Becton, Eunae Han, Leeza Ong, Amber Johnson, Roy K. Chen, Gabriela Rangel, Stephanie Lusk

School of Rehabilitation Services & Counseling Faculty Publications

This chapter explores the experiences of individuals with disabilities, emphasizing how they navigate educational and societal norms while balancing various identities. It emphasizes the impact of societal issues, such as racism and sexism, on individuals with disabilities. The authors delve into current multiculturalism trends, advocating for culturally responsive approaches in counselor education and rehabilitation services. The goal is to advance discussions on the future directions of multiculturalism by exploring the following key areas (a) the sociopolitical aspects of disability, (b) the inclusion of disability in counselor education, (c) accessibility and the universal design for learning (UDL), (d) culturally competent counselor …

Exploring Law Enforcement Officers' Experiences With Athletic Trainers And Work-Related Injury, Stephanie H. Clines, Rubie Gaudette, Amanda Wheeler, Jennifer Ostrowsk

Athletic Training Faculty Publications

Law enforcement is an emerging clinical setting for athletic trainers (ATs), yet little is known regarding law enforcement officers (LEOs) perceptions of the profession. This qualitative study following a general inductive approach explored LEOs' experiences with musculoskeletal injury and their interactions with ATs. Seven officers (N = 7) participated in one-on-one semi-structured interviews. Three themes emerged: (1) roles and responsibilities of ATs, (2) education and training, and (3) impact of injury on LEOs. While participants viewed ATs positively, they demonstrated limited understanding of the profession's scope and expertise. Participants commonly described managing musculoskeletal injuries on their own due to …

Psychosocial Factors Affecting Quality Of Life In Kidney Transplant Recipients, Lawrence Panlilio

Nursing | Senior Theses

Background: Kidney transplantation is the best solution to save lives for those that have end-stage renal disease. However, psychosocial issues play a huge role in their quality of life after the procedure which can affect these individuals negatively. These issues recipients face include depression and anxiety, a lack of social support, and self management difficulties. Objective: This research consists of investigating psychosocial factors that affect kidney transplant recipients’ quality of life. Evidenced by research, focused assistance with ongoing support in patients is essential after receiving surgery and recovery. A literature review was conducted that consists of research on studies with …

Acute Influence Of Gum Chewing On Gait And Balance Measures In People With Parkinson's, Pamela Marie Durr

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

The overarching aim of this dissertation was to investigate the acute effects of gum chewing on functional measures of gait and balance and their associations to pupillometry in people with Parkinson’s Disease (PwP). A total of 27 PwP and 27 age-matched controls underwent three trials (baseline and then a randomized no gum and gum trial) to assess gait and balance and their relationship with pupillometry and, on a second day, ten of the PwP and ten controls returned within 7-14 days for repeat testing to investigate the test-retest reliability of pupillometry alongside gait and balance measures. Results: Significant improvements in …

Implementing Visual Supports Through Vocational Training Modules For Students Preparing To Exit School-Based Services, Kaitlynn Karthan

Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstone Projects

Unemployment and underemployment remain persistent barriers for autistic and developmentally disabled individuals, with up to 75% of autistic adults in the United States experiencing difficulty obtaining or maintaining meaningful work. To address this disparity within school-based transition services, this capstone project evaluated the effectiveness of video modeling as an instructional method for vocational skill acquisition among seven young adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other developmental disabilities (DD). Grounded in the Occupational Justice framework, this study utilized a quantitative pretest–posttest–follow-up quasi-experimental design to measure accuracy and task completion time on two vocational tasks: rolling silverware and filling condiment cups. …

Disability Awareness And Inclusion, Claudia C. Gonzalez, Raquel C. Vasquez, Bruce J. Reed

School of Rehabilitation Services & Counseling Faculty Publications

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2021) reported an increase in the prevalence of persons with disabilities affecting one in four people in the United States. Disability awareness and inclusion describe how a combination of understanding, acknowledgment, compassion, and acceptance can allow persons with disability the same opportunities as those without disabilities. This can be seen with the increase in persons with a disability graduating from postsecondary institutions, about 14% from 2012 to 2022 of persons over 25. This chapter covers foundational material regarding disability awareness and inclusion, including the prevalence of disability in general and in educational settings, …

Integrating Technology To Support Learning And Accessibility In Counselor Education And Supervision, Yung-Chen Jen Chiu, Heekyung Lee, Junfei Lu, Kayi Ntinda, Roy K. Chen, Yuleinys A. Castillo

School of Rehabilitation Services & Counseling Faculty Publications

The rapid evolution of technology has profoundly impacted the delivery of counseling services and the field of counselor education. This transformation has introduced both opportunities and challenges for students from underrepresented backgrounds, including students with disabilities. This chapter delves into the integration of technology in counselor education and supervision, highlighting considerations of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility. It explores strategies to enhance accessibility, including improved access to program information, optimized class preparation, and enhanced quality of clinical supervision. Key implications for counselor educators and supervisors include bolstering their own technological proficiency, familiarity with legal and ethical considerations, enhancing disability awareness, …

Systems Evaluation Supporting Feeding Program Development, Marquetta Moore

Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstone Projects

Background: Prior to the development of a feeding therapy program, a system evaluation was completed in an outpatient pediatric therapy clinic. Changes were implemented to support the program, while planning and the initial phases of the feeding therapy program began.

Purpose: The purpose of this project was to enhance daily clinic operations and initiate the development of a feeding therapy program, with a focus on establishing evidence-based, family-and child-centered care.

This capstone project addressed the following objectives:

1. Assess clinic systems to identify strengths and weaknesses as well as threats and opportunities while evaluating existing processes that may impact program …

Addressing Fine Motor Skills In Kindergarten Through Embedding Occupational Fine Motor Skills In Classrooms, Mary L. Hesterwerth

Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstone Projects

Background: Fine motor and visual–motor delays are becoming more common among young children, driven by the shift from traditional physical play to screen time and worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic. These issues are particularly concerning for kindergarten students, whose academic demands for handwriting and classroom participation are increasing despite their limited prior school experience.

Purpose: This Capstone project aimed to evaluate the effects of an occupational therapist-led training workshop for kindergarten teachers, focusing on how it helps integrate fine motor activities into daily bellwork routines. The main research question was whether this Tier 1, classroom-based strategy could enhance students’ fine …

Mental Health And Belongingness Of Doctor Of Physical Therapy Students: A Mixed Methods Study Centering Black Student Voices, Robyn Redline

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

Background: Despite efforts to increase recruitment and enrollment, the physical therapy profession lacks Black students and clinicians. Racially marginalized students have higher rates of academic difficulty during physical therapy education (PTE) than White students. Mental health and belongingness have been proposed as prerequisites for reaching academic achievement and attaining one’s full potential. Conversely, poor mental health and lack of belongingness during PTE may contribute to the underrepresentation of Black Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) students and clinicians. Yet not enough is known about the relationships between mental health, belongingness, and the academic achievement of DPT students. Purpose: This study aimed …

Bridging Clinical Capacity And Real-World Performance: Upper And Lower Limb Accelerometry In Pediatric Cerebral Palsy Rehabilitation, Youngsub Hwang, Jeong-Yi Kwon

Rehabilitation Practice and Science

The rehabilitation of children with cerebral palsy (CP) has progressively evolved from therapist-centered, impairment-focused models to child- and family-centered approaches that emphasize real-world participation. This narrative review summarizes conceptual and practical shifts in CP rehabilitation, highlighting the distinction between motor capacity and real-world performance. Accelerometry is a critical objective tool for assessing lower and upper limb physical activity. Devices such as StepWatch and ActiGraph provide ecologically valid data on lower limb activity levels, step counts, and energy expenditure. Studies have shown reduced physical activity in children with CP compared to their typically developing peers, with variations in age and GMFCS …

Assessing How Patients With Spinal Cord Injury Are Affected By Climate Change And Extreme Weather: A Scoping Review, Lien-Chieh Lin, Hung-Chou Chen, Tsan-Hon Liou

Rehabilitation Practice and Science

Climate change and the rising frequency of extreme weather events (EWEs) pose significant challenges to vulnerable populations, particularly individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI). These patients are at greater risk due to impaired thermoregulation, limited mobility, poor sensation, and dependence on caregivers or adaptive equipment, increasing their exposure to climate-related hazards and disrupting healthcare access during disasters. Although climate change impacts on the general population are well-documented, research on specific disability groups like SCI patients remains limited. This scoping review investigates how SCI patients perceive and experience health risks from climate change and EWEs, as well as factors influencing their …

The Effects Of 10-Ml Versus 40-Ml Capsular Dilatation Under Ultrasound Guidance In Patients With Adhesive Capsulitis: A Randomized Controlled Trial, Kollatee Buranarach, Rawipa Khunnarong, Chanasak Hathaiareerug

Rehabilitation Practice and Science

Background: Adhesive capsulitis causes pain and limited mobility. Hydrodilatation is an effective, minimally invasive treatment, but the optimal volume is unclear. This study compares the pain and function improvement from large-volume (40 mL) versus small-volume (10 mL) ultrasound-guided hydrodilatation in patients with adhesive capsulitis.

Methods: This study was conducted at Phramongkutklao Hospital in Bangkok, Thailand, with Thai adults aged 20 and older who had adhesive capsulitis. Participants had a pain score of 4 or higher on the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and limited movement in at least two directions. They were divided into two groups. One group received ultrasound-guided hydrodilatation …

Long-Term Benefits Of An Integrative Scoliosis-Specific Rehabilitation Program For High-Risk Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis: A Retrospective Cohort Study, Yu-Shan Fu, Lin-Fen Hsieh, Julian Wang, Wei-Chen Chang, Ya-Fang Liu, Hsuan-Han Lin

Rehabilitation Practice and Science

Background/Purpose: Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) is a common spinal deformity in adolescents, but the optimal combination therapy remains to be established. Therefore, our purpose is to investigate the long-term benefits of a scoliosis-specific rehabilitation program integrating pattern-specific manual therapy, Schroth Best Practice exercises, and Gensingen brace application for patients with AIS.

Methods: The retrospective cohort study was conducted in an outpatient clinic, including 54 patients with AIS at a high risk of progression who participated in the aforementioned program. The primary outcomes were the angle of trunk rotation (ATR) and Cobb angle, whereas the secondary outcome was the lateral …

Principles And Practices Of Selecting Screening Tools For Oropharyngeal Dysphagia: A Narrative Review, Yu-Hsuan Lai, Tyng-Guey Wang, Nai-Hsin Meng

Rehabilitation Practice and Science

Oropharyngeal dysphagia is a potentially life-threatening condition, particularly affecting individuals with neurological diseases, head and neck cancers, and age-related issues. Its prevalence in the general population ranges from 2.3% to 16%, with much higher rates among patients with stroke, Parkinson’s disease, and traumatic brain injury. Dysphagia is prevalent in geriatric and long-term care settings, where over 50% of elderly residents may experience swallowing difficulties. Given its high prevalence and serious consequences, early detection through dysphagia screening in at-risk populations is essential. Since the 1990s, numerous screening tools for dysphagia have been developed, with over 160 non-instrumental tools identified in review …

Influence Of Local Application Of Lidocaine Patch On Peripheral Nerve Conduction – A Pilot Study, Thanh-Nhan Doan, Fang-Yin Liao, Yueh-Ling Hsieh, Li-Wei Chou

Rehabilitation Practice and Science

Background: This study aimed to investigate the effects of a lidocaine patch on peripheral nerve conduction.

Methods: Fifteen healthy volunteers with no symptoms or signs of neuropathy in either upper limb were recruited for this double-blind, placebo-controlled study over a 10-month period. A lidocaine patch or a placebo patch was applied to the volar aspect of the wrist during sleep. The treatment procedure was repeated for 14 consecutive nights. Nerve conduction studies were performed and analyzed at each assessment point. All participants were re-evaluated, with electrophysiological studies of the median and ulnar nerves repeated at 1 week and 2 weeks …

Optimizing Decision-Making In A Cerebral Palsy Model Using Reinforcement Learning, Richard Ampah

Pitzer Senior Theses

This study presents an original interdisciplinary investigation into how reinforcement learning (RL) can model motor and cognitive defects and potentially improve motor and cognitive functions in individuals with cerebral palsy (CP), a non-progressive neurological disorder that impairs movement and adaptability. Integrating computational neuroscience and machine learning, the research applies policy gradient methods and Markov Decision Processes (MDPs) to simulate adaptive learning in agents with and without CP-related constraints.

The central aim is to compare the cumulative rewards of optimal policies, derived from value iteration, and human-like learning policies using the REINFORCE algorithm, both with and without the Bellman baseline. The …

Mind The Gap, Klaire Perry

OTD 721: Cultural Responsiveness & Occupation

I went in to OT to make the world more accessible. I love how OT views people as their hopes, dreams, values, strengths, and facilitators...NOT as an injury or disease. At this point, every room I enter becomes a personal case study of accessibility. I can't help but wonder how many spaces have hung huge signs that say "YOU ARE NOT WELCOME" that are only visible to some. I'm thankful for my love ones who agreed to help me with this project. While I can never fully understand their experience, I can listen.

Klaire Perry, Class of 2027

Summer School: The Experience Of An Occupational Therapy Student Exploring Culture In Spokane!, Lulu Brady

OTD 721: Cultural Responsiveness & Occupation

This zine illustrates my experience in this OTD 721 Cultural Responsiveness class, led by Dr. Kirkpatrick. The class took place in the summer of 2025. It was absolutely inspiring, and I wanted to be able to share my takeaways and learnings from my experiences in this class. Culture is so relevant to the field of occupational therapy (OT) because occupations are often shaped by culture, OT cannot be truly client-centered without respective culture. Not only did this class help me grow as a future occupational therapist practitioner, but it also helped me grow as a person. It showed me the …

Welcomed In: A Love Letter To Okinawa, Taylor Fernandez

OTD 721: Cultural Responsiveness & Occupation

This zine is a personal, reflective project exploring Okinawan culture through my lens as a long-term guest -- first as a military child, then as an adult returning "home" to visit the island where my parents still live. While I am not Okinawan, the culture has deeply influenced my values, worldview, and understanding of community, aging, and wellness.

Through this project, I have sought to honor the richness of Okinawan traditions -- not as an authority, but a someone shaped by the grace of being welcomed in. The pages blend scholarly knowledge, lived experience, and cultural observation to explore how …

Occupational Apartheid, Kimberly Dewey

OTD 721: Cultural Responsiveness & Occupation

Occupational apartheid is a term that is often misunderstood. I wanted to bring more awareness and understanding to a very real concept that happens every day. I hope to have provided education and examples that make it easy to follow along and see how apartheid shows up on a daily basis. Let's work together as future OT professionals to expand our knowledge and practice to decrease experiences of occupational apartheid.

Kimberly Dewey, Class of 2027

A Systematic Literature Review On The Benefits Of Biofeedback Therapy As A Treatment For Diabetes Mellitus Induced Chronic Peripheral Neuropathy, Amy Krueger

Honors Undergraduate Theses

The objective of this systematic literature review is to examine the research on biofeedback therapy and evaluate its effectiveness in treating chronic diabetic peripheral neuropathy. This comprehensive review was conducted using the PRISMA 2020 method of analysis. All studies included at least 10 patients with T1D or T2D and current or past foot ulcers and/or DPN. Each study was also available in their entirety. Studies with fewer than 10 participants, those which examined neuropathy unrelated to diabetes, or those with healthy test populations were excluded. Studies that were only partially available were also not used. The databases used were PubMed, …

Navigating The Future Of Ot Education: Student Insights On Integrating Course-Specific Ai Chatbots, Laura E. Landon, Nicole Grames, Maggie Gannon, Addison Jarus, Annie Trezza

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in higher education has garnered much attention, prompting educators to thoughtfully examine its implementation within their curricula. This study explores the perceptions of occupational therapy (OT) students regarding the future integration of a novel, course-specific Anatomy AI chatbot: an innovative tool uniquely developed by our internal team to provi¬¬¬de personalized support and resources tailored specifically to the anatomy curriculum. The researchers sought to understand the desired features of a course-specific Anatomy AI chatbot and the factors that influenced student willingness to adopt this technology in their learning experience. Findings revealed that 79% of participants …

Assessing The Impact Of High-Fidelity Simulation Experiences On Student Confidence In A Controlled Academic Environment, Jillian K. Pindar, Peyton Belton, Madison Griffin, Abbi Hancock, Lucero Limones, Kristi Self, Elizabeth K. Schmidt

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

A quasi-experimental one group pretest-posttest design was utilized with 19 first-and-second-year doctoral occupational therapy students at a university in Tennessee to evaluate confidence, performance, benefits, challenges, and recommendations from an acute care simulation experience. Student confidence was evaluated using a researcher-developed survey immediately before and after a high-fidelity simulation using a pre-programmed mannequin and standardized script. A performance assessment evaluated students' skills during the simulation. The post-test survey included open-ended questions on perceived benefits, challenges and recommendations. Overall, students demonstrated increased confidence in vital sign monitoring and modification (heart rate, blood pressure, respiratory rate), medical equipment identification, and safe patient …

Enhancing Intraprofessional Collaboration In Occupational Therapy: Evaluation Of An Online Course For Canadian Ot And Ota Students, Teresa R. Avvampato, Dianna Fong-Lee, Mark Hall, Marcia Finlayson

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

An environmental scan conducted in 2022 highlighted a need for enhanced preparation for collaboration between occupational therapists (OTs) and occupational therapist assistants (OTAs) in Ontario, Canada. In response, an online course was developed to disseminate knowledge needed for effective OT-OTA intraprofessional collaboration (IntraPC) in the Canadian context. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the online course to improve perceived preparedness among Canadian OT and OTA students for OT-OTA IntraPC. Participants were Master’s-level OT students and diploma-level OTA students studying in Canada (N = 136), who were invited to complete the course by their program instructors. …

Perceptions Of Occupational Therapy Student Fieldwork Readiness In The Acute Care Setting, Jackie Dusing, Lisa Borrero, Elizabeth Horrall Stith, Kristina Watkins

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Occupational therapy student readiness for Level II fieldwork is necessary for preparing novice clinicians and is challenging to assess, as it requires applying didactic knowledge in real-world clinical settings. There is currently a gap in the literature regarding student perceptions of their readiness for Level II fieldwork, especially in the acute care setting. The aim of this qualitative study is to better understand Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) students’ perceptions of readiness for Level II fieldwork in an acute care setting. This basic interpretive qualitative research study utilized a purposeful sampling with students completing their Level II fieldwork in various …

Fieldwork Supervision, Motivation And Competency Among Norwegian Community-Based Occupational Therapists, Even E. Edvardsen, Tore Bonsaksen, Sissel Horghagen, Cathrine Arntzen, Unni Sveen, Astrid Gramstad, Ruca E. K. Maass, Linda Stigen

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Occupational therapists’ supervision of students remains a critical component during occupational therapy education. This study aimed to examine supervision practice, motivation, and competency among community-based occupational therapists in Norway, exploring organizational and personal factors associated with formal and perceived supervision competency, willingness to serve as fieldwork educators, and collaboration with educational institutions. A cross-sectional survey was distributed among occupational therapists in community-based practice in Norway. A total of 617 occupational therapists participated in the study. Free-text responses were thematically analyzed and interpreted. Differences between fieldwork educators and non-fieldwork educators’ training, recency of being fieldwork educators, willingness to assume the role …

Impact Of A Virtual Support Program On Student Success In Neuroscience And Neuroanatomy Courses: Opportunities And Challenges, Abbigail Kubiak, Sue A. Sisto, Janice Tona

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

We investigated the outcomes of a novel neuroscience and neuroanatomy support program (NSP) developed and implemented in the pre-professional phase of an accredited Bachelor of Science/ Master of Science occupational therapy (OT) program. This research demonstrates the potential of targeted small group tutoring as an effective means to promote student success and retention. Modeled after Response to Intervention programs, we used a three-tiered approach to support student success. All students received standard lecture content (Tier 1). Students who desired extra help attended an optional recitation (Tier 2) and students who received a score of 70% or lower on one or …

Pitch It Big: Cultivating Entrepreneurism Through Use Of An Innovative Competitive Business Plan And Presentation, Margaret (Peggy) Grill, Erin Epley

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

This educational innovation aimed to explore the effectiveness of a student assignment titled ‘Pitch it Big,’ designed to enhance understanding of the business aspects outlined in the accreditation standards for occupational therapy programs. Limited research evidence exists for business education related to occupational therapy. Working in self-chosen groups based on their targeted area of interest, students collaboratively wrote a business plan for a fictitious occupational therapy business or product invention. Students then participated in a competition modeled after the popular television program Shark Tank, where they pitched their business proposals to a panel of experts acting as judges. The panel …

Exploring The Teaching Methods And Approaches Used By Australian Educators To Teach Occupation, Melanie J. Roberts, Barb Hooper, Bernadette Sebar, Jim Woodburn

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Occupational therapy education standards for teaching occupation are inconsistently applied and there is a lack of evidence to inform teaching practice in Australia. This qualitative study explored what teaching methods and approaches Australian occupational therapy educators used in their classroom, and why those methods were used. The research was completed in two phases: narrative inquiry guided Phase I where educators were interviewed about the methods and approaches used to teach occupation. In Phase II video-reflexive ethnography was implemented, where a video recording of teaching was used as a prompt for a reflexive discussion about the educator’s teaching approaches. The interviews …