Occupational Therapy Commons^™

Social Participation In People With Developmental Disabilities: A Systematic Review, Anna Squiers, Madison Mckeever, Sydney Fitzgibbons

Student Systematized Reviews: Occupational Therapy

TITLE:

Social participation in people with a developmental disability: A systematic review

PURPOSE:

People with developmental disabilities often experience difficulty with social skills and engagement in social interactions. One in six children aged 3-17 have a developmental disability (CDC, 2023). People with developmental disabilities experience loneliness, which can affect participation in meaningful occupations (Petroutsou et al., 2018). Participating in social interactions can decrease stress and anxiety and improve overall quality of life (CDC, 2023). The purpose of this systematic review was to determine occupational therapy interventions that increase social participation for people with developmental disabilities.

DESIGN:

We conducted a systematic …

Understanding Advocacy For Promoting Occupational Engagement Among Individuals With Disabilities, Rebecca L. Benson

Occupational Therapy Capstone Presentations

Advocacy can greatly affect many individuals throughout the community in their ability to engage in occupations. Individuals’ with disabilities engagement in daily activities (occupations) is greatly affected by their diagnosis whether it be physical, psychological, or developmental. This population experiences disadvantages due to many barriers in society including physical, sensual, visual, and cognitive barriers as well as societal attitudes, and absence of policy and implementation. These disadvantages are not always recognized or known by the general public despite the number of individuals who are impacted. The lack of knowledge creates a need for advocacy, education, and training of the community …

Exploring Occupational Therapy's Role In An Adaptive Sport/Leisure Community-Based Program And The Experience Of Participating In Sports With Cognitive And Physical Disability, Henry Grady Iii

MOT Student Capstones

Occupational therapy is defined by the Occupational Therapy Practice Framework Domain & Process, 4th edition, as the therapeutic use of everyday life occupations with persons, groups, or populations for the purpose of enhancing or enabling participation (AOTA, 2020). This simply proclaims, occupational therapist uses everyday activities to create or restore a person's identity as identified by occupation. Engaging people with disability in active meaningful occupations (adaptive sports), through limiting barriers, occupational therapist have a role in adaptive sports programs. Meaningful physical activity is essential for sustaining a healthy lifestyle for people with disabilities and the way to address this is …

Barriers And Resources For Competitive Adaptive Rock Climbing, Amy Griswold, Susan Macdermott

Spring 2022 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

The purpose of this project was to (1) identify barriers to participation in competitive adaptive rock climbing for adults with a physical disability and (2) create and distribute virtual educational resources to meet identified barriers. The need for this project was highlighted by athlete and coach self-report of limited ability to engage in competitive adaptive rock climbing, also known as paraclimbing.

The sample consisted of 108 adaptive athletes, adaptive rock-climbing coaches, staff members in rock climbing gyms, and volunteers at adaptive rock climbing events. Participants anonymously completed a ten-minute mixed methods virtual survey using Microsoft Forms.

Statistical analyses suggest recurrent …

Coaching For Independent Living Skills In Adults With Intellectual And Developmental Disabilities At Friends Life Community, Ashley G. Raby

OTD Capstone Projects

Friends Life Community is an organization that serves individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) in Nashville, TN. They provide a day program, drama therapy, social clubs, career coaching, and life coaching. The life coaching program is an individualized service provided to clients who are striving to become more independent in life skills. This project focused on creating resources and assessments to aid in the coaching process. Resources were created in the following categories: activities, cleaning, hygiene and routines, nutrition and exercise, and budgeting.

Exploring The Perspectives Of Community Mentors In Occupational Therapy Education, Julia Jansen-Van Vuuren, Nicole Bobbette, Rosemary Lysaght

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Involving people with disabilities in the education of occupational therapy students is important for improving knowledge, skills, and attitudes that promote client-centered practice. At Queen’s University in Ontario, Canada, community mentors with disabilities are involved in an occupational therapy course designed to enhance student understanding and empathy for the lived experience of disability. With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the course required adjustment to adhere to health and safety precautions. We explored the perspectives of community mentors with disabilities who participated in the course during the pandemic to better understand how pandemic-related restrictions affected the mentoring experience, their relationships …

An Educational Resource For Young Adults With Disabilities, Their Caregivers, And Clinicians In The Driver Learning Environment, Destinee Logan, Missy Bell, Angela Labrie Blackwell

Summer 2021 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

Driving and community mobility are essential occupations for growing independence and identity. Young adults who are transitioning into adulthood have a desire to engage in their community, and it is at this time that an interest in driving begins. Driving is a complex occupation that requires in-depth education and experience to safely participate in.

Learning to drive can be challenging, especially for a person with a disability. Young adults with disabilities confront several community concerns that limit their ability to participate in the meaningful activity of driving. Those with disabilities often rely on their support systems to help guide their …

They Said: Coaching Alongside Families In Early Intervention, Beth K. Elenko

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

No abstract provided.

Insights From An Inaugural Eight-Month Interprofessional Collaborative Co-Design Educational Experience Between Occupational Therapy And Industrial Design, Rebecca Brown, Kimberly S. Mollo, Madalyn Peterson, Mikael Avery, Eric Schneider, Tod Corlett

Department of Occupational Therapy Faculty Papers

The design of the built environment greatly impacts how all types of individuals and populations actively participate in their daily lives. Lack of access in the built environment for disabled populations remains a daily reality, negatively impacting engagement and life satisfaction, leading to isolation, loneliness, and depression. A university in the Northeastern United States sought to expand current constructs of the end-user and environment within a universal design (UD) perspective. On an eight-month inaugural interprofessional collaborative co-design experience, third-year occupational therapy doctoral (OTD) students were embedded in a first-year masters of industrial design (MSID) curriculum, which ran the course of …

Postsecondary Education Students With Disabilities’ Perceptions Of Occupational Therapy-Led Coaching, Erin E. Harrington, Gabriella O. Santos, Marie-Christine Potvin

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Students with disabilities attending postsecondary education (PSE) institutions have poor degree progression, retention, and graduation rates. PSE institutions are addressing these challenges in various ways, including the delivery of occupational therapy (OT)-led coaching. There is emerging evidence that coaching increases academic success and self-determination in PSE. The students’ perspectives about the benefits of OT-led coaching intervention has yet to be explored.

Method: A phenomenological study was conducted using transcribed semi-structured interviews with 18 college students with disabilities. Qualitative data analysis was conducted through an immersive inter-coder process that included independent coding, comparison of codes, discrepancy resolution to …

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.

Home Assessments And Modifications: Researching Safety Features, Grant Opportunities, And Durable Medical Equipment Available For Tucker’S House Agency, Autumn Triggs

OTD Capstone Projects

Doctoral capstone project completed with Tucker's House, a nonprofit organization that completes home assessments and modifications for families with children with disabilities to improve accessibility and independence for the children at home. The project included: completing home assessments and providing client-centered recommendations and researching grant opportunities for Tucker's House as well as the families benefitting from the services, current durable medical equipment options, and safety features that should be included in the home assessments, recommendations, and modifications.

Comparative Analysis Of Perceived Barriers Of Occupations Associated With Dating For People With Physical Disabilities And Able-Bodied Young Adults, Mikaela Furst, Kliricia Loc, Taylor Parks, Shelby Sarnowski

Adult

This abstract will be available for download after an embargo period

Disart: Redefining The Construct Of Participation, Jennifer Fortuna

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

DisArt, an arts and culture organization based in Grand Rapids, MI, provided the cover art for the Spring 2018 issue of the Open Journal of Occupational Therapy (OJOT). The piece, a somatic sculpture by Petra Kuppers, was featured at the 2015 DisArt Festival in Grand Rapids. Kuppers is a disability culture activist and community performance artist who connects people, both disabled and nondisabled, in public spaces. DisArt’s mission is to increase the participation of disabled people in our communities through disability art exhibitions, cutting edge public events, and consultation. In a recent interview, DisArt co-founders and executive directors, Dr. Christopher …

Evolution Of Occupational Therapy Practice: Life History Of Diane Norell, Msw, Otr/L, Caelin Hansen, Jessie Zimmer

Oral History Posters

This life history is one of 31 life history interviews which are part of a larger project, Life Histories of Individuals Who Have Been Influential In Developing Occupational Therapy (OT) In North Dakota and Wyoming. The purpose of the project is to gather information about the history and evolution of occupational therapy (OT) practice in North Dakota and Wyoming through life history of individuals who have been influential in developing OT in these two states. It is anticipated that the life history process will be a powerful way to gather this information. This study is intended to provide current and …

Assistive Technology Accessibility And Abandonment: Challenges For Occupational Therapists, Daniel Mc Cruz, Maria Luisa G. Emmel, Mariana G. Manzini, Paulo V. Braga Mendes

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

No abstract provided.

Communication: How Do Females With Rett Syndrome Perform This Activity And What Factors Influence Performance?, Anna Urbanowicz

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Background Rett syndrome is a neurodevelopmental disorder primarily caused by mutations in the X-linked methyl-Cp2G-binding protein 2 (MECP2) gene. The disorder affects approximately 1 in 9000 females and is usually associated with language, physical and intellectual impairments, each of which contributes to difficulties with communication. In Rett syndrome, eye gaze is considered a common form of communication and conventional methods, such as talking and gestures, less common. Females appear to use these forms of communication to serve a number of functions including choice making, requesting, social convention, bringing attention to themselves, and to reject, comment and answer. However, the literature …

The Child And Adolescent Scale Of Environment (Case): Further Validation With Youth Who Have Chronic Conditions, Gary Bedell, Janette Mcdougal

Occupational Therapy Publications

Objective: To further validate the Child and Adolescent Scale of Environment (CASE).

Methods: Baseline data (n = 430) were analyzed from a longitudinal study on quality of life for youth with chronic conditions ages 11–17 in Ontario, Canada. Internal consistency and structure, and convergent and discriminant validity were examined via Cronbach’s alpha (α), exploratory factor analyses, correlation analyses and ANOVA.

Results: The CASE had high internal consistency (α = 0.89). A three-factor solution was produced with 55% variance explained: (1) Community/Home Resources, (2) School Resources and (3) Physical Design/Access). CASE total and factor …

A Study Of Engagement In Active And Passive Roles In Casual Leisure Occupations, Anne M. Fenech

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: This article explores whether engagement with listening occupations varies depending on the occupational role or the level of sensory stimulation presented to participants with neuropalliative conditions.

Method: The study used a multiple case quasi-experimental study involving marginal-participant time-sampled observations of engagement of individuals with neuropalliative conditions, with casual leisure occupations using the Individual Child Engagement Record. Data was collected using the Individual Child Engagement Record with 14 participants (who had Barthel scores averaging 7/100). The participants represented a particular sub-group of individuals with profound levels of neurological disability.

Results: The time-sampled observations of engagement showed a significant difference between …

Youth With Disabilities Talk About Spirituality: A Qualitative Descriptive Study, Patricia J. Baldwin, Jan Evans, Nicole Etherington, Megan Nichols, Viginia Wright, Janette Mcdougall

Occupational Therapy Publications

There is little known about what spirituality means for youth with disability or about the potential relevance of youths’ spirituality in pediatric rehabilitation. This study explored perceptions of spirituality for youth with disabilities. Using a qualitative descriptive methodology, we examined the lived experiences of eighteen youth ages 11-20 years with disabilities including cerebral palsy, central nervous system disorder or autism spectrum disorder. In individual interviews, followed by a focus group, youth identified key spiritual themes – the importance of their beliefs, personal sources of comfort and strength, finding purpose in helping others, significance of personal connections, and strengths-based perspectives on …

Development Of A Model Of Participation Of Community-Based, Discretionary Activities By People Who Use Wheelchairs, Anita Perr

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

This cross-sectional research analyzed an existing data set of 302 wheelchair users to identify the psychosocial predictors of participation in community-based, discretionary activities. Two defining elements of participation were studied: the extent of participation and satisfaction with participation. Descriptive analyses of the participants' demographic information and portions of four assessments were completed first. Regression analyses were then used to systematically eliminate potential covariates until the significant psychosocial covariates of the extent of and satisfaction with participation were identified. Perceived control over one's life and perceived reintegration to social function were found to predict the extent of participation. Perceived control also …

Grip Strength, Multimorbidity, And Disability, Amy M. Yorke

Dissertations

The presence of two or more chronic health conditions, also known as multimorbidity, is one of the most prevalent health disorders experienced by adults. Adults with multimorbidity and functional limitations represent clinical and financial challenges to the current health care system. The purpose of this three-paper dissertation is to examine the relationship between grip strength, multimorbidity, and the prediction of disability in adults. Data from the 2008 Health and Retirement Study (HRS), a nationally representative, longitudinal study completed on Americans age 50 years and over, are used for the dissertation.

The objective of the first paper is to investigate the …

Picturing Life, Molly Bathje

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

The cover art of the summer 2013 issue of The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy provided by Jonathan Darnall reflects his unique life perspective, current roles, and values. An exploration of Jon’s life experience reveals how creative arts, including photography, have positively influenced his life and inform OT practitioners about the benefits of photography as an intervention and an occupation.

Impact Of Disability On Celebration Of Wedding Anniversaries, Emily Lemaster

Online Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine how married couples observe their wedding anniversaries. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 19 couples (four of which one partner has a disability) to determine how they celebrate their wedding anniversaries. This data was compared to how having a disability within the couple affects anniversary celebrations. Several themes emerged that were common among all participants including: an exchange of items, participants, reminiscing about the past, change within the marriage and celebration (which encompasses ritual and tradition). Few differences were noted in the couples who are living with disability. The most prominent is being …

Applying The Icf Framework To Study Changes In Quality-Of-Life For Youth With Chronic Conditions, Janette Mcdougall, Virginia Wright, Jonathan Schmidt, Linda Miller, Karen Lowry

Occupational Therapy Publications

Objective: The objective of this paper is to describe how the ICF framework was applied as the foundation for a longitudinal study of changes in quality-of-life (QoL) for youth with chronic conditions.

Method: This article will describe the study’s aims, methods, measures and data analysis techniques. It will point out how the ICF framework was used—and expanded upon—to provide a model for studying the impact of factors on changes in QoL for youth with chronic conditions. Further, it will describe the instruments that were chosen to measure the components of the ICF framework and the data analysis techniques that will …