Occupational Therapy Commons^™

A Qualitative Study On Mother's Occupational Engagement After A Nicu Experience, Rachel Garcia, Mary Ann Smith, Julie Heftie Ms, Otr/L

Spring 2024 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

Mothers who are “at-risk” for complications during pregnancy have an increased probability for mental health conditions following delivery, adversely affecting their engagement in motherhood occupations. This qualitative study identifies how best to address the needs of “at-risk” pregnant women. Through the process of conducting semi-structured interviews with women who have experienced NICU with their babies, and interviews with healthcare practitioners working in the NICU, their narrative addresses what approaches would support women while they are going through their “at-risk” pregnancies to assist them with the transition to their occupational roles as mothers and promote bonding with their baby.

Occupational Therapy For People With Dementia Who Have Occupational Performance Challenges Due To Depression, Ally Frazier, Steven M. Gerardi

Spring 2024 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

Individuals with dementia experience a multitude of barriers and challenges that impact their daily engagement throughout the environment. In addition, although the pandemic has concluded, noxious effects are still influencing people's lives. Residential care facilities have noticed continual acts of isolation that are presenting as barriers in mental health. Depression has known to be a common comorbidity in the ailment of dementia. Occupational therapy (OT) practitioners have the unique and valuable role in working with this population to target beyond the biomechanical aspects of a resident. Identifying barriers for mastery in leisure pursuits throughout someone’s day is crucial. When residents …

Ergonomics In Esports: A Video Training Series For Esports Athletes, Duy Do, Steven M. Gerardi, Braden Singleton

Spring 2024 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

Electronic sports, also known as esports, refers to organized and competitive video gaming against other players or teams. Unlike traditional sports, esports is sedentary, with athletes spending several hours daily seated at their gaming stations. Additionally, esports athletes lack the knowledge of ergonomic hazards and how to mitigate occupational overuse syndromes and mental health challenges. The purpose of this project was to create a video training series from an occupational therapy perspective to educate esports athletes on the ergonomic hazards of esports to improve participation, occupational performance, and quality of life of esports athletes.

An Occupational Therapy Approach To Improving Adl/Iadl Performance In Diabetic Adults With Stroke And Upper Extremity Pathologies, Halle Thomas, Cassandra Nelson

Spring 2024 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

This capstone presentation depicts the impact of diabetic management with an occupational therapy approach on upper extremity motor function for the adult stroke population. This program utilizes dietary management, a home exercise program, and task modification strategies to improve ADL and IADL performance.

A Manualized Occupational Therapy Communication Skills Intervention For Veterans With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Kiara Ainsworth, Steven M. Gerardi

Spring 2024 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) affects many individual's participation in daily activities. There is a lack of research in the area of occupational therapy (OT) treatment for veterans with PTSD. However, there has been an expressed need in the literature for a developed intervention for veterans with PTSD that includes communication skills as a component. To date, a manualized communication skills OT intervention for veterans with PTSD has not been created. The purpose of this paper was to develop a resource tool for occupational therapists to utilize as an intervention when treating veterans with PTSD using the framework of the Model …

A Guidebook For Latina Breast Cancer Survivors & Occupational Therapy Practitioners, Abigail Hernandez, Leslie Khan-Farooqi, Mary Ann Smith

Spring 2024 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

Many Latina women diagnosed with breast cancer face psychosocial challenges and do not have access or the necessary resources to assist them with these challenges which may lead to decreased quality of life. This study is designed to address the most common psychosocial issues associated with breast cancer to assist Latina women as well as occupational therapy practitioners.

Colors Of Connection: A Manual For Cultivating Social And Emotional Skills In Children With Disabilities Through Creative Arts, Allie Hertaus, Angela Labrie Blackwell Phd, Otr, Haleigh Freeman Otd, Otr/L

Spring 2024 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

Children with disabilities (CWD) are experiencing occupational deprivation due to limited involvement in extracurricular activities. This deprivation impedes their development of social-emotional skills. In attempt to mitigate this deprivation, the OTD student created and implemented Colors of Connection, a creative arts based, social and emotional learning program into an already existing after school program for CWD.

Play Over Talk: A Toolkit For Educators On Adverse Childhood Experiences, Brianna Gallegos, Mary Ann Smith, Cat Daniel

Spring 2024 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are traumatic experiences that can lead to negative, lasting effects on the health and well-being of the child. Students who have ACEs are more likely to struggle in school, have difficulty paying attention, lack self-regulation skills, and struggle to control their emotions and behaviors. Teachers and school staff may not recognize or know how to support students who have adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) which can impact the child’s occupational role as a student. To date, a resource for school staff with information on ACEs, interventions, and strategies has not been created. The purpose of this project …

Management Of Sensory Processing Challenges In The Classroom: An Educational Video Series For Teachers., Jasmine Guerrero, Steven M. Gerardi

Spring 2024 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

An educational video series for teachers on sensory processing and how to manage students with sensory processing challenges in the classroom. The video series includes evidence-based supports and strategies that may be utilized in the classroom to improve students' occupational performance.

Occupational Engagement In Recreational Sports For The Deaf And Hard Of Hearing: An Employee Guidebook, Colleen Mcerlean, Mary Ann Smith, Christopher Ebner

Spring 2024 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

An employee guidebook to help increase occupational engagement within recreational sports for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing population in the Austin, TX area.

Self-Regulation And Sensory Processing Education Program For Educators, Julianne Mendivil, Tina G. Bhakta, Angela Blackwell

Spring 2024 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

Children with low self-regulation skills may face many challenges in the classroom environment that can impact their performance in school-based activities. As teachers play a vital role in the development of young children, this educational program aims to improve teacher competence (knowledge, skills, and attitudes) in applying sensory processing and self-regulating concepts to the school environment.

The Transition To Adulthood For High School Students With Special Needs, Athena Hays, Mary Jan Greer, Jinna Danser

Spring 2024 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

The reason for many special needs students not engaging in occupations after high school is because many guardians have not had to navigate this type of transition before and are not provided enough education on what these opportunities include before their students graduate. Many students with special needs do not optimize their engagement in the community because guardians are not being provided with education on post-graduate opportunities.

The purpose of my Doctoral Capstone Project is to develop an educational transition service program for special needs students as well as guardians and teachers of these students preparing for high school graduation …

Play Is A Way Of Life: Play-Based Program For Parents Of Young Children (Ages Two To Five Years Old), Lauren Purdom, Angela Labrie Blackwell, Amanda Perdue Owen

Spring 2024 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

This play-based program was created for parents of young children (ages two to five years old) and is accessible through a website called "Play is a Way of Life". Within this program it includes, educational material on the differences between active and passive play and recommendations for each type of play that children in this age group should participate in each day. It also includes a 6-week program with a variety of active play activities that target specific skills that children (ages two to five years old) should participate in for their overall development.

The Ci-Asd Program: Implementation Of Contextual Interventions For Autism Spectrum Disorder (Ci-Asd) With Latino Families (Preliminary Report), Gabriel Gonzalez, Erik Pérez, Angela Blackwell

Spring 2024 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

Children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) experience sensory processing differences that affect their participation in daily activities and routines. Autism affects an estimated 1 in 36 children in the U.S. However, Latino children are diagnosed two years later than white children. Latino families still have the greatest disparities in accessing ASD resources throughout the U.S. compared to white families. The lack of ASD services and resources led to decreased parental self-efficacy, quality of life, and increased child behavioral problems.

Contextual Interventions Adapted for Autism Spectrum Disorder (CI-ASD) are an emerging intervention for occupational therapy (OT) practitioners. Recent literature shows …

Percepciones De Las Tecnologías En Los Centros De Rehabilitación Y El Efecto En El Bienestar De Los Usuarios, Según Los Profesionales De La Salud En Arica, Chile, Liam Fleck

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Physical disability is a prominent problem throughout Chile, affecting 17% of the total population (Ministerio de Desarrollo Social y Familia, 2022). In Chile, the health system has two main sectors: public and private. Each sector has different physical rehabilitation centers, which often have large differences in the resources available, such as medical technologies, which could possibly affect the quality of care their respective users receive. The objective of this study is to learn the perceptions of different medical professionals, such as kinesiologists, occupational therapists, and nurses, about the impact of these medical technologies and how it may affect their patients. …

Social Participation Program For Older Adults With Dementia Residing In Long Term Care Facilities, Keri Mcclelland

Student Capstone Papers

Social participation is characterized by activities that involve social interaction with others and supports social interdependence; individuals engage in this occupation through a variety of contexts including with their community, family, friends, and peers (American Occupational Therapy Association, 2020). Social participation has been discovered to influence general health and well-being, cognitive health, risk of dementia, and stress (Sommerlad et al., 2023). Dementia is a prevalent disease affecting approximately 50 million individuals worldwide (Sommerlad et al., 2023) causing increased dependence and disability among the older adult population and is shown to be growing as the aging population increases in number (Wang …

A Pilot Intervention For Adolescent Adoptees: The Interoception Curriculum, Francie X. Bailey

Capstone Projects

This pilot study sought to evaluate the efficacy of Mahler’s (2019) Interoception Curriculum on increasing emotional regulation and interoceptive awareness among adolescent adoptees. A pre - posttest design was employed to assess changes in emotional regulation and interoceptive awareness following a condensed, 10 - week version of the curriculum. Six participants, and their respective parent, completed pretest and posttest assessments following the completion of the weekly intervention. Results demonstrated minimal improvements in both parent and adolescent perceived emotional regulation competency but significant improvement in adolescents’ ability to notice and attend to their bodily sensations, listen to their body cues, and …

Program Development For Group Interventions Targeting Loneliness In Older Adults, Antoinette Cave

Capstone Projects

The topic of loneliness is complex and subjective in nature, and treatment of the condition requires the client-centered approach that occupational therapy encompasses within its scope of practice. Using an occupation-based, mental health approach to develop the program, weekly focus groups were created based on participant-preferred activities to decrease loneliness among older adults at PACE InnovAge’s outpatient and assisted living locations in Thornton, Colorado. Education was provided to participants and staff throughout the 14-week experience. Further training and sustainability efforts were created and distributed among participants and staff at the end of the experience through an occupation-based handout with external …

Trauma Informed Care Resources For Foster And Adoptive Families, Nitasha Cooper

Capstone Projects

Trauma informed care is meeting the needs of children who have undergone trauma by addressing the direct impact caused by the trauma the child experienced. My objectives looked to assist parents in the carryover from the occupational therapy clinic to home by providing videos on techniques to address behaviors occurring in and out of the home and building a connected relationship between child and caregiver as well as resources such as books for children and caregivers; podcasts; social media personnel; support groups; and a respite list. These objectives resulted in a plethora of resources for caregivers and families to access …

Development Of Occupation-Based And Trauma-Informed Care Resources To Promote Successful Reentry Following Release From Prison, Anna Burch

Capstone Projects

This 14-week capstone project focused on program development and education to establish occupational therapy-based resources into the Region 4 OS Reentry program through Michigan Department of correction (MDOC). The project was based out of Kent County Parole Office with the target population focusing on people who are actively on parole. Region 4 OS Reentry provides those on parole with many resources including bus cards, transitional housing, food vouchers, clothing/self-care assistance, trauma counseling and more. The purpose of this project was to utilize an occupational therapy lens to create resources revolving around ADL/IADLs, mental health, connecting the program with other community …

A How-To Guide For Implementing Level I Faculty-Facilitated Fieldwork Sites: A Western Michigan University Model, Jordyn Diaz

Capstone Projects

Since the Covid-19 pandemic, community partners and fieldwork educators have been overwhelmed by the demand of occupational therapy (OT) students seeking fieldwork placements. The faculty-facilitated model is a desirable option to relieve this burden and provide services for the community. Faculty-facilitated sites have a 1:6 fieldwork educator- to-student ratio. These sites can occur on-campus, within a community organization, or virtually as demonstrated by Western Michigan University (WMU). However, barriers to implementing this model include financial concerns, time constraints, space limitations, and the associated workload required to sustain these sites.

The focus of this doctoral capstone experience was to create a …

Student Comprehension Of Addressing Acote Standards Related To Fieldwork Educators And Level I Fieldwork Sites, Baileigh Grabow

Capstone Projects

Accreditation Council of Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) standards are the rules and procedures occupational therapy academic programs across the country are mandated to follow and uphold (ACOTE, 2018). The standards are the framework to ensure quality education of the same rigor across OT/OTA programs preparing the future practitioners of occupational therapy. The ACOTE Standards (2018) have an “A” section related the resources, faculty experience, public policies, curriculum framework, and strategic plan requirements, a “B” section related to didactic program content requirements, a “C” section for fieldwork requirements, and a “D” section related to capstone requirements.

The purpose of this doctoral …

Inclusive Yoga Programming For Children With Diverse Needs, Allison H. Hansel

Capstone Projects

Limited research exists to support the use of yoga as an occupational therapy intervention for children with disabilities. In the studies that are available, yoga is primarily used to target children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Currently there is no research available that explores use of yoga in a group of children with a variety of disabilities and diagnoses. The aim of my doctoral capstone experience was to design and implement an inclusive yoga group for children with diverse needs. Objectives were created to guide this capstone project such as creating intake forms, pre/post surveys, weekly yoga curriculum and weekly …

Enhancing Self-Regulation Skills With The Zones Of Regulation, Sara Hayes

Capstone Projects

It has been highlighted that children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Cognitive Impairments, Emotional Impairments, and other Sensory Processing Disorders. often lack the ability to self-regulate appropriately. Self-regulation is defined as the ability to control one’s emotions and behaviors, get along with others and engage in learning. Self-regulation helps children learn effectively, obtain, and maintain relationships, and communicate appropriately. A tool proven to teach and implement appropriate self-regulation is Leah Kupyers’ Zones of Regulation curriculum. The purpose of this literature review is to analyze the potential for OT involvement in the implementation of the Zones of Regulation curriculum within the …

The Development Of An 8-Week Neurodiversity-Affirming Caregiver Co-Regulation Coaching Program., Carissa Heestand

Capstone Projects

The realm of pediatric care is witnessing the rapid emergence of two innovative practices centered on nurturing safety within a child's nervous system. This program development endeavors to synergize these practices to optimize occupational balance within the familial unit. The first pioneering approach involves Neurodiversity (ND) affirming care, which is seamlessly integrated into therapy sessions. Here, therapists honor and embrace the diverse nature of each child's brain, while acknowledging and celebrating their unique abilities. The second innovative practice involves caregiver coaching sessions, with a primary focus on educating caregivers about co-regulation techniques. Previous research has highlighted the efficacy of such …

Integrative Sensory Room For General Education And Special Education 3rd-5th, Julia Henderson

Capstone Projects

Everyone has a unique sensory system that continues to change and adapt throughout their lifespan. In an 8-hour school day, children take in so much information with very little consideration of how their sensory systems may be reacting in response to varying environments and social situations. The gap within the school system remains to be seen as a lack of understanding of sensory systems and how they affect children’s learning capabilities. The objective throughout my capstone experience was to support Greyhound Intermediate School by creating a sensory room for both special education and general education students. This was done by …

The Role Of Occupational Therapy In Transition Programs For High School Students With Disabilities, Kara Hutchison

Capstone Projects

Students with disabilities frequently experience a gap in services as they grow older and after exiting the public education system. During school, students have Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) to support their education, but once they graduate, the services they were receiving expire. Occupational therapy is under- utilized in transition planning for students after graduating high school and entering adulthood. The purpose of this DCE was program development and advocacy with the Project SEARCH transition program while exploring the role of occupational therapy has in transition planning for high school students with disabilities. The goal of this project was to improve …

The Integration Of Occupational Therapy In Transition Programs To Improve Outcomes For Students, Morgan Jagiela

Capstone Projects

Numerous studies exist depicting the benefit and efficacy of an occupational therapy (OT) presence within post-secondary transition programs. Both transition programs and occupational therapists aim to help students with disabilities improve independent living skills, vocational skills, and social/communication skills, so they may live functional adult lives with as few supports as possible. Despite this success and the overlap in scope, OT is rarely found in transition programs. The purpose of this doctoral capstone experience (DCE) was to develop a program that would implement occupational therapy into the Empower U transition program. Through the creation and completion of objectives, success and …

Friends At Work: Creating A Peer-To-Peer Program For Individuals With Disabilities In The Workplace, Claire Johnson

Capstone Projects

Students with disabilities face social isolation, loneliness, mental health conditions, and unemployment rates at a disproportionately high rate compared to their typically developing peers (Choiseul-Praslin et al., 2019). Peer support programs and transition to work organizations have the ability to combat these factors. The following Doctoral Capstone Experience depicts the development and implementation of a peer-to-peer program within a transition to work program to increase social participation amongst transitional students with disabilities. The program was implemented at Project SEARCH at Corewell Health Beaumont Troy Hospital. Additionally, this project attempts to quantitatively qualify the effectiveness of the Project SEARCH program in …

Improving The Care Of Individuals With Neurogenic Bowel And Bladder Dysfunction In An Inpatient Rehabilitation Setting, Brooke Loucks

Capstone Projects

Neurogenic bladder and bowel dysfunction can lead to serious health complications and negatively impacts one’s mental health and quality of life (Kurze et al., 2022l; Borsh et al., 2019 ). Despite the abundance of research on the topic concerning the spinal cord injury population, there is limited generalization to other neurologic conditions with similar presentation. There is also a need for practical implementation and clinical guidelines in health care systems (Kurze et al., 2022l; Borsh et al., 2019). Toileting is one of the main activities of daily living listed in the Occupational Therapy Practice Framework ( AOTA, 2020) yet the …