Occupational Therapy Commons^™

A Hand Therapy Quick Reference Guide: Supporting Level Ii Fieldwork Experiences, Raven I. Gammage, Rebecca Caudrillier, Mary Greer

Summer 2026 OTD Capstone Symposium

Occupational therapy students often begin Level II hand therapy fieldwork with limited preparation. This capstone project developed a Hand Therapy Quick Reference Guide to support students and clinicians with foundational knowledge and clinical resources. Evaluative feedback from hand therapists, fieldwork educators, and students indicated the guide was organized, practical, and applicable across clinical settings. The guide has the potential to improve fieldwork preparedness and support success in hand therapy practice.

Fostering Inclusion: Supporting Children With Hearing Loss In Social Interactions, Danielle Kaletta, Mary Jan Greer

Summer 2026 OTD Capstone Symposium

This project provided an open-access online program for caregivers of children with hearing loss to facilitate social engagement. Qualitative methods were used to conduct a needs assessment and identify areas of concern, barriers, and limited resources that affect participation in social activities. Based on the needs assessment, a 6-module website was created and published. Occupational therapy-based evidence, research, interventions, and best practices were compiled and adapted to target identified areas. Participants reported overall favorable feedback, stating an increase in knowledge, confidence, and participation.

Therapy With Empathy

DePaul Magazine

DePaul's Speech Language Pathology and Occupational Therapy graduate programs, newly aligned in the Department of Rehabilitative Sciences and Professions at the College of Science and Health, employ a community assets-based approach to serving diverse populations and individuals' needs across the lifespan.

Empowering Domestic Violence Survivors Through Community-Based Self-Regulation Suppor, Xen Gabrielle O. Advincula

Occupational Therapy Student Capstones

Purpose: Program development of trauma-informed, occupation-based resources and program and incorporating OT-related principles to support occupational balance and engagement of survivors of DV and IPV

Goal: Enhance and support the staff’s capacity and understanding of OT-scope in community settings and incorporation of OT-focused self-regulation strategies

Outcome: Increase the staff’s confidence levels of knowledge on the scope of OT within community-based settings and OT-related strategies to support self-regulation levels

An Epilepsy Community Collective Towards Occupational Justice And Empowerment, Tyler Debuty

Occupational Therapy Student Capstones

Underutilization of epilepsy-specific resource programs, lack of public awareness about epilepsy, limitations in community belonging, and implications for self-management programs aimed towards improving quality of life and reducing the burden of care during the transition into adulthood and throughout the lifespan for people with epilepsy.

Improving Quality Of Life For Informal Caregivers Of Post-Stroke Survivors: Implementing Preventative, Advocacy And Educational Strategies, Joann Bennett

Occupational Therapy Student Capstones

Stroke recovery extends beyond hospital discharge, yet community-dwelling stroke survivors and their informal caregivers often have limited access to continued education, wellness resources, and community-based support.

This gap contributes to caregiver burden, reduced occupational participation, and decreased quality of life.

Amplifying Parental Well-Being: Ot-Informed Support For Families Of Children With Hearing Loss, Joelle Barth

Occupational Therapy Student Capstones

Despite the many demands placed on parents of children diagnosed DHH, limited support exists to specifically address their mental health needs

Bridging Gaps In Spanish-Speaking Individuals In Rural Areas About Parkinson’S Disease, Fabiola Barajas Velasco

Occupational Therapy Student Capstones

Provide education and bring awareness of Parkinson’s disease in rural areas through educational trainings and community outreach, specifically those close in contact with farmworkers or farmworkers themselves.

Occupational Therapy Approaches To Mitigating Cancer-Related Fatigue (Crf): A Scoping Review And Practice Framework, Brooke Carson

Occupational Therapy Student Capstones

Goal: Improve knowledge and competence in CRF management through evidence-based education to improve CRF interventions in oncology rehabilitation

Outcome: Increased confident and application of evidence based CRF intervention strategies, leading to improved functional performance and occupational engagement for individuals experiencing CRF

Promoting Mental Health Awareness, Advocacy, And Occupational Justice For First-Generation College Students, Gilberto Duran Garcia

Occupational Therapy Student Capstones

First Generation College Students (FGCS) face a high prevalence of mental health concerns

Stress, anxiety, depression, financial burden, cultural expectations, imposter syndrome, pressure to meet expectations, fear of the unknown, lack of guidance, and lack of preparedness

Enhancing New Mother's Mental Health And Confidence After Discharge, Breana De La Cruz

Occupational Therapy Student Capstones

New mothers lack guidance, education and resources for common postpartum complications resulting in a decreased overall wellbeing in the postpartum period.

Exploring The Role Of Functional Cognition In Early Psychosis Care: An Occupational Therapy Perspective, Angelica Detata

Occupational Therapy Student Capstones

Cognitive impairment is a core feature of psychosis significantly impacting functional outcomes. Functional cognition as a target in early psychosis treatment is insufficiently addressed.

Fostering Wellness: Developing Strategies To Improve Mental Health And Decrease Burnout For Professionals Serving Foster Youth, Amaya Dorado Ledesma

Occupational Therapy Student Capstones

High burnout rates, turnover, and decreased mental health are limiting not only foster youth professionals, but also the families and children they serve.

Going With The Flow: Psychological Flow & The Mental Health Of Occupational Therapy Students, Sydney Buchanan

Occupational Therapy Student Capstones

Despite a growing interest in psychological flow as a factor associated with positive mental health outcomes, its relationship to OTD student well-being has remained underexplored.

Post-Stroke Fatigue: Bridging Neuropathology And Neurorehabilitation-Translating Research Into Clinical Assessment And Intervention Strategies, Wesley Green

Occupational Therapy Student Capstones

Current clinical approaches to post-stroke fatigue are challenged by limited evidence and an incomplete understanding of its underlying mechanisms.

Healing After Loss: Maternal Wellness Following Perinatal Loss, Farah S. Hakim

Occupational Therapy Student Capstones

Perinatal loss can disrupt women's roles, routines, identity, and emotional well-being.

Postpartum services often focus on medical recovery within healthcare settings.

Limited occupational therapy and culturally responsive resources exist after perinatal loss

Neurodivergent Well-Being In Independent Living Skills Programs: Impact Of Ot-Informed Resources And Community Programming, Grace Hepner

Occupational Therapy Student Capstones

There is a need for multidimensional support for neurodivergent college students due to an increasing number of these students enrolling in higher education.

Kickin' It Old School: Connecting The Ages, Elyssia Lambert

Occupational Therapy Student Capstones

Problem Statement

Lack of social participation is associated with negative impacts on QoL in individuals with dementia

Lack of awareness and knowledge of OT as a career option

Connection For All: Supporting Neurodivergent-Accessible Sex And Dating Education, Emma Martinho

Occupational Therapy Student Capstones

While engaging in sexuality and dating are expressed interests for neurodivergent young adults, there is a lack of support limiting their participation.

Supporting The Transition: A Summer Camp Model For Students With Adhd Entering Middle School, Anna G. Schene

Occupational Therapy Student Capstones

Students transitioning from elementary school to middle school experience newfound independence, requiring sufficiency in their executive functioning skills. The school-based OT service delivery does not always include or target this population, leaving students without the support needed to develop these skills.