Sleep Hygiene Programs In Adults With Parkinson’S Disease,
2025
Belmont University
Sleep Hygiene Programs In Adults With Parkinson’S Disease, Alexia R. Scott
OTD Capstone Projects
This doctoral capstone project was completed in collaboration with Bridges for Parkinson’s (B4PD), an associate of Rock Steady Boxing. B4PD is a wellness organization that offers fitness classes tailored to the needs of adults with Parkinson’s Disease (PD). Sleep disturbance is one of the most common non-motor symptoms of PD and was an identified need of the population at B4PD. This project aimed to address sleep needs through comprehensive individualized sleep hygiene programs based on a series of consultations. A sleep diary, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and a semi structured interview were used to assess sleep disturbances. The …
Improving Accessibility And Inclusion At Belmont University,
2025
Belmont University
Improving Accessibility And Inclusion At Belmont University, Grace Apigian
OTD Capstone Projects
This capstone project utilized the collaboration with various departments and schools at Belmont University to improve the accessibility and inclusion in physical, social and academic contexts. The focus of this project was to pinpoint areas of campus that are inaccessible through student-reported survey data and measure these areas with use of the ADA checklist for existing facilities and hands on observation. This project also sought to develop educational resources and inclusive aids for various departments across campus to improve their inclusion and accessibility efforts. The findings of this project were summarized into a narrative needs assessment to distribute to all …
Expanding Therapy Services For The Infant & Pediatric Population In An Acute Setting,
2025
Belmont University
Expanding Therapy Services For The Infant & Pediatric Population In An Acute Setting, Hallie A. Long
OTD Capstone Projects
This doctoral capstone project was completed through a partnership with Med Center Health, located in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Med Center Health is a non-profit health system with a mission to care for people and improve the quality of life in the communities they serve. Med Center Health – Bowling Green (MCBG) provides a broad range of services for the Southcentral Kentucky community including a level III NICU and acute pediatric unit. The purpose of this project was to enhance current therapy services and resources provided in the NICU as well as initiate development of a rehabilitation program on the pediatric …
Program Development For Veterans With Disabilities In Conjunction With The Metro Parks Disabilities Program,
2025
Belmont University
Program Development For Veterans With Disabilities In Conjunction With The Metro Parks Disabilities Program, Rylee E. Rohler
OTD Capstone Projects
This doctoral capstone project was completed in partnership with the Metro Parks disABILITIES Program. This agency provides day programming and inclusive sports leagues with a goal to create equal opportunity for safe recreational and cultural activities for as many Nashville citizens with intellectual and developmental disABILITIES as possible. Metro Parks offers a variety of age and ability-appropriate activities that highlight the ABILIITIES of all members. The primary objective of this capstone project was to create a manual for a branch program that would fill a notable gap in services available in middle Tennessee for veterans with disabilities. Roughly 24,500 working-age …
Program Development & Implementation Of Mindfulness Practices For Adults With Down Syndrome At Gigi’S Playhouse,
2025
Belmont University
Program Development & Implementation Of Mindfulness Practices For Adults With Down Syndrome At Gigi’S Playhouse, Kelly Nydahl
OTD Capstone Projects
This doctoral capstone project was completed through partnership with GiGi’s Playhouse Nashville, a non-profit that offers free educational and therapeutic programming to individuals of all ages with Down syndrome. The focus of this project was to create and implement an entire semester worth of curriculum for two adult education classes, GiGi Prep and U. The goal of GiGi Prep was to enhance various career readiness skills, while GiGi U builds upon these skills to prepare an individual for real-world settings like independent living, college, and/or working a job. Topics such as communication skills, emotional regulation, money management, coping strategies, self-advocacy, …
Daily Living Curriculum For Adults With Disabilities,
2025
Belmont University
Daily Living Curriculum For Adults With Disabilities, Paige E. Meyers
OTD Capstone Projects
This doctoral capstone project was completed in partnership with BrightStone, with the shared objective of increasing independence for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). In alignment with BrightStone’s values to empower the quality of life for adults with IDD where their choices and their voices matter, this project addressed the growing need to support their adults at all stages of life. Key outcomes included a daily living curriculum, adaptations to involve students in meal preparation and cleanup, staff training on fall prevention and recovery, and a functional skills progress tracker for residential home use.
Flip For Function Event Development For Increased Effectiveness And Promotion Of Community Engagement,
2025
Belmont University
Flip For Function Event Development For Increased Effectiveness And Promotion Of Community Engagement, Chloe D. Nedds
OTD Capstone Projects
This doctoral capstone project was completed in partnership with Flip for Function, a therapeutic gymnastics program that promotes self-confidence through adaptive athletics and child-led activities. The aim of this project was to enhance the efficiency of events to promote visibility and awareness of Flip for Function within the community. To reach these goals, research-based sensory activities, graphics, programming, and effective timelines were established to ensure seamless execution of events and promote awareness within the community. Alongside this, a choice board was created and implemented within the gym to promote access to communication resources for all individuals. As a result, events …
Lecture Series Supporting Maternal-Infant Health Population: Educating Parents And Training Occupational Therapy Students,
2025
Belmont University
Lecture Series Supporting Maternal-Infant Health Population: Educating Parents And Training Occupational Therapy Students, Katherine Henry
OTD Capstone Projects
This capstone project was completed in collaboration with both the Belmont University School of Occupational Therapy and Ella’s House, a nonprofit organization that supports pregnant and parenting college students finishing their education. A needs assessment was completed to identify what type of project would be most beneficial to both organizations, with a final decision to create a series of courses that support infant and maternal health and well-being. Course topics included basic newborn childcare skills; perinatal mental health; and caregiver roles, routines, and supports. With each presentation of a course, students reviewed the course to compare knowledge prior to and …
Evolving Move Inclusive Dance's Evaluation System,
2025
Belmont University
Evolving Move Inclusive Dance's Evaluation System, Taylor L. Nock
OTD Capstone Projects
This doctoral capstone project was completed through a partnership with MOVE Inclusive Dance in Nashville, Tennessee. MOVE Inclusive Dance is a nonprofit organization that empowers individuals of all ability levels to learn life skills through dance. The aim of this project was to promote goal setting for each dancer, and to develop manageable systems for evaluation data and progress monitoring. Goals promoted occupational therapy-based skills such as independent sensory regulation, social participation, memory, and sustained attention. The project involved creating a web-accessible platform to easily input dancer progress and implementing suggestions from staff as they utilized the platform. Efficient data …
Elopement: Developing An Improved Plan Of Care For Vanderbilt Pediatric Seating And Mobility Clinic,
2025
Belmont University
Elopement: Developing An Improved Plan Of Care For Vanderbilt Pediatric Seating And Mobility Clinic, Chloe Nease
OTD Capstone Projects
This doctoral capstone project was completed in partnership with Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt within the Pediatric Seating and Mobility clinic. There has been an increased number of referrals to the clinic for equipment aimed at preventing elopement behaviors, primarily for children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. The goal of this capstone project was to improve the current plan of care regarding elopement evaluations to decrease strain on therapists and families. The objectives for this project were based on information from various stakeholders, including therapist and caregiver feedback, equipment vendors, and insurance providers. Outcomes included the creation of …
Road To Recovery: Reboot Recovery,
2025
Belmont University
Road To Recovery: Reboot Recovery, Brooke Gephart
OTD Capstone Projects
This doctoral capstone project was completed in partnership with REBOOT Recovery, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing trauma healing through faith-based, peer-led courses. The purpose of this project was to create content to aid the participants and the leaders of REBOOT to overcome trauma and improve their well-being. Life guides were created to address feelings of anxiety and depression, substance use disorder, and provided education on implementing coping skills to help improve their daily functioning. Educational content was developed for leaders regarding the complexities of overcoming trauma for autistic people and highly sensitive people, to best equip leaders to assist …
The Role Of Occupational Therapy In The Care Of Informal Caregivers Of People With Dementia: A Concept Analysis,
2025
University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences
The Role Of Occupational Therapy In The Care Of Informal Caregivers Of People With Dementia: A Concept Analysis, Ashley M. Taylor
Student Capstone Papers
Informal caregivers (care partners) are people, such as family members, who provide care to those who cannot care for themselves, including people with dementia (PwD). Care partners assist PwD in their daily occupations, often without training. Caring for PwD can lead to emotional, physical, financial, and occupational challenges for care partners. Occupational therapy (OT) has a role to play in the care of PwD. However, if clinicians do not operate from a dyadic model, care partners’ needs may be overlooked. Problem: Although addressing the care partner dyad is important to the delivery of OT, the role of OT in the …
Air Travel Experiences Of Families With Autistic Children,
2025
University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences
Air Travel Experiences Of Families With Autistic Children, Tiffany Pham, Karen Park
Spring 2025 OTD Capstone Symposium
This mixed-methods research design aimed to understand families' experiences traveling by plane with autistic children to identify supports, needs, challenges, and barriers that influence participation and well-being. Although air travel offers significant benefits for families and their children, including promoting personal growth, strengthening communication and bonding, reducing stress, and improving the overall quality of life and life satisfaction across many domains, families with autistic children face significant challenges due to sensory and environmental barriers that make the experience stressful and unpredictable. Findings highlight a need for autism-informed policies, training among airport and airline staff, sensory-friendly spaces, and extended support to …
Nourishing Movement: Nutrition For Parkinson's Wellness,
2025
Belmont University
Nourishing Movement: Nutrition For Parkinson's Wellness, Alexa E. Shever
OTD Capstone Projects
This doctoral capstone project was conducted in collaboration with Bridges for Parkinson's, an organization designed to connect people living with Parkinson's Disease to a community that engages them in a specialized fitness program that helps them rediscover hope and joy and connect them to other resources to improve overall quality of life. The primary objective was to understand the lived experience of individuals with PD and develop PD specific nutrition education and programming for PD fighters and their care partners to use in fighting back against PD. The specific nutrition topics in the education and programming include Whole Foods, Hydration, …
Supporting Occupational Identity In Senior Collegiate Athletes,
2025
University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences
Supporting Occupational Identity In Senior Collegiate Athletes, Kara Montilla, Amy Lyons-Brown
Spring 2025 OTD Capstone Symposium
Capstone project designed to support the transition of retired collegiate athletes by promoting occupational identity and mental well-being. Built upon occupational therapy theories, the program addresses key challenges such as loss of routine, social reintegration, and identity development post-sport. It incorporates goal setting, time management strategies, and group discussions to foster self-exploration and resilience. The project aims to build a supportive environment that empowers athletes to thrive beyond their athletic careers.
Influence Of Collectivist Cultural Values On Occupational Roles And Mental Health Of First-Generation College Students,
2025
University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences
Influence Of Collectivist Cultural Values On Occupational Roles And Mental Health Of First-Generation College Students, Guenne Sarmiento, Jazminne Orozco Arteaga
Spring 2025 OTD Capstone Symposium
First-generation college students (FGCS) from collectivist backgrounds often encounter unique challenges as they navigate academic duties alongside familial responsibilities. These challenges are influenced by collectivist cultural values (CCV), which prioritize family ties, community cohesion, and collective well-being. This capstone project utilizes the Kawa Model to illustrate the supportive and unsupportive factors in the lives of these students, examining how cultural expectations, occupational roles, and mental health intersect. It emphasizes the critical role of occupational therapy in unraveling and addressing these complexities.
A Program To Empower Neurodivergent Individuals And Their Caregivers To Advocate For Individualized Sensory Needs And Prepare For Medical Appointments,
2025
University of St Augustine for Health Sciences
A Program To Empower Neurodivergent Individuals And Their Caregivers To Advocate For Individualized Sensory Needs And Prepare For Medical Appointments, Eden Singh, Jazminne Orozco Arteaga, Valerie Schlieder
Spring 2025 OTD Capstone Symposium
Neurodivergent individuals frequently experience sensory processing challenges that can limit participation in healthcare. This project aimed to develop a program that equips neurodivergent individuals and their caregivers with the tools to understand sensory processing, advocate for individualized needs, and effectively prepare for medical appointments. Guided by occupational therapy theory and frameworks, the program includes caregiver education, interactive activities, and accessible resources focused on sensory regulation and advocacy. This project emphasizes the role of occupational therapy in promoting equitable and person-centered healthcare experiences.
Occupational Impact Of Losing A Parent At A Young Age,
2025
University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences
Occupational Impact Of Losing A Parent At A Young Age, Hailee Litchfield, Susan Macdermott
Spring 2025 OTD Capstone Symposium
This qualitative study explored the lived experiences of children who faced the death of a parent before the age of 18. With an emphasis on the specific occupational impact that resulted directly after the loss and then further into adulthood, 5 themes arose from the participants' responses. Unexpected roles changes, fear of loss, lack of support, loss of meaning, and family traditions lead to the identification of varying occupations, environmental factors and performance patterns that were impacted in some way. The results of this study highlight the need for more equipped, accessible and age appropriate bereavement services, as well as …
Increasing Resources And Meaningful Participation For A Successful Community Reentry,
2025
Belmont University
Increasing Resources And Meaningful Participation For A Successful Community Reentry, Lindsay A. Molloy
OTD Capstone Projects
Dismas House is an approved Tennessee Department of Correction (TDOC), 501(c)(3) non-profit residential re-entry program serving men who are returning to the community from Tennessee prisons and county jails. The purpose of this capstone experience is to work with the residents of Dismas House by supporting them as they face barriers reentering society after incarceration. Dismas House offers services under their "Four Pillars of Programming", which includes basic needs, health & well-being, life skills, and legal support. These four pillars were taken under consideration when creating resources and implementing new programming for the residents. Outcomes of this project included creating …
Evidence Based Resource Creation: Building Knowledge And Supporting Curriculum Rationale For Individuals With Intellectual And Developmental Disabilities At Friends Life Community,
2025
Belmont University
Evidence Based Resource Creation: Building Knowledge And Supporting Curriculum Rationale For Individuals With Intellectual And Developmental Disabilities At Friends Life Community, Ruth D. Jones
OTD Capstone Projects
This capstone project was completed in collaboration with Friends Life Community (FLC), a nonprofit, community-based day program that serves adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. A comprehensive needs assessment revealed a gap in evidence-based research supporting the purpose and impact of FLC’s daily curriculum. Additionally, there was a need for custom outcome measurement tools to better capture the growth and progress of program participants. In response, the focus of this capstone was to develop an educational resource tailored for multiple stakeholder audiences, including FLC staff, parents/caregivers, board members, and donors. The goal of the resource was to reinforce the …
