Rehabilitation and Therapy Commons^™

Promoting Neurodiversity Across The Lifespan, Erika Chavez, Karen Park

Spring 2023 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

A poster to assess the overall needs of neurodiverse populations who participate in adult day programs and have opportunities to engage within their community. The purpose was to empower neurodiverse populations throughout adulthood to be themselves and engage with others and in occupations as they see fit.

Analysis Of Firefighters’ Psychological Trauma And Interrupted Domains, Alyssa Garcia, Pam Kasyan-Howe, Kristin Domville, Kristian Llaca

Student Capstone Papers

Firefighters are at a high risk of experiencing posttraumatic stress, anxiety, depression (Teoh et al., 2019), suicidality, substance abuse (Bing-Canar et al., 2019), and burnout (Teoh et al., 2019). Firefighters are regularly exposed to traumatic events on calls which results in their decreased mental health; and associated decreased participation in meaningful occupations, routines, and roles (Edgelow & Cramm, 2020; Edgelow et al., 2021; Wittwer et al., 2021). This project contains both research and a program. The purpose of this research was to understand how firefighter demographics interact with interrupted occupations, routines, and roles and at what frequency when faced with …

Elopement Prevention: Promoting Safety And Supporting Participation, Sarah C. Duckworth

OTD Capstone Projects

The goal of this capstone project was to create resources promoting elopement prevention and provide suggestions for anti-elopement equipment visits at the Vanderbilt Pediatric Seating & Mobility Clinic. Research indicates that 50% of families have never received guidance about elopement prevention from a healthcare professional. The tools created during this capstone project were meant to improve equipment visits, educate caregivers, and empower future occupational therapy practitioners. The goals were achieved through collaboration with stakeholders, completing a review of the literature, attending a child passenger safety technician course, and developing resources. The result was a social story and sensory toolbox for …

Emotional Support Animals On Campus: Relevance, Benefits, And Controversies, Grace Campbell

Honors Theses

This research pertains to Emotional Support Animals (ESAs) on university campuses. It explores the need for ESAs (specifically for college students), differentiates between types of support animals, and discusses benefits and controversies that come along with ESAs on campus. Following this, it sets up a research study that can be used at Western Michigan University relating to student experience with ESA utilization and approval. The study, if performed, would give insight to student experiences, and help the University in supporting the maximum number of students. Emotional support animals have many benefits for college students, including but not limited to, a …

Achieving The Best Of All: Program Development For Adults And Preschoolers With Down Syndrome At Gigi's Playhouse, Samantha Wu

OTD Capstone Projects

This doctoral capstone project was conducted through partnership with GiGi’s Playhouse Nashville, a non-profit organization that offers free, educational programs for individuals with Down syndrome and their families throughout the lifespan. The project concentrated on the establishment and facilitation of two programs: GiGi University and Leaps and Bounds. GiGi University is an adult learning program targeting life skills advancement related to communication, career, physical and mental wellness, money management, and kitchen competency. Leaps and Bounds is a play-based program targeting the development of preschool readiness skills through motor and sensory activities. The goal of both programs is to promote achievement …

Heart Attack To Hypoxic Ischemic Brain Injury, Tiffany M. Tafoya, Evelyn Pinto, Jessica Cordova

Client Educational Handouts

Occupational therapist play a huge role in the rehabilitation and well-being of individuals who suffer brain injuries. Decline of cognition, endurance, balance, and short-term memory loss are areas an occupational therapist can address in therapy. Therapy will help the individual become more independent and regain function.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (Asd), Morgan E. Fambro, Kendahl Schlosser, Carmen H. Ausserer

Client Educational Handouts

Autism Spectrum Disorder is a developmental disorder often caused by genetic predisposition combined with environmental factors. ASD can be present in many different forms and severity levels. On the mild end of the spectrum people are often able to enter into mainstream education and integrate into the workplace with the use of therapeutic learned skills to improve their social skills. On the more severe end of the spectrum, autistic people may never learn functional social skills or ways to communicate. These barriers can be challenging for the autistic person and their family. It is a disorder that is lifelong. Treatments …

Database Of Video Games And Their Therapeutic Properties, Tyler Brinkman, Steven M. Gerardi, Kaitlyn Jones

Spring 2023 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

A capstone project poster presentation showcasing the development of an online database that catalogs commercially available video games and their therapeutic properties to serve as a tool to facilitate video game use as therapeutic media in occupational therapy practice.

The Effectiveness Of Training Interventions On Parent Participation In The Iep Process, Sandra E. James

MOT Student Capstones

The Individuals With Disabilities Act (IDEA) was designed to ensure that qualifying families receive a free appropriate public education and related services for their eligible children with disabilities. For school age children, special education includes the development of an Individualized Education Program (IEP) that outlines the supports the school will provide to 4 each eligible student to promote participation in their education. Parents and caregivers are mandated to be equal members with school staff on their child's IEP team to develop a program that will optimize their child's capacity to succeed in school. Research into parent IEP involvement demonstrates low …

Effects Of Caregiver Education On Emotional Regulation In Foster And Adopted Children, Cassie Lorraine Ice

MOT Student Capstones

There is a large demographic of American children that are in foster care or have been adopted. These children experience occurrences of adversity than children living with their biological families, including issues such as high conflict, housing instability, family isolation, abuse and neglect, and inadequate attachments with caregivers. The trauma from these factors affects the child's emotional regulation skills, leading to deficits in their social, emotional, mental, and physical well-being. Caregivers of children with emotional regulation dysfunction often feel ill-equipped to handle their child's behaviors and emotional disturbances. Caregivers often report a poor mental state, affecting time management skills, daily …

Preventative Education To Promote Safe Aging In Place, Ellyn Lovgren, Chelsey Mayhew, Sarah Ours

MOT Student Capstones

The process of aging independently and safely in the comfort of one's own living environment is known as aging in place. It is imperative to acknowledge the changing needs of the older adult as the natural aging process occurs to support safe aging in place. Many older adults do not often receive appropriate training to age in place safely until falls or disabilities have already begun to occur. It is hypothesized that providing preventative education before the likelihood of falls and disabilities arise will provide a knowledge base of customizable strategies to support physical needs to age in place independently …

Implementation Of Client-Centered Instrumental Music To Improve Behavioral And Psychological Symptoms Of Clients With Dementia During Activities Of Daily Living, Jantzen Cranford

MOT Student Capstones

Preferred music is a powerful tool for improving behavioral and psychological symptoms of clients with dementia during activities of daily living. This approach involves personalized 3 play lists comprised of instrumental music known to be meaningful to the clients. Administering client-centered instrumental music is advantageous because it requires little training, materials, and set up. Once a suitable patient has been identified, comprehensive training and education should be provided by a treating healthcare worker. An in-service was subsequently delivered to educate adult daycare clinicians on the benefit of client centered music for addressing behavioral and psychological symptoms of clients with dementia …

Education Improves Knowledge And Awareness Of Childhood Trauma For Occupational Therapy Practitioners And Other Individuals Within The Community, Kortnee Loving

MOT Student Capstones

Childhood trauma has been linked to biological structural changes in the brain that impact its function and stress response that can cause psychological and physiological harm. There is an increased need to promote early awareness and its prevalence to help change the trajectory. This research examines the impact of childhood trauma and its impact on the quality of life for the victims and educate on the effectiveness of trauma-informed approaches in early developmental care through adulthood by occupational therapists. To conduct this research, a literature review was produced to gain information on childhood trauma and evidenced-based interventions to treat it. …

The Role Of Auditory Sensory Support In Community Participation For Children With Autism, Shelly Daniel

MOT Student Capstones

Children with autism spectrum disorder frequently have hyper-responsive reactlons to auditory stimuli from the environment when they are participating in community activities with their family. When these reactive behaviors become difficult to manage, participation in community activities tends to decrease. Occupational therapy practitioners need quality evidence-based information and strategies to effectively provide intervention to help mitigate these over-responsive reactions and help families increase their satisfaction during community participation. The purpose of this capstone project was to investigate potential causes of auditory hypersensitivity, define how maladaptive behavioral responses can deter family participation in community activities, and formulate supportive strategies to help …

Identification And Treatment Of Tongue And Lip Ties: Occupational Therapy's Role As It Relates To Oral Motor Function In The Pediatric Population, Anna Hoyt, Chelsea Stone, Rachel Walker

MOT Student Capstones

Occupational therapy (OT) practitioners have a valuable role in the treatment of tongue and lip ties. The literature revealed that tongue and lip ties are associated with feeding difficulties in infants and children. Common challenges identified are difficulty with latching, reflux, poor weight gain, gagging, choking, difficulty with managing different textures, misalignment of teeth, social difficulty, and frustration for the child and parent. Additionally, surgical correction for tongue and lip ties is controversial because there are no clear guidelines for treatment. Standardized, functional oral motor assessments for diagnosing and treating tongue and lip ties are limited. Research states the most …

Occupational Therapy's Role In Stress Management In The Older Adult And Geriatric Population During Transition Services, Lebria J. Walcott-Brown

MOT Student Capstones

Many older adults and individuals of the geriatric population transition from their living environments to a facility to receive medical and rehabilitation services due to an injury. illness, or change in functional status. Engagement in transition services can be life-altering and stressful for any individual but has been found to impact older adults and the geriatric population profoundly. Although there is an immense amount of research regarding stress. stress management. older adults, and the geriatric population. there is little information on the impact of stress and occupational therapy's role in managing stress among the older adult and geriatric population during …

Educational Modules Promoting Neurodiversity-Affirming Sensory Interventions, Deanna Bourgeois, Mary Smith, Gina Benavente

Spring 2023 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

Neurodivergent children often experience differences in sensory processing and self-regulation. Traditional sensory-based interventions are frequently used by occupational therapy practitioners (OTP) and caregivers to address dysregulation. Sensory-based interventions are strengths-based but not always neurodiversity-affirming. There are few educational resources available that promote neurodiversity-affirming sensory interventions.

The purpose of this project was to create self-paced educational modules to teach neurodiversity-affirming sensory interventions promoting children's self-regulation. The student investigator developed virtual educational modules and piloted them with OTP, occupational therapy students, and caregivers during the capstone experience. The participants engaged with the modules and also submitted responses to pre-and post-surveys. Based on …

Regaining Quality Of Life Painting Pet Portraits, Jennifer K. Fortuna

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Tina Primer, an artist based in Illinois, provided the cover art for the Spring 2023 issue of The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy (OJOT). “Wriggly” is an 11” x 14” painting made from acrylic on stretched canvas. After a debilitating stroke, Tina began using art as therapy. When the strength in her dominant hand did not return, painting pet portraits provided the motivation to do things differently. Tina’s playful use of color and attention to detail capture each pet’s unique personality. Discovering a new way to paint improved Tina’s quality of life.

Empowering Children And Families With Food Allergies: An Innovative Role For Occupational Therapy, Salma H. Bachelani, Meredith P. Gronski, Kelly A. Carlson

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Food allergies (FAs) have far-reaching implications regarding occupational participation. Children with food allergies and their families experience impacts on their daily life activities. The current standard of care for FAs fails to adequately address the wide-ranging barriers to participation in home, school, and community environments. This study used a mixed-method design to examine the impacts of FA on the needs of children and families affected by FA. Eighteen parents of children with FAs and six health care providers of children with FAs were interviewed; the parents also completed two questionnaires to identify the level of impact of FA on areas …

Understanding The Doctoral Capstone Coordinator Position: A Unique Faculty Role In Occupational Therapy Education, Hannah L.W. Harris, Anne F. Kiraly-Alvarez, Paula J. Costello, Bernadette Schmeltz

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

The doctoral capstone coordinator (DCC) position is a required faculty position in U.S. entry-level OTD programs, but there is limited information about this role. This descriptive study aimed to explore the demographics of DCCs; their required workload, tasks, and responsibilities; and the supports available to DCCs. The researchers administered an online survey and analyzed the data using descriptive statistics and content analysis. The results revealed much variability in DCCs’ experiences, workloads, and responsibilities across OTD programs. Of the DCCs survey, 74.0% previously held leadership positions in academia or clinical practice before taking the role, and 60.5% of the DCCs worked …