Rehabilitation and Therapy Commons^™

Unequal Access, Unmet Needs: Rethinking Occupational Therapy In Private Practice, Meghan Smith

Occupational Therapy Student Capstones

Individuals from low-SES backgrounds often experience barriers to occupational therapy services, while private practitioners face challenges balancing accessibility with financial sustainability. These challenges underscore the need to better prepare future occupational therapists to provide equitable, accessible, and sustainable services within private practice.

Learn As You Are: Equipping Key Educational Stakeholders With Neuro-Affirming Knowledge To Support Inclusion Of Autistic Students, Jessalyn Sulamo

Occupational Therapy Student Capstones

Students throughout the autism spectrum often experience challenges relating to social and communication difficulties, sensory challenges, and inflexible approaches that hinder their social, emotional, and academic well-being (Black et al., 2024).

Clinician Perspective And Uses Of Technology In Neurological Home Health Rehabilitation: A Quality Improvement Project, Sean Sullinger

Occupational Therapy Student Capstones

Despite advancements in technology-based intervention systems and supporting evidence on its benefits, rehabilitation clinicians often demonstrate minimal adoption rates in practice due to a lack of training, device access, and confidence in implementation skills leading to impacts on intervention variability in practice.

Breaking Barriers: Empowering Mothers Through Occupation-Based Education, Jessica J. Valencia, Justine Faghihifar, Wendy Tremaine

Summer 2026 OTD Capstone Symposium

This capstone project evaluated the implementation of an occupational therapy-informed educational program for mothers, with children under the age of 18, who have experienced intimate partner violence at Genesis Women's Shelter & Support. The purpose of the project was to promote occupational engagement through education focused on stress management, sleep and rest, routines and habits, memory and attention, parenting and communication, and leisure participation. A needs assessment informed the development of a six-week bilingual intervention consisting of group and individual sessions. Program outcomes were evaluated using pre- and post-intervention assessments, participant feedback, and clinical observations. The project demonstrated improvements in …

Empowering Independence For Young Adults With Disabilities, Grace Sloan, Wendy Tremaine

Summer 2026 OTD Capstone Symposium

Young adults with disabilities often face challenges in maintaining and finding employment, living independently, and participating socially. The purpose of this capstone project was to develop a program to enhance job readiness, independent living, and social participation skills for young adults with disabilities. This project highlighted the need for occupation-based activities to support the transition from high school to adulthood for young adults with disabilities.

Empowering Amputees Through Education And Resources To Improve Independence And Quality Of Life, Brooke A. Hodges, Wendy M. Tremaine

Summer 2026 OTD Capstone Symposium

This doctoral capstone project aimed to develop and implement an evidence-based educational toolkit to increase community resource awareness for individuals with amputations. The project was completed at Baylor Scott & White Institute for Rehabilitation in Dallas, Texas, and involved adult patients with limb loss and rehabilitation healthcare professionals. A needs assessment was conducted using surveys, semi-structured interviews, and informal discussions to identify educational gaps and resource needs. Findings informed the development of educational materials addressing mental health, peer support, financial assistance, transportation, driving rehabilitation, home modifications, adaptive recreation, prosthetic resources, and community organizations. The toolkit was designed to accommodate varying …

Using Creative Arts In Occupational Therapy To Address Motor And Nonmotor Symptoms Of Neurodegenerative Disorders, Elizabeth L. Batista, Kristin Domville, Pam Kasyan-Howe

Summer 2026 OTD Capstone Symposium

Neurodegenerative disorders (NDD), including Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, multiple sclerosis, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, significantly impact motor function, cognition, self-esteem, and occupational engagement. Although creative arts interventions have demonstrated psychosocial benefits, there is limited research examining visual arts as an occupational therapy-led modality addressing both motor and nonmotor symptoms through meaningful occupation (Gros et al., 2024; Li et al., 2024; Chancellor et al., 2014).
This capstone project developed and implemented an OT-led creative arts program utilizing painting as the primary intervention for individuals with NDD residing in an assisted living facility and/or attending an adult day center. Guided by MOHO, …

Advocacy For Inclusive Play In South Dallas: Expanding Access For Children In Underserved Areas, Aryanna Fellows, Mary Jan Greer

Summer 2026 OTD Capstone Symposium

This capstone project aimed to advocate for more inclusive and accessible playgrounds for children of all abilities in underserved communities in South Dallas. Guided by the Person-Environment-Occupation-Performance (PEOP) Model, the project evaluated playground accessibility and identified environmental barriers that limit participation for children with disabilities. Methods included a community needs assessment, playground observations using a standardized accessibility assessment tool, surveys, and stakeholder collaboration. Participants included community members, caregivers, organizational stakeholders, and children who utilize local playgrounds. Findings were synthesized to develop evidence-based recommendations and educational resources to support future playground improvements. The expected outcomes included increased awareness of inclusive playground …

Calm, Confident, Capable: An Educational Manual To Support Effective Oral Care For Children With Autism, Jared D. Morgan, Leah I. Stein Duker, Carrie Alvarado, Angela Labrie Blackwell

Summer 2026 OTD Capstone Symposium

Dental health professionals report limited confidence, perceived competence, and preparedness when providing oral health care to autistic children, which can significantly impact patient participation, quality of care, and overall dental experience. Autistic children are more likely to have dental conditions compared to their neurotypical peers. The methods of this project consisted of four phases being development, preview, revision, and dissemination. The purpose of this project was to develop an educational manual that provides dental health professionals with practical knowledge, skills, and abilities to address the needs of autistic children, to ensure effective oral health care. The expected outcomes of this …

Navigating Concussion Recovery: An Educational Module-Based Approach To Strengthening Occupational Therapist Confidence And Effectiveness In Concussion Rehabilitation, Alejandra Abella, Wendy Tremaine

Summer 2026 OTD Capstone Symposium

Background: Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), commonly known as concussion, presents with complex physical, cognitive, visual, vestibular, and emotional symptoms that can significantly affect an individual's ability to participate in meaningful daily occupations. Although occupational therapists play an essential role in concussion rehabilitation, many clinicians report that confidence in evaluating and treating this population develops primarily through years of clinical experience rather than structured education. Inconsistent exposure to concussion cases and limited access to current evidence-based resources contribute to variations in clinical confidence and practice.

Purpose: The purpose of this doctoral capstone project was to develop and implement a comprehensive …

Occupational Therapy Education In A Changing Climate, Elizabeth Ballenger, Amy Lyons-Brown, Elizabeth Richardson

Summer 2026 OTD Capstone Symposium

This doctoral capstone explored how occupational therapy can strengthen its response to climate change and planetary health through education, collaboration, and organizational development. In partnership with SOTER and Project PrOTect, the project used literature review, needs assessment, stakeholder engagement, and interdisciplinary learning to develop strategic frameworks, educational resources, and digital dissemination tools. The project emphasized building organizational capacity, expanding occupational therapy’s role in planetary health, and leveraging international collaboration to support sustainable, occupation-centered action.

Supporting Participation Through Sensory Inclusion, Karla Bonilla, Jazminne Orozco Arteaga

Summer 2026 OTD Capstone Symposium

This capstone project focused on promoting sensory-inclusive environments to support play and social participation among autistic children. The project was conducted in partnership with Straight From The Heart, a foster care organization in San Diego County. A community profile, literature review, and needs assessment were completed using caregiver and social worker surveys and semi-structured interviews with community organization professionals to identify environmental barriers, caregiver education needs, and resource priorities. The findings informed the development of sensory-inclusive educational resources and educational workshop. Stakeholder feedback was used to refine the resources and evaluate their perceived relevance and usefulness. The project highlights the …

Beyond The Athlete: An Autoethnographic Exploration Of Occupational Identity, Sofia Paniagua-Bauer, Karen Park

Summer 2026 OTD Capstone Symposium

Adolescent student-athletes experience unique demands as they navigate the expectations of competitive sport alongside academic, social, and developmental responsibilities. These demands may influence mental health, executive functioning, occupational balance, and the development of occupational identity. The purpose of this Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) capstone project was to explore the development of occupational identity through the lived experience of growing up as a competitive athlete and to examine how participation in sport influenced mental health, self-regulation, executive functioning, and engagement in meaningful occupations. An autoethnographic approach was used to reflect on my personal experiences while completing a capstone experience at …

Supporting Firefighter Families: Addressing Occupational Disruptions Through An Occupation-Centered Approach, Tiana M. Gomez, Jazminne Orozco Arteaga, Karen Park

Summer 2026 OTD Capstone Symposium

Firefighting involves long shifts, unpredictable schedules, sleep disruption, and repeated exposure to occupational stressors that may affect not only firefighters but also their families. This doctoral capstone examined how the occupational demands of firefighting influence family roles, routines, habits, participation, and overall well-being. A convergent mixed-methods study included active or retired firefighters (n = 18) and adult firefighter family members (n = 10), with three participants also completing optional semi-structured interviews. Quantitative survey data were analyzed descriptively, while interview transcripts and open-ended responses were analyzed thematically using the Model of Human Occupation as a guiding framework. Findings demonstrated disruptions in …

Implementing The Walking Impairment Questionnaire For Peripheral Artery Disease Screening And Referral, Lisa Doyle

All Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Scholarly Projects

Problem: Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is a leading cause of cardiovascular morbidity, mortality, and lower extremity amputation. At a Level 1 veterans medical center, the absence of a standardized screening and referral process contributed to delayed identification of symptomatic PAD and underutilization of supervised exercise therapy (SET). Between August 2024 and July 2025, only four veterans completed SET despite a large high-risk population, demonstrating a significant gap in evidence-based recommendations and clinical practice.

Aim of the Project: The aim of this project was to improve patient outcomes by standardizing screening for symptomatic PAD using the Walking Impairment Questionnaire (WIQ) to …

The Vision-Enhanced Occupational Engagement Program, Zakoria Q Fox Mcelroy, Rebecca King

Summer 2026 OTD Capstone Symposium

Background: Low vision is a significant concern among older adults and can affect independence, mobility, safety, social participation, and overall quality of life. As the aging population continues to grow, understanding the challenges experienced by older adults with low vision is increasingly important for improving supportive services and promoting healthy aging.

Purpose: This capstone project examined the experiences and needs of older adults living with low vision, with a focus on how vision loss and environmental factors may influence daily functioning, independence, and participation in meaningful occupations.

Methods: A multi-method needs assessment was completed to identify the needs of residents …

Effects Of Cross-Curricular Instruction On Clinical Education Outcomes For Speech-Language Pathology Graduate Students, Michele Dacy, Kimberly Smith

Journal on Empowering Teaching Excellence

Access the online Pressbooks version of this article here.

Cross-curricular instruction is the process of combining information from two or more subjects within a single discipline in order to help students integrate the knowledge and skills they learn from separate courses. The purpose of this study was to examine how cross-curricular instruction impacted speech-language pathology (SLP) graduate students' knowledge, confidence, and clinical skills related to the assessment of patients with co-occurring diagnoses of dementia and dysphagia. Twenty-three SLP master's students completed a questionnaire before and after receiving cross-curricular instruction on how to assess dysphagia in persons with dementia. The questionnaire …

The Effect Of The Lee Silverman Voice Treatment (Lsvt) Big Method Based On Occupation On Older Adult Functional Mobility Balance, Muhammad Luthfi, Kharisma Nur Idalasari

Jurnal Fisioterapi Terapan Indonesia

Balance impairment is one of the major problems commonly experienced by older adults as a result of degenerative processes, leading to an increased risk of falls. Falls may cause fear of recurrent falling, reduced physical activity, loss of physical capability, and may eventually result in disability and psychological consequences such as depression. Structured, occupation-based physical activity has been shown to provide various benefits for older adults, including improving physical function, slowing functional decline associated with degenerative processes, reducing fall risk, and enhancing postural control. This study aimed to analyze the effect of the occupation-based Lee Silverman Voice Treatment (LSVT) BIG …

Objective Biomarker Development For Parameter Optimization In Neuromodulation Using High-Density Emg Temporal And Spatial Features, Shirin Madarshahian, Nikoo Javadpour, Michael Trakhtorchuck, Tatiana Guerrero-David, Kristin Gustafson, James Harrop, Caio Matias, M. J. Mulcahey, Alessandro Naopli, Alex R. Vaccaro, Mijail Serruya

Farber Institute for Neuroscience Faculty Papers

Transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation (tSCS) is a promising neuromodulation approach for motor recovery after spinal cord injury (SCI), yet clinical programming remains largely dependent on subjective parameter selection. This study evaluated high-density surface EMG (HD-sEMG)–derived spatial and temporal features as objective biomarkers for tSCS optimization in three adults with chronic cervical SCI. A 64-channel electrode array recorded stimulation-evoked responses across five cervical stimulation levels, four pulse widths, and graded amplitudes. Features describing activation magnitude, spatial distribution, cluster morphology, and temporal dynamics were extracted from epoch-based activation maps. Of the three enrolled participants, two demonstrated measurable stimulation-evoked responses and contributed to …

The Effect Of Plyometric Training On Leg Muscle Explosive Power In Adolescent Amateur Volleyball Players, Dany Fajar Muhlasin, Fendy Nugroho, Jasmine Kartiko Pertiwi

Jurnal Fisioterapi Terapan Indonesia

Background: Leg muscle explosive power is a crucial physical component in volleyball, particularly in supporting the execution of smashes and blocks. The ability to generate force rapidly and explosively plays a key role in determining an athlete’s jumping performance. One training method proven effective in enhancing leg muscle explosive power is plyometric exercise. Several recent studies have shown that plyometric training can significantly improve vertical jump performance in adolescent athletes. However, there is still limited research specifically examining the effect of plyometric exercise on jumping explosive power in amateur players aged 14–18 years, indicating a research gap that warrants further …