Date of Award
Spring 4-24-2020
Document Type
Capstone
Degree Name
Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD)
Department
Occupational Therapy
First Advisor
Thais Petrocelli
Second Advisor
Kayla Collins
Third Advisor
Anne Petre
Medical Subject Headings
Occupational Therapy, Employment, Disabled Persons, Needs Assessment, Adolescent, Young Adult
Abstract
Employment rates for persons with disabilities are shockingly low at 30%, while 70% remain unemployed. Some of the reasons for this disparity found in the research include a lack of preparation during high school, a lack of occupational therapy involvement in the transition to work process, and limited transition resources in rural communities resulting in students with disabilities graduating from high school without the skills necessary to secure employment. The goal of this project was to create a pre-employment course at a local YMCA in Warsaw, IN with occupational therapy-based curriculum for youth and young adults with disabilities to help mitigate these disparities and provide a resource where one did not already exist. Through a needs assessment of Warsaw, IN, curriculum development, and recruitment of nine participants, a seven-week, occupational therapy-based pre-employment course was created and implemented at the local YMCA. A pre and post-test were administered at the beginning and end of the class cycle to gauge effectiveness and student understanding. Comparing the results showed a mean increase of 6 points overall supporting occupational therapy involvement in the transition to work programs. Occupational therapy has much to offer the population with disabilities during their transition to work period, and occupational therapists have a responsibility to stake a claim in working in this area of practice.
Recommended Citation
Ventura, J. M. (2020). Occupational Therapy's Role in the Transition to Employment for Youth and Young Adults. [Doctoral project, University of St Augustine for Health Sciences]. SOAR @ USA: Student Capstone Papers Collection. https://doi.org/10.46409/sr.AHOY4714
Related Content
This capstone was also presented at the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences Spring 2020 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium.
Ventura, Jeanne M. and Collins, Kayla.(2020). Occupational therapy’s role in the transition to employment. (2020). University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences Spring 2020 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium. https://soar.usa.edu/otdcapstonespring2020/9/
Comments
Capstone project submitted to the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Occupational Therapy.