Fall 2024 OTD Capstone Symposium

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  An OT Web-Based Stress Management Program for Acute Care Therapists

  Jessica N. Alanis and Cassandra Nelson OTD

  Hospital burnout has become one of the many problems among many healthcare professions. Occupational therapists and physical therapists encounter many situations that are out of their control and struggle with how to handle their emotions in a fast-paced setting. The purpose of this capstone was to educate acute care therapists on developing good stress management habits using various grounding, sensory, and mindfulness techniques to help them get through the work day. By helping acute care therapists develop good stress management habits, therapists can experience improvement in the way they carry out their duties, improve their productivity, and improve the way they provide quality patient care.

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  Development of a Virtual Reality Program to Promote Occupational Participation and Decreased Psychosocial Deficits in Persons with a Brain Injury

  Nicole Arneson and Rebecca King

  Stroke is one of the leading causes of disabilities including problems with balance, muscle weakness, abnormal muscle tone, mental health, as well as deficits in visual function and sensory function The purpose of this capstone is to develop a virtual reality program that will be used with the stroke population to address ADLs, IADLs, and quality of life.

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  Development of Financial Management Skills: A Guidebook for Caregivers of Autistic Children

  Marcie Balleza, Steven M. Gerardi, and Angela Blackwell

  Autistic children face challenges to living independently, including learning to manage finances. Caregivers of autistic children must develop in their care recipients the financial skills to live independently. A lack of educational resources on how to teach financial management skills can impede the development of independent living skills in autistic children. Caregivers of autistic children lack the education and training that is necessary to teach financial management skills to autistic children to prepare them for transition to adulthood. Caregivers of autistic children do not know how to help their child learn money management skills in preparation for the transition to early adulthood. The purpose of this project was to create a guidebook for caregivers of autistic children on how to teach their care recipients the development of financial management skills. An educational guidebook has been created to fill the gap in caregiver education and training on how to teach their care recipients the development of financial management skills. The guidebook will enable caregivers the ability to develop financial management skills in their care recipients as they prepare for adulthood.

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  Training Staff Members and Caregivers on Utilizing Allen Cognitive Levels to Aid Individuals Living with Alzheimer's and Dementia to Maintain Activities of Daily Living

  Kristy Boyd, Cassandra Nelson, and Jennifer Summers

  This capstone project is about training staff members and caregivers on utilizing the Allen's cognitive levels to aid individuals living with Alzheimer's and dementia to maintain their activities of daily living by creating a program that consists of modules, physical demonstration, and a deliverable for staff members and caregivers as well as therapeutic activities and sensory regulation activities for the participants.

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  Parent Perceptions of Modified Toy Cars Influence on Play for Children with Disabilities: A Case Study

  Taylor Brown, Angela Labrie Blackwell, Erik Pérez, and Karen Aranha

  Play is a crucial childhood occupation because it facilitates the growth of various developmental skills. Children with disabilities (CWD) often exhibit intrinsic factors that can prevent them from participating in meaningful childhood occupations, such as play. Mobility play is a specific type of play that refers to any means for the child to explore and move around their environment, which can be accessed through the use of commercially available toys, including motorized toy cars. However, these commercially available toys are not always accessible to this population due to their unique presentation that hinders performance and participation in the desired and necessary childhood occupation of play. A program called Go Baby Go has attempted to address these disparities by modifying toy cars to ensure that CWD can independently access them. And while there are several positive outcomes related to using modified toy cars for CWD, the impact of these cars and the effect on play have not been widely studied. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence that modified toy cars had on play for CWD from a parent's perspective.

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  Empowering Caregivers: A Training Manual for Supporting Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

  Alicia Buhnerkemper

  Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) often require specialized support to navigate daily activities, yet respite and Community Living Support (CLS) workers frequently lack adequate training to address the sensory and behavioral challenges these children face. This project aimed to address these gaps by developing a comprehensive training manual grounded in evidence-based practices and occupational therapy (OT) principles, including the Person-Environment-Occupation (PEO) Model and Sensory Integration (SI) Theory. Surveys and interviews with families, respite workers, and CLS workers identified critical training needs, such as understanding sensory processing, managing challenging behaviors, and effective communication strategies. The manual includes practical modules, embedded videos, printable resources, and knowledge checks to enhance caregiver skills. Piloted through Mimi’s Mission, feedback from participants was integrated to refine the content. The resulting 79-page training manual equips caregivers to provide consistent, high-quality care, reducing the burden on families and improving the occupational performance outcomes of children with ASD. This project highlights the role of occupational therapists in fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and empowering non-professional caregivers, thereby extending their impact beyond direct client care.

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  Older Adult's Fall Prevention Program

  Myles Butler and Rebecca King

  The decline in bodily functions with aging increases older adults' vulnerability to falls, which is a leading cause of death within this population. The poster presents an educational based fall prevention program focused on safety awareness and risk management for older adults. In conclusion, implementing a fall prevention program leads to increased awareness regarding risk factors that are detrimental to the safety and well-being of the older adult community

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  A Program to Support Kangaroo Care of Preterm Infants in the NICU for the Caregivers

  Katherine Blake Carby Cooksey, Mary Jan Greer, and Debbie Johnson

  This presentation is about an educational program developed to help educate the caregivers about kangaroo care while their baby is in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). This program is to emphasis in the occupations of social interaction and family involvement with kangaroo care. Caregivers/parents are able to learn about the what kangaroo care is, the different type methods of kangaroo care, the benefits of kangaroo care, the importance of kangaroo care while being in the NICU. This program development for the caregivers is able to help with their journaling experience while in the NICU and adjusting kangaroo care into their daily routine once they are being discharged from the NICU.

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  Preventing Depression in Grandparents Raising Grandchildren: An Educational Video Series

  Sabrina Casares, Steven Gerardi, and Meghan Skidmore

  Grandparent caregivers often face increased risk for depression, yet access to mental health resources—particularly self-help approaches—is limited. Texas Grandparents Raising Grandchildren (TXGRG), a non-profit organization supporting grandparent caregivers, lacked a specific mental health resource to address this need. This capstone project developed and implemented a self-help, occupation-based educational video series to provide practical strategies for preventing and managing depression. Designed for accessibility and ease of use, the video series offers tools grounded in daily occupations to promote mental well-being. This project fills a critical gap by equipping TXGRG and its caregivers with a proactive, occupation-focused mental health resource to support emotional resilience and caregiving demands.

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  Sex Education Program for Individuals with Disabilities

  Kalynne Coates and Keisa Boykin

  The purpose of this project is to develop and implement a program to discuss the ADL of sex education with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).

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  Return to Driving For Clients with TBI: A Guide For Caregivers to Navigate Emotional Barriers Experienced by Clients

  Brianna Dorsey and Mary Greer

  The project describes the building of an online resource for caregivers to have easily accessible resources regarding information about brain injuries, emotional barriers, and return to driving programs. Each section provides further resources for caregivers and is intended to help improve their care and medical literacy.

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  Making an Easy Return to School after an Extended Illness Diagnosis

  Ashlyn Eads, Mary Jan Greer, and Julie Boykin

  This poster provides information on the capstone program created at a pediatric site. This program addresses how play-based therapy can help children with an extended illness transition back into the school setting. Both the children and their caregivers need support before, during, and after the return to school. The goals of this program were to educate caregivers on how to advocate for their child for positive outcomes, provide caregivers with resources to promote successful transition to school, provide play-based strategies for children addressing handwriting, social Skills, upper body strength, education, fine Motor Skills, and provide the site and caregivers with a Home Activities Binder.

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  Ergonomics & Environmental Changes within the Beauty Industry to Decrease Musculoskeletal Conditions

  Jessika Eiland and Rebecca King

  Ergonomics, adaptation, and environmental changes within the beauty industry to decrease musculoskeletal conditions in the upper extremities. Musculoskeletal disorders and their effects may limit a hairdressers ability to complete their job duties. For individuals within the beauty industry, health management can become an important factor.

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  Exploring the Relationship Between Hand Grip Strength and Handwriting Proficiency

  Chloe Fields and Rebecca King

  Handwriting remains essential for a child's academic performance despite the rise of technology in classrooms, but overuse of digital tools can hinder the development of essential hand muscles and fine motor skills. This capstone project explores the relationship between handwriting proficiency, hand grip strength, and the impact of excessive technology use on young students.

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  To-Do List: A Chore Program for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

  Mariah Gad, Mary Jan Greer, and Danielle Howerton

  Many children with autism spectrum disorder do not have the exposure to age-appropriate chore tasks because their parents may be unaware of how to actively get their child involved with household tasks. The overarching goal of this project was to develop a chore program for children with autism to gain responsibilities and learn functional living skills through the use of household chores to aid in the transition process to adulthood.

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  Social Participation Approach In Brain Injury Survivors

  Lexie Graham and Cassandra Nelson

  This program will consist of educating brain injury survivors and their peers on social participation following a brain injury. With the cognitive and physical deficits that come with brain injuries, a decrease in socialization occurs due to those barriers faced. With the lack of resources aimed towards brain injuries and social participation this program is essential to ensuring everyone has access to an education platform. Providing brain injury survivors and their peers with evidence-based information and tips for socializing is vital to helping families, friends, significant others, and peers keep strong relationships and increase their quality of life.

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  Occupational Therapy Education and Advocacy for Individuals with Parkinson’s Disease

  Francis Green and Cynthia Haynes

  Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive neurological disorder that profoundly affects individuals' daily lives. While occupational therapy (OT) has been shown to enhance independence, motor function, cognitive health, and emotional well-being for individuals with PD, awareness and understanding of these services remain limited among patients and caregivers. This capstone project sought to address this gap by developing and distributing tailored educational materials. Weekly handouts, supported by in-person discussions, were designed to raise awareness of OT’s role and provide actionable strategies for managing PD symptoms. Surveys conducted throughout the project provided valuable feedback on the educational materials created, ensuring the materials' relevance and effectiveness.

  This project highlights the importance of occupational therapy in addressing health literacy by delivering accessible, client-centered education that empowers individuals with PD and their caregivers. It also emphasizes OT's vital role in advocacy, interdisciplinary collaboration, and creating replicable frameworks to bridge gaps in understanding and access to services. By enhancing awareness and engagement with OT, this initiative contributes to improved health outcomes and establishes a model for addressing similar challenges in other underserved populations.

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  Educating Parents to Reduce Negative Screen Time to Promote Children’s Play

  Anna Groden and Cassandra Nelson

  This program will consist of educating caregivers and educators on the ever growing topic of screen time and how to handle it in the current digital world. As screen time and device use continues to grow, parents need the help of an occupational therapist to help promote a healthy use of screen time and to incorporate it into play. Providing caregivers and educators with evidence-based information and interventions is imperative to helping parents navigate proper technology use. An occupational therapist will have the unique ability to help promote balanced screen time use and allowing for healthy play.

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  Powerful Families Podcast: The Role of Occupational Therapy in Family Education of Mental Health Conditions and Substance Use Disorder

  Wessleigh Holloway and Cynthia Haynes

  Mental health conditions and SUD significantly impact family members emotionally and physiologically, yet these effects are often insufficiently recognized and addressed (Delaney, 2023). Existing education programs focus on individuals in recovery, leaving families without the necessary knowledge and skills to support their loved ones effectively, resulting in feelings of powerlessness and confusion. This capstone project created an education program to equip family members of individuals with SUD or mental health challenges with the knowledge and skills needed to navigate addiction and recovery effectively. The program focuses on improving understanding of SUD, fostering healthier coping mechanisms, strengthening family trust, and enhancing caregivers' occupational wellbeing. By empowering families through education and resources, the project promoted resilience and well-being in families and their communities.

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  Navigating Life After th NICU: A Developmental Guide for Preterm and High-Risk Infants and Toddlers

  Reagan Lachaussee; Mary Jan Greer PhD, OTR; and Theresa Mensi

  Premature and medically fragile infants are at high risk for developmental delays and benefit from ongoing support. Parents often feel overwhelmed and uncertain about how to support their child’s development at home. This project addressed gaps in caregiver education and support by developing the PEARLS Program (Promoting Early Achievements, Resilience, and Life Skills), a practical resource tailored to the needs of families and healthcare providers.

  A needs assessment and provider feedback guided the program’s development, identifying challenges such as information overload, confusion around corrected age, and feeding difficulties. The PEARLS Program empowers families with digestible, actionable resources, including a “Going Home” packet, age-specific handouts, interactive tools, and a social media platform. These tools bridge gaps in communication and promote confidence in caregivers as they navigate their child’s growth and development.

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  Assistive Technology Abandonment with Veterans and Leisure Activities

  Tara Lamson, Lee Ann Hoffman, and Mary Greer

  Veterans using assistive technology (AT) often face barriers that limit their participation in meaningful leisure activities, negatively impacting their mental health and quality of life. This project aimed to address these challenges by developing an educational program focused on improving AT management, reducing abandonment, and promoting leisure engagement. A needs assessment of veterans in Abilene, TX, revealed critical issues, including barriers to leisure, limited community involvement, and gaps in AT maintenance education. The program delivered web-based and in-person resources on AT use, adaptive leisure strategies, and equipment recycling. Key outcomes included enhanced social participation, improved independence, and sustainable solutions for AT recycling. This initiative highlights the essential role of occupational therapy in empowering veterans through evidence-based, occupation-focused interventions that support mental well-being and functional engagement.

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  Individualized Sensory Based Functional Activity Program For Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disability with a Co-morbidity of a Mental Health Condition

  Dakota LaPorte, Cynthia Haynes, and Rebekah Jarrar

  This Program was designed for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities who have a co-occurring mental health condition. This program was designed based on the individual's sensory needs to improve occupational performance in their lives. This capstone project filled a knowledge gap by creating a sensory based activity program for individuals with IDD and mental health conditions. Its primary goal was to educate participants about their sensory needs and integrate these into functional activities to improve occupational performance.

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  An Occupational Therapy Educational Guidebook for Participating in African American Hair Care

  Kyra Mann and Lakeisa Boykin

  This educational guidebook offers resources for occupational therapy practitioners (OTPs) to support African American hair care during Activity of Daily Living (ADL) interventions. The materials aim to enhance OTPs' awareness, knowledge, and confidence, fostering inclusive and effective approaches to improve participation and success in these tasks.

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  Occupational Therapy Role in Aiding Health Management for Caregivers of Children with Neurological Conditions

  Peyton McGee, Mary Jan Greer, and Caitlyn Boyd

  Neurological disorders are identified as a dysfunction on any part of the nervous system that cause disability (Kumar et al., 2022). In order to enhance the outcome of children with neurological conditions, there should be an emphasis on the role and well-being of their caregivers. Common symptoms of neurological disorders among children include delayed developmental milestones, seizures and epilepsy, regression of skills, abnormal movements and behaviors, headaches, sensory processing issues, and communication difficulties. Adjusting to a new normal can be overwhelming for caregivers, especially when children transition out of rehab. The aim of the proposed capstone project is to aid in preventing burnout for the main caregivers by providing education on health management and alternatives that aid in care such as day programs for children. Emphasizing the role and wellbeing of the caregivers can enhance the outcomes of children with neurological conditions

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  Examining Anxiety and Coping Strategies with Persons with Parkinson's Disease (PwPD) Who Routinely Exercise

  Ashlynn Milburn, Angela Labrie Blackwell, Karen Aranha, and Maggie Abbott

  Forty to 50% of the PwPD are reported to experience anxiety (Kwok et al., 2019). Anxiety is psychological distress characterized by excessive worry, and apprehension about future events (Khatri et al., 2020). Psychological distress with this population is secondary to care dependency, poor work and social function, increased physical and cognitive decline, increased dementia risk, and high mortality rate (Kwok et al., 2019).Exercise and meditation have been found to be useful coping strategies to manage one’s physical condition as well as psychosocial factors such as anxiety, with PD (Mantri et al., 2021).Although these coping strategies have the potential to reduce anxiety, there is a lack of understanding on which coping strategies PwPD utilize or should utilize to address symptoms of anxiety. Therefore, an exploratory study examining the lived experiences of PwPD, and their coping strategies is the basis of this investigation. This study used a mixed methods design with Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) to better understand individuals with PD lived experiences with anxiety. The findings from this study suggest that the BAI scale had a limited potential to detect anxiety, possibly due to outcome measure administered post exercise.