Spring 2025 OTD Capstone Symposium

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  Thriving Beyond Barriers: A Wellness Guide for Athletes and Coaches

  Sydnie Allen, OTS; Lesley Khan-Farooqi, PhD, OTD, OTR; and Emily Andersen, OTD, OTR

  This project addressed gaps in knowledge and skills among athletes and coaches regarding the social, physical, and environmental dimensions of wellness, which impact participation, health, quality of life, and overall wellness. The purpose was to create a wellness guide focused on the social, physical, and environmental dimensions of wellness, which may inhibit participation, health, quality of life, and overall wellness while fostering social inclusion and accommodating individual abilities to reduce injury risk and promote motivation. Though research on occupational therapy (OT) in sports is limited, emerging studies highlight the importance of participation for long-term independence. Environmental barriers like accessibility issues underscore the need for inclusive sports facility designs. The project focuses on short-term outcomes, including inclusive design adoption and practices that build camaraderie and self-confidence. Long-term goals involve helping athletes achieve personal objectives through enhanced sports participation, thus improving their health and quality of life. Satisfaction surveys and feedback indicated strong engagement from the sports community, showcasing the guidebook's effectiveness. In conclusion, expanding OT's role in sports medicine emphasizes the need for further research on the guidebook’s impact and the creation of wellness resources for specific athlete populations.

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  Bridges to ASD: Building Resilience, Self-Efficacy and Capacity in Belizean Caregivers of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

  Katherine B. Anderton, Amy Satterthwaite, and Angela Labrie Blackwell

  The Bridges to ASD program was a capstone project that contributed to the nonprofit clinic in a developing country by providing resources and training sessions that potentially helped to unify the caregivers, the teachers and the therapists in their common goals to better support their children in the community with ASD.

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  Exploring the Role of Occupational Therapy in Collegiate Athlete Mental Health Care: A Concept Analysis

  Jacquelyn Arnett and Lesley Khan-Farooqi

  Adverse mental health outcomes in collegiate athletes are on the rise in the United States, prompting concerns about the impact of external surroundings on their well-being. Occupational therapy (OT) is a profession that specializes in environmental- and occupation-centered intervention, approaches to mental health care not currently being utilized in collegiate athlete populations. Despite these potential benefits, OT practitioners (OTPs) are not an established member of the care team in current athlete mental health care structures, likely because many stakeholders do not understand the unique services OTPs can offer. Walker and Avant’s eight-stage concept analysis was employed to examine the role of occupational therapy in addressing mental health problems in collegiate athletes with the aim of increasing the understanding of OT’s role in mental health care among athletes, athletic department staff, and OTPs. A literature search using PRISMA scoping review guidelines was conducted and a critical analysis of the 13 articles that passed the screening process demonstrated that OTPs often become involved in athlete mental health care after a physical injury or disability onset. However, an emerging area of OT involvement includes areas such as identity crisis prevention and transition from sport assistance as the primary focuses of treatment. Before OTPs can be fully maximized in this capacity, the profession must address issues of practice practicality, stakeholder buy-in, and policy. OTPs must also refine population-specific treatment approaches, such as identifying barriers to the occupational basis of mental health, to prove professional necessity and bolter interprofessional acceptance on the team. OT has the potential to broaden and deepen the collegiate athlete mental health care team’s repertoire if the role can be realized.

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  Parenting with Peace: A Childhood Anxiety Education Program

  Grace Arnold; Angela Blackwell; and Teri Jetter, MSOT

  The Parenting with Peace education program offers a comprehensive education program to parents of children with Anxiety. The program delves into the topics of self-regulation, emotional regulation, etc. The program offers parents information on each topic, information on how parenting impacts the topic, and at-home interventions that parents can engage in to help support their child. The program can help parents address the goal of improving competency about childhood anxiety symptoms and self-regulation techniques, improving their ability to engage in the occupation of caregiver.

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  Educational Program for Individuals with Spinal Cord Injuries Over Bowel and Bladder Management

  Hannah H. Bacino, Rebecca King, and Leah Holderbaum

  A spinal cord injury (SCI) is a life-altering event that impacts many domains of an individual's life. Individuals may experience a decreased ability to participate in meaningful activities and a loss of voluntary body functions. The most common symptom following an SCI is loss of voluntary bowel and bladder control. Literature highlights the importance of education on bowel and bladder management following a SCI. However, there is a lack of accessible and comprehensive education on this topic for individuals affected by an SCI. To address this problem, an educational resource was created. The purpose of the educational resource was to help individuals with SCIs improve their understanding of bowel and bladder management to enhance their overall quality of life. This educational resource contains ten topics critical for bowel and bladder management, addressing the specific needs of the spinal cord injury population to support an effective routine.

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  Individuals with Spinal Cord Injury Reintegrating into Leisure and Exercise Occupations Within the Community

  Olivia Y. Baker and Cassandra Nelson

  The Live, Laugh, Leisure program was developed to support adults with spinal cord injuries (SCIs) in improving quality of life, physical activity, and social participation through structured, community-based leisure and exercise interventions. Informed by a thorough needs assessment, the program incorporated adaptive activities such as resistance training, cognitive games, group discussions, and arts-based sessions. Participants engaged three to five times weekly over a four-month period. Eligibility criteria included adults over 18 with SCI and medical clearance for participation.

  Quantitative outcomes were assessed using the Quality of Life Scale (QOLS), Godin Leisure-Time Exercise Questionnaire (GLTEQ), and exercise performance tracking. Results indicated notable improvements in quality of life and physical activity levels across most participants (Figures 2–4), with many reporting increased strength, endurance, and social engagement. Qualitative feedback revealed enhanced motivation, emotional resilience, and a stronger sense of community belonging.

  Despite limitations such as a small sample size and a relatively short program duration, findings highlight the value of integrating occupational therapy principles into community programs for individuals with neurological conditions. The results suggest that structured, adaptive recreation fosters not only physical gains but also psychosocial well-being. The program’s success has broader implications for community reintegration, offering a replicable model that emphasizes empowerment, engagement, and holistic recovery.

  Future recommendations include expanding accessibility, exploring virtual delivery options, and developing sustainable partnerships with local organizations and healthcare providers. The Live, Laugh, Leisure program demonstrates that community-based, occupation-centered interventions can meaningfully improve the lives of individuals living with SCI.

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  Aquatic Based Exercise for Adults with Lymphedema to Improve Quality of Life

  Abigail Bancroft and Cassandra Nelson

  Individuals diagnosed with lymphedema can face physical, emotional, and psychosocial complications. Since lymphedema is a lifelong condition, symptom management is crucial to an individual’s daily routine and well-being. Aquatic therapy is an approach where individuals perform exercises in the water, and the characteristics of the water provide many benefits for lymphedema. The purpose of this capstone was to develop an aquatic-based exercise program for individuals with lymphedema to increase social participation and improve overall quality of life. Increasing the awareness of aquatic therapy for lymphedema can educate individuals and occupational therapists on another treatment option to help manage lymphedema symptoms.

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  Assessing Social Media Experiences of Young Adults and its Impact on Mental Functions and Daily Routine Performances

  Dominique E. Barron and Lakeisa Boykin

  This capstone project is a qualitative research study investigating the relationship between social media and the wellbeing of users.

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  Support Group Development for the Mental Health of Parents of Children with Complex Diagnoses

  Sarah G. Bonner, Lakesia Boykin, and Dana Madalon

  This presentation covers support group program development for the mental health of parents of children with complex diagnoses. It outlines the need for emotional support, describes the group activities used to promote coping and resilience, and explains how the program was implemented and evaluated using pre- and post-surveys.

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  Intimacy Versus Isolation in Adults With Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities: An Educational Video-Series for Caregivers

  Aubrey Brinkley and Steven M. Gerardi PhD, OTD, MSS, OTR

  Caregivers of people with IDD do not have sufficient resources to assist in preparing their care-recipients to deal with the adult developmental stage of intimacy versus isolation. The purpose of this project was to create an educational video-series for caregivers of people with IDD on how to help their care-recipients successfully achieve the psychosocial developmental stage of intimacy versus isolation.

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  Occupational Therapy in Upper Limb Loss, Prosthetics, and Rehabilitation: A Video Training Series for Entry-Level Occupational Therapy Practitioners

  Bailey M. Brown and Lesley Khan-Farooqi

  The purpose of this capstone project was to deepen my understanding of upper limb prosthetics, observe patient care, and identify gaps in occupational therapy education related to upper limb loss, prosthetic use, and rehabilitation. A key objective was to support the Hanger Clinic by increasing the number of completed Upper Limb Prosthetic User Outcome Forms, as well as to capture photos and videos—separate from this video training series—to contribute to Hanger’s educational library. Additionally, the project aimed to develop practical resources for both patients and clinicians navigating upper limb loss. Insights gained throughout this experience informed the creation of a video training series on upper limb prosthetics and rehabilitation, designed specifically for entry-level occupational therapists.

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  Exploring Occupational Identity and Cultural Belongingness of Chinese Transracial Intercountry Adoptees: A Qualitative Study

  Kenzie Butts and Karen Park

  Chinese transracial intercountry adoptees may experience discrimination, microaggressions, and stereotyping by not feeling like they fit in with White American or traditional Chinese cultures due to an upbringing of a different race and ethnicity. These barriers may result in a lack of engagement in cultural experiences further impacting their sense of identity and cultural belongingness. A qualitative phenomenological research approach was used to understand how seven Chinese transracial adoptees identity development and sense of cultural belongingness relate to their occupational participation during their early adulthood years. Data was collected through a 45-minute, audio-recorded virtual semi-structured interview via Microsoft Teams and coded using Braun and Clarke method of reflexive thematic analysis. Results suggest that adoptee’s perceptions on cultural socialization practices shifts from childhood to cultural engagement or occupational engagement in adulthood in which six themes emerged reflecting feelings related to discomfort, adoptees’ journey through self-discovery, perception of their adoptive parents and family structure, emerging into diverse communities, and motivations for engagement in cultural experiences as an adult. This study brings insight on the complexity Chinese transracial intercountry adoptees experience in early adulthood to better inform occupational therapists working in community-based or mental health practice settings who may encounter transracial adoptees.

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  An OT Web-based Program for Assessing and Treating Vision Deficits in TBIs

  Brooklynn Bycott, Rebecca King, and Jaimee Fielder

  This capstone project supported occupational therapists in addressing vision deficits associated with traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) through a web-based educational program. The program focused on assessment strategies, intervention techniques and strategies, and caregiver education. Guided by the Person-Environment-Occupation-Performance model and the Occupational Adaptation frame of reference, the project promoted occupational engagement and improved quality of life for individuals with vision deficits associated with TBIs and their caregivers by increasing clinicians’ confidence and knowledge.

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  Graded Habilitation Activities for Direct Support Professionals: An Educational Video Series

  Christi Cantu, Steven M. Gerardi, and Daniel J. Burt

  This capstone project was created for direct support professionals (DSPs) to have a new resource for education and training on how to properly apply the concept of graded habilitation activities based on the Allen’s cognitive levels to the DSPs sessions. This capstone project was a need in the DSP community for DSPs provide direct care to people with intellectual or development disabilities (IDD). Therefore, this capstone project supports education and training DSPs need to optimally apply graded habilitation activities, based on participants’ cognitive level, to provide optimal services for people with IDD. Problem: DSPs lack knowledge of and education/training on the creation and delivery of graded habilitation activities for people with IDD based on levels of cognitive functioning and performance skills. This can lead to DSPs providing less than optimal services to participants. Purpose: The purpose of this project was to create an educational video series for DSPs on the creation and delivery of graded habilitation activities for people with IDD based on levels of cognitive functioning. The topics covered in this paper include but are not limited to direct support professionals, people with intellectual or developmental disabilities, the Cognitive Disabilities Model, Allen’s cognitive levels, the Allen Cognitive Level Screen, occupational therapy, and graded habilitation activities. This paper also includes the video series outlines, the video series scripts, the link to each video series, and the quick response code to the video series resource.

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  Discovering the Cultural Impacts on Asian American, Pacific Islander (AAPI) Occupations from Adolescent Experiences

  Jasmine Chew and Karen Park

  Background: Among the Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) population, there is a gap in mental health (MH) utilization and seeking support for anxiety and depression (Wu et al., 2021). Adolescents experience a higher risk for self-isolating behaviors and struggle to find appropriate support (Ai et al., 2022; Santos & Kawabata, 2023). Based on cultural and socio-political contexts, what is the occupational impact on AAPI adolescents? How do cultural factors impact the utilization of community-based MH services?

  Method: A convergent mixed methods study of unobtrusive data (n = 14), surveys (n = 29), and interviews (n = 4) was conducted to assess the occupational harmony between occupational performance and MH supports. Reflexive thematic analysis of the unobtrusive data and interviews provided overlying themes, whereas graphical analysis of survey responses provided visual descriptors.

  Results: Family and cultural values have a strong relationship affecting how adolescents develop their values. Most AAPI adolescents are not familiar with MH supports (41%) and rarely sought external support (38%) or resources (83%). The rate of occupational harmony is skewed left with a moderate alignment of roles (mean = 6.69, SD = 1.58) and harmony (mean = 6.41, 1.52).

  Conclusion: The cultural impact on occupations and responsiveness to mental health services are significant in supporting adolescents to find belonging and community. Occupational therapists within MH settings may acknowledge the cultural and spiritual differences to provide appropriate services to promote mental wellness resources.

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  Ready to Shine: A Framework for Coaching K-12 Educators to Support Diverse Learners

  Kathleen Childs, Angela Blackwell, and Katie Gebhart

  The Ready to Shine: A Framework for Coaching K-12 Educators to Support Diverse Learners is meant to guide occupational therapy practitioners in training and coaching educators to implement strategies to support students with social-emotional, behavioral, sensory, or other unique needs. Through this framework, practitioners will aim to equip educators with the confidence, self-efficacy, and competence to use tools and/or techniques that promote participation and performance among their students.

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  The Empowerment Through Assistive Devices: A Program for Older Adults Post-Stroke and Their Caregivers

  Gillian L. Cole and Cassandra Nelson

  This capstone project aimed to develop a holistic and sustainable educational program for post-stroke adults using mobility devices in long-term care at CC Young. The program was to empower stroke survivors to regain independence, enhance their quality of life, and reduce caregiver burden by focusing on functional mobility, safety, caregiver support, device adherence, and multiple other factors that increase functional independence and safety. The program achieved significant outcomes through in-depth training, consistent education, feedback incorporation, and ongoing follow-up. Device usage rates were notably increased, helping participants continue using mobility aids effectively and consistently. Additionally, the program played a critical role in reducing device abandonment rates, which is a common issue among stroke survivors that then impacts caregivers. The program took a holistic approach by addressing both the technical aspects of mobility device use and providing emotional support, empowering stroke survivors. This approach fostered a sense of autonomy in the participants while also building a strong, supportive network for their caregivers. The success of this initiative highlights the importance of integrating education, support, and follow-up care in enhancing the long-term outcomes for stroke survivors in long-term care settings. Through comprehensive training, community support, and long-term follow-up, the program increased device adherence, decreased abandonment rates, and fostered a sense of empowerment among both stroke survivors and caregivers

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  Learning What to Say Through Theater and Play: A Theater Arts Communication and Conflict Resolution Program for Neurodivergent Children

  Elena Corsair and Steven M. Gerardi

  Joshua’s Stage is a theater-based enrichment program for children with special needs. Joshua’s Stage provides developmentally appropriate activities for their students, but they do not address clinical or functional problems. Problem: Joshua’s Stage does not provide specialized programming to meet the needs of neurodivergent children with communication problems and conflict resolution, making it difficult for these children to participate fully. Purpose: The purpose of this project was to create a theater arts communication and conflict resolution program for neurodivergent children to be integrated into Joshua’s Stage enrichment program. A four-week program, consisting of eight sessions, was developed over a 14-week timeframe. It consisted of researching aspects of communication to create themes, researching theater-based activities that could encompass these themes, rough drafts of each session, mentor reviews and feedback, rewriting sessions based off feedback, activity trials, and modifications based on observations and Joshua’s Stage’s staff’s feedback. Four of the eight program activities were trialed, with modifications made to increase comprehension and support, and to maximize participation and enjoyment. These changes to grade down the activity were built into the program as options to meet the children’s needs. The program aimed to increase activity participation by teaching communication and conflict-resolution skills through theater and arts-based activities.

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  An OT Program Manual for IPV Survivors Living in Transitional Housing

  McCall Cowart and Rebecca King

  This capstone project aimed to address the financial instability and employment challenges experienced by female survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV) residing in transitional housing. Grounded in the Occupational Adaptation model, the project involved the development and implementation of a client-centered job readiness and money management program tailored to the unique needs of this population. A comprehensive literature review identified critical barriers to economic independence among IPV survivors, including economic abuse, lack of education, and limited access to resources. Through collaboration with the YWCA of Palm Beach County’s Harmony House, a six-week program was delivered, incorporating lessons on budgeting, financial safety planning, resume building, job applications, interview preparation, and banking. Data collected via pre- and post-program surveys indicated a marked improvement in participants’ financial literacy, self-confidence, and perceived independence. Despite challenges in attendance and the need for individualized delivery, participants reported high satisfaction with the program. The findings underscore the essential role of occupational therapy in empowering IPV survivors and promoting long-term self-sufficiency and well-being through holistic, skills-based interventions.

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  Increasing Access to Adequate Care for Low-Resource Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

  Breanna A. Culver and Rebecca King

  Exploring and understanding the barriers to accessing adequate neurodivergent affirming care for autistic children and their families. Taking steps to decrease financial barriers, poor health literacy, and lack of available resources by developing a non-profit organization that will increase access to adequate care for these families. Participating in community outreach to raise awareness of and education about autism spectrum disorder in the local community of Corsicana, Texas on the needs of the autistic community.

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  Balanced Bliss: Promoting Leisure Participation in a Daytime Homeless Shelter

  Timarie Delony, Shelby Osborne, and Angela Labrie Blackwell

  Opportunities to engage in leisure activities are limited for individuals experiencing homelessness who attend daytime homeless shelters (Palimaru et al., 2023). The purpose of this capstone project was to develop and implement a leisure participation program for homeless individuals attending daytime shelters, addressing the gap in leisure exploration and participation. The program was structured around an 8-week timeframe, with weekly thematic focuses on physical, social, emotional, spiritual, environmental, intellectual, financial, and occupational wellness.

  The program consisted of one-hour sessions, four times a week, incorporating 32 structured activities designed to encourage engagement in diverse leisure pursuits. To support ongoing wellness, weekly newsletters were provided to participants. The project was executed in five phases over a 15-week period: Strengths and Needs Assessment, Program Development, Program Implementation, Program Evaluation, and Program Dissemination. By providing a structured leisure program within the daytime shelter setting, the project aimed to enhance the quality of life and well-being of homeless individuals, while exploring the broader potential impact of such programs on homeless support services.

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  Researching Effective Interventions within Occupational Therapy for Individuals with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome

  Brooklyn Devenny, Zeida Gutierrez, and Jen Neuenfeldt

  This research project assessed client and clinician perceptions on the effectiveness of treatment interventions for CRPS. The purpose of this research was to assess the effectiveness of interventions for CRPS as perceived by clinicians and clients to evaluate the impact on client function and overall satisfaction coping with CRPS.

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  Fostering Autonomy and Self Efficacy: An Informal Caregiver's Guide to Encouraging Participation in Self-Care

  Jade A. Evans, Steven M. Gerardi, and Precious Osuoha

  Helping Hands and Active Lives is a practical guidebook designed to empower informal caregivers to support senior independence and well-being. It offers evidence-based strategies to enhance communication, mobility, and daily function while emphasizing the impact of caregiving approaches on occupational success.

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  Educating Occupational Therapy Students on the Role, Scope, and Delivery of Occupational Therapy Services in End-of-Life Care

  Zaria Favorite, Angela Labrie Blackwell, and Shannon Kauppila

  Patients at the end-of-life (EoL) experience a decline in body functions and performance skills along with challenges in maintaining occupational roles, routines, habits, and performance patterns (American Occupational Therapy Association [AOTA], 2020). Despite their decline, patient want to continue to participate in their chosen occupations, which are unfulfilled due to the role, scope, and delivery of OT services in EoL care being misunderstood by OT students and practitioners, healthcare professionals, patients, families, and caregivers (Hammill et al., 2019; Knecht-Sabres et al., 2019; Mueller et al., 2021). There is a need for increased education and training so OT students can better understand their role in EoL care.

  To address this problem, an EoL care simulation was developed to educate OT students on the role, scope, and delivery of OT services within this population. The purpose of this simulation was to provide OT students with hands-on experience in evaluating and treating individuals at the EoL and educating and training their caregivers. This capstone project aspires to improve OT students' understanding of the role of OT in EoL care and overall improve OT practice in EoL care. Ultimately, this project can broaden OT practice and the scope of EoL care to comprehensively meet the needs of terminally ill patients and their families.

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  Occupational Therapy for Participation in Spirituality for Individuals With Cancer: A Scoping Review

  Natalie Fernandez, Lesley Khan-Farooqi, and Steven Gerardi

  The incidence of cancer continues to rise. For many individuals with cancer, spirituality is an important part of life. Spirituality impacts the individual’s meaning, purpose, self-identity, occupational engagement, occupational performance, and quality of life. However, there are sometimes barriers to participation in religions activities. Occupational therapy (OT) is indicated when people have barriers to participation. However, spirituality is not consistently addressed in OT practice and OT practitioners may not feel comfortable in addressing barriers to participation in spiritual activities among their clients with cancer. Objective: Scoping review methodology was used to answer the research question, how are OT practitioners addressing the barriers and challenges to participation in spirituality of clients with cancer? Design: A scoping review was conducted using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses -Scoping Review (PRISMA ScR) guidelines. Online databases were searched to identify literature from the years 2000-2025. Nine articles met the inclusion criteria. Data was charted based on constructs of the OT process and the Canadian Model of Occupational Performance and Engagement (CMOP-E). Results: Most of the identified literature used qualitative methods. OT practitioners were aware of the clients’ needs and outcomes per OT referral. The impact of each intervention on the individual with cancer was illustrated as themes within the components of the CMOP-E. The themes illustrated within the majority were strength found through spiritual beliefs, hope, and/or faith, coping with cancer, social support, physical symptoms associated with cancer, as well as the program/hospital rules and regulations. OT practitioners address the barriers and challenges to participation in spiritual activities by creating a tailored treatment plan for the individual through the completion of each component of the OT Process and the identified spiritual interventions.

  Conclusions: Through the guidance and support of the OT practitioner, spiritual interventions were used to treat the individual from a holistic perspective to address the barriers and challenges individuals with cancer face. The spiritual interventions fostered meaning, purpose, occupational participation in spirituality, self-identity, self-worth, and overall quality of life.