Spring 2025 OTD Capstone Symposium

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  Enhancing Concussion Management: Addressing the Needs of Student-Athletes, Coaches, and Occupational Therapy Practitioners

  Anya Vernon, Lesley Khan-Farooqi, and Tyra Lea

  There are limited educational resources available on concussion management for occupational therapy practitioners, coaches, and student-athletes which can limit access to comprehensive occupational therapy services for clients who have sustained a concussion, ultimately hindering participation in sport and overall wellbeing. The purpose of this capstone was to develop a comprehensive guidebook for coaches and student-athletes and a comprehensive handbook for occupational therapy practitioners to raise awareness in concussion education and clarify occupational therapy's role on a multidisciplinary concussion management team. This project addresses the growing need for concussion education among student-athletes and coaches, improves understanding of concussion signs and symptoms, raises awareness about adaptations, reinforces the importance of following safe return to play protocols, and focuses on the contributions of occupational therapy practitioners in concussion management.

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  Bridging the Gap: Educating Occupational Therapy Students on Services for Medically Complex Children in Prescribed Pediatric Extended Care Centers and Similar Settings

  Karleigh Villneuve and Zeida Gutierrez

  The purpose of this project was to educate entry-level OT students on healthcare and OT services for CMC in PPEC centers and similar facilities through an educational seminar and resources. Educating students about healthcare and OT services for CMC in PPEC centers and similar facilities will hopefully increase interest in pursuing a role in this emerging practice area and increase advocacy efforts for this vulnerable population.

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  The Importance of Well-being for College Students

  Benjamin Williamson and Dr. Mary Jan Greer, PhD, OTR

  Provided education on well-being, enabled independence, and improved quality of life, specifically for college students in this setting.

  Advocate for Sustainable Programs:

  Advocated for more programs to address the needs of college students and integrated all 8 dimensions of wellness into their current lifestyle

  Support Academic Advancement:

  Addressed college students' needs for overcoming occupational adversities which affects the longevity and academic success of college students

  Motivate College Students:

  Provided accessible and occupation-based resources that supported participating college students in independently improving their occupational roles

  Advance Holistic Based Strategies:

  Incorporated holistic based strategies that apply to each occupational role affecting participating college students.

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  An Independent Living Skills Training Guide for Direct Support Professionals Working With People With Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities

  Nigel Yeo and Steven Gerardi PhD, OTD, MSS, OTR

  Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) serve an important role in assisting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) in many aspects of their lives through the provision of care and support. Despite lacking in knowledge and training to support the potentially complex and varied presentation of people with IDD, DSPs are in a position to help their clients address and improve on their independent living skills that are important for autonomy and overall well-being. The capstone project developed the Independent Living Skills Teaching Guide (ILSTG), as a tool for DSPs, containing activity plans related to independent living skills, activity modifications based on cognitive functions, motor functions, as well as language and communication functions. The ILSTG was also designed to be expandable by DSPs to ensure longevity in relevancy. The capstone project sheds light on how the field of occupational therapy can support DSPs’ endeavors of bettering the lives of their clients with IDD.

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  Advocating for POTS; A Misdiagnosed and Underserved Population

  Abbey E. Zimmers and Zeida Gutierrez

  Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) is a form of dysautonomia that primarily affects the autonomic nervous system, making daily activities such as standing or concentrating difficult due to symptoms like fatigue, dizziness, and brain fog. It is most common in young women, often triggered by autoimmune diseases, viral infections, or trauma. POTS is under-diagnosed, with healthcare providers often unaware of its full spectrum of symptoms and the role of occupational therapy in managing daily function. Occupational therapy (OT) can significantly improve quality of life by helping patients manage symptoms and regain independence. Raising awareness of POTS and the benefits of occupational therapy is crucial for supporting this underserved population.

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  The Inner Blueprint: Unlocking Your 24/7 Potential

  Mackenzie Zurcher and Becky King

  Inner Blueprint is a trauma-informed, occupation-based intervention designed to address the complex needs of adolescent girls with histories of trauma, substance use, and mental health conditions. Grounded in occupational science, the program emphasizes the integration of brain function, sensory processing, emotional regulation, and hormonal influence to promote self-awareness, resilience, identity development, self-worth, and functional independence. The intervention incorporates manualized content delivered through interactive group activities, reflective exercises, and routine-based skill building to support gains in emotional regulation, self-concept development, and daily life performance. A central therapeutic emphasis is placed on enhancing interoceptive awareness and empowering participants to recognize that their brain, body, emotions, and hormonal systems are not only interconnected but also continuously accessible and modifiable. The concept of having 24/7 access to these internal resources is critical in adolescent trauma recovery, offering a sense of control, autonomy, and hope, key elements in restoring agency and promoting sustained healing. Preliminary implementation of Inner Blueprint demonstrated high participant engagement and qualitative improvements in emotional regulation, self-awareness, and the application of learned strategies across contexts. This program highlights the essential role of occupational therapy in adolescent trauma recovery and supports its expanded integration within interdisciplinary mental health care.