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Description

Children with spinal cord injuries (SCI) face significant financial barriers that limit access to adaptive sports, despite the physical and psychosocial benefits of participation. This capstone project aimed to address this gap by developing a comprehensive financial resource guide for families. Guided by the Person-Environment-Occupation-Performance (PEOP) model, a needs assessment was conducted through semi-structured interviews, clinical observations, and stakeholder input, revealing a lack of accessible and centralized funding information. In response, a guidebook was created that includes educational content, local and national funding opportunities, and practical tools for navigating financial aid and grant applications. The guide was piloted and refined based on community feedback. This project highlights the role of occupational therapy in addressing social determinants of health (SDOH) and promoting equitable access to meaningful occupations. By improving access to financial resources, this project aims to increase participation in adaptive sports and enhance overall quality of life for children with SCI.

Publication Date

Spring 4-8-2026

Publisher

University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences

Keywords

Children, Spinal cord injuries, Adaptive sports, Needs assessment, Feedback, Occupational therapy, Social determinants of health, Occupations, Quality of life, Financial barriers

Medical Subject Headings

Children, Spinal cord injuries, Adaptive sports, Needs assessment, Feedback, Occupational therapy, Social determinants of health, Occupations, Quality of life, Financial barriers

Disciplines

Medicine and Health Sciences | Occupational Therapy

Comments

Poster presented at the OTD Capstone Symposium held at the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences on April 8-23, 2026.

The Necessity of Adaptive Sports: Addressing Financial Barriers to Participation in Children with Spinal Cord Injuries

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