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OTD Capstone Projects
Class of 2022.
The University of Indianapolis, School of Occupational Therapy is proud to announce the completion of the Doctoral Capstone & Experiential (DCE) for the Occupational Therapy Doctorate Class of 2022. This cohort worked diligently during their DCE to not only learn advanced skills but also to give back to their community sites in time and talent through their large variety of projects. Please view the VoiceThread presentations linked below and learn through our students' projects!
VoiceThread Viewing Instructions
Hailey beneker, OTS
Gabrielle castor, ots, rachel cole, ots, abigail gettinger, ots, tristan flynn grubbs, ots, jacqueline gunther, ots, morgan haney, ots, kylie harper, ots, taylor henson, ots, anna morrisey, ots, haylee ottinger, ots, alexandra retter, ots, travis rippe, ots, ethan roberts, ots, jordan romero, ots, megan rooks, ots, anna slusser, ots, shanele tyler, michael wroblewski, ots, elizabeth harris, ots, patia hunt, ots, dresden glover, ots, michele govern, ots, mackenzie king, ots, courtney romatz, ots, elizabeth siegfried, ots, sara skarshaug, ots, allie gartner, ots, colin hauber, ots, lauren kelley, ots, stephanie mcelhaney, ots, kenzie salzbrenner, ots, shanele tyler, ots, mary grace willis, ots, jordan bentley, ots, lindsey bernzott, ots, kylie collins, ots, lydia delamarter, ots, alyssa earls, ots, lexy hay, ots, sierra lowe, ots, sammy mcleish, maddie parrish, ots, daria seccurro, ots, lyndsey shepherd, ots, fatima tapia, ots, kassidy beckstein, ots, rachel jones, ots, skyla jones, ots, class of 2021, morgan cole, ots, hannah hackman, ots, molly johnson, ots, hanna rose, ots, claire allen, ots, jenny ashton, ots, emma baldwin, ots, angella chen, ots, ally delks, ots, vesneek (vaz) dhani, ots, jasmine everfield, ots, ariel galliher, ots, cecilia heckert, ots, madeline hunter, ots, thomas jacocks, ots, paige mcintire, ots, laura mckay, ots, jeffrey moore, ots, kelly randall, ots, corrine sisson, ots, kendra voth, ots, allie watkins, ots, kelsey yerem, ots, hanah batchelor, ots, gracyn conner, ots, emily hess, ots, isabel mazanowski, ots, catherine salo, ots, rachel salyers, ots, rachael struewing, ots, allison trimpe, ots, kayla mitchell, ots.
Establishing an Occupation-Based Dance Program in the Inpatient Psychiatric Setting Doctoral Capstone Partner: Neurodiagnostic Institute (NDI) Faculty Mentor: Dr. Taylor McGann
shannon bouchard, OTS
Elizabeth brock, ots, kristen dyson, ots, kirby jones, ots, tara nastoff, ots, moriam olorunoje, ots, cassidy stinson, ots, erika wilson, ots, colleen yeldell, ots, kathryn haskell, ots, melody white, ots, adult programming & interventions, brooke badskey, ots, contessa brown, ots, mindy delph, ots, hanna elliott, ots, elizabeth erb, ots, tori faulkner, ots, pamela hess, ots, cheyenne kern, ots, kathryn kittaka, ots, hannah klemp, ots, kelsey lemond, ots, lindsey newhart, ots, amy ragle, ots, jennifer schepers, ots, lesly solares, ots, gerontology concentration - otd & ms gerontology, davis christy, ots, brittany finigan, ots, gabrielle ingram, ots, madison kovacs, ots, tamzyn mather, ots, kayla olson, ots, hannah patton, ots, nicole scholl, ots, shelby sexton, ots, samantha wallenberg, ots, homelessness services, mika coffey-lumpkin, ots, raquel sauder, ots, mental health, sarah burke, ots, kandyse kaizer, ots, taylor welch, ots, pediatric programming & intervention, sydney denhart, ots, sydney elliott, ots, ellen hodson, ots, kaitlynne james, ots, megan julian, ots, megan kraft, ots, julie larson, ots, stefani manchick, ots, olivia milliner, ots, ellen shepherd, ots, savanah wagner, ots, sexual health, kailan henderson, ots, kasey otte, ots.
If you have any interest in hosting a UIndy Doctoral Capstone Experience student or have questions about the Doctoral Capstone Experience, please contact Dr. Christine Kroll, Doctoral Capstone Coordinator, at [email protected] .
NOTICE OF NONDISCRIMINATORY POLICY AS TO STUDENTS The University of Indianapolis ("UIndy") admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at UIndy. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarships and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs. Additional non-discrimination policy information is available at https://uindy.edu/admissions/non-discrimination-policy .

Home > COMMUNITIES > College of Health Sciences > OT > OTDCAPSTONES
Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstone Projects
The Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) Program is an advanced, post-professional online program designed to create occupation-based practitioners who will be ethical leaders of change in occupational therapy services for diverse populations. Graduates will serve in leadership roles, affect educational and health care policy, and act as catalysts for excellence in intervention settings in order to better meet the needs of occupational therapy consumers.
One of the final, culminating experiences in the OTD Program is the capstone project, which demonstrates a synthesis of OTD program outcomes. Incorporating principles of evidence-based and occupation-based practice, students address a specific healthcare problem or health outcome and implement practice changes that improve health care, health care delivery, or health-related outcomes. The project is a faculty-guided scholarly experience that provides evidence of critical thinking, and the ability to apply research principles through problem identification, proposal development, implementation, and evaluation of a solution to a practice problem. Capstone projects may take a number of forms, but the final product provides evidence of scholarship and mastery in the areas of leadership, research methods, and practice improvement.
Submissions from 2023 2023
PROFESSIONAL BEHAVIORS ON THE FIELDWORK PERFORMANCE EVALUATION: PERSPECTIVES OF FIELDWORK EDUCATORS , Jessi S. Clark
Submissions from 2022 2022
Maintaining Occupations for Long-Term Care Residents , Lara Albano
Use of Concept Mapping Within a Functional Neuroanatomy Course to Promote Critical Thinking Skills in Occupational Therapy Students , Alissa R. Baker
Occupation and Time-Use: The Narratives of One Individual with Tetraplegia , Amanda Balser
Understanding Perceptions of Social Eating During Lunch for Adolescents with Anorexia Nervosa: An Instrumental Case Study , Madelyn Duzyk
Occupational Therapists’ clinical reasoning in AAT with dogs in pediatric therapy , Catherine C. Goodman
Understanding the Experiences of Occupational Therapists Assessing and Treating Functional Cognition Following Stroke , Emma R. Gregg
The Effects of Education with Healthcare Providers on Low Vision Assistive Devices and their Ability to Improve Self-Care Skills , Lora L. Jester-Rains
Interprofessional Collaboration Practice Between Nurses and Occupational Therapists , Kimberly Lamke
ImpACTing Students: Students with Disabilities Participating in a Theater Occupation-Based Program , Markii D. Landry
The use of compression to treat phlebolymphedema symptomology: A systematic review , Naomi Moran
Coaching, Capacity, and Change: Youth Sport Providers' Perceptions on Creating a Health-Promoting Environment , Jennifer Papenfuse
Occupational Therapy Practitioners’ Perceptions of the Effectiveness of Employer-Sponsored Evidence-Based Practice Activities , Kelli Spayd
School-Based Practitioners' Perceptions of Working with Students with Challenging Behaviors , Candace Thrash
Effectiveness of Electrical Stimulation in Treating Upper Extremity Pain for Older Adult Clients Residing in a Skilled Nursing Facility , Cody L. West
Submissions from 2021 2021
The Impact of Volunteer Transportation on Older Adult’s Engagement in Meaningful Activities , Belinda Alexander
Interdisciplinary Collaboration in the Homecare Setting , Erica J. Arndt
Examining Cognitive, Social and Teaching Presence in a Virtual Professional Continuing Education Workshop , Christina Bretz
A Case Study of Children's Programming in Transitional Housing , Crystal L. Coffman
A Comparison of the Effectiveness of Two Handwriting Programs on Legibility in First Grade Students , Whitney Cook
Elementary Teachers' Perceptions of the Value of Collaboration with School-Based Occupational Therapists , Jennifer Edick
AN INTERPROFESSIONAL LEARNING EXPERIENCE WITH OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY ASSISTANT AND PHYSICAL THERAPIST ASSISTANT STUDENTS THROUGH A SIMULATED EDUCATIONAL ENVIRONMENT , Brooke Gentry
EFFECTIVENESS OF COLLABORATIVE HANDWRITING CURRICULUM: HANDWRITING WITHOUT TEARS AND ORTON-GILLINGHAM, IN KINDERGARTEN CLASSROOM SETTING. , Merry G. Harper
How Does Intraprofessional and Interprofessional Collaboration Impact the Use of Occupation-Based Practice in Skilled Nursing Facilities , Stedmon D. Hopkins
Get the Wiggles Out: Sensory Paths a Motor-based Intervention to Decrease Out-of-Seat Events in Preschool Children with Special Needs. , Teresa Ludwig
THE ROLE OF REHABILITATION SERVICES IN MANAGING DELIRIUM IN THE ICU: A RETROSPECTIVE CHART REVIEW , Veronique MUNIER
Does Pre-operative Education Increase Activity Participation and Decrease Perceived Arm Dysfunction in Breast Cancer Patients? , Stephanie R. Rexing
Parental Educational and Engagement Through Positioning and Play , Gaile E. Seay
Assistive Technology in Transition Programming for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities , Jennifer L. Veenendall
Occupational Therapists’ Consideration of Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity when Working with Adolescents: An Exploratory Study , Kristin Willey
Therapists’ perceptions of student preparedness regarding hand therapy and the use of occupation-based interventions , Stephanie Ye
Understanding Parent Beliefs and Attitudes Regarding Healthy Relationships and Sexuality Education: Bridging the Inclusivity Gap , Marie C. Zarrilli
Submissions from 2020 2020
Fieldwork Educator Preparedness: A Study Examining the Effect of an Online Learning Module on the Perceived Preparedness Levels of Fieldwork Educators , Breanna Chycinski
The Impact of Cooking Groups on One Individual's Transition to Independent Living , Alison Garcia
An Exploration of Financial Management Programming for Residents in One Homeless Shelter: A Qualitative Institutional Case Study , Amy M. Heiser
Best Practice for Teaching Manual Therapy Techniques to Occupational Therapy Practitioners , Deana K. Jackson
Occupational Engagement in Adults under age 65 living in Skilled Nursing Facilities (OEA-SNF) , Rebecca A. King
Occupational Therapy: The Supports and Barriers to Practice , TAMMY LANE
ACE: A Recipe for Occupational Competence , Brittany J. Miller
Determining the Effect of Target Education on Students’ Cultural Responsiveness and Performance During Standard Patient Interactions , Rebecca Mojica
THE IMPACT OF MOBILE MEDIA ON THE FINE MOTOR DEVELOPMENT OF STUDENTS ENTERING INTO THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM , Bernadette H. Needham
Promoting Writing Development in Preschoolers , Claudia M. Ortiz
OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY SUPPORT IN THE KINDERGARTEN CLASSROOM THROUGH RTI TIER I INTERVENTIONS: KINDERGARTEN TEACHERS’ PERCEPTIONS OF NEED , Robyn R. Scarlett
The Impact of Parent Education with Augmentative and Alternative Communication , Kirsta von Hellens
Submissions from 2019 2019
Parental Self-Efficacy of the “Unexpected Parent” , Cinthia L. Arbogast
Heart To Heart: Educating Allied Healthcare Students and Professionals About Heart Failure , Samantha M. Barefoot
Occupational Therapist-Led Parent Support Group Using an Occupational Therapy Approach , Sean Brim
The Role of Evidence-Based Practice in Alzheimer's Disease and/or Dementia , Laura Leigh Cole
Acute Care Occupational Therapy Practice: Application of the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure in A Palliative Care Program , Karen Enlow
Understanding Therapists' Perceptions of Co-Occurring Substance Use Disorders Using the Model of Human Occupation Screening Tool , Jaimie K. Estreet
Incorporating Meaningful Occupations of Students with Moderate to Severe Intellectual Disabilities into Structured Learning Experiences with Transition Planning at a Public School System , Catherine Gardner
Outcomes for Individuals With Autism Spectrum Disorder (asd) Utilizing Adolescent Adaptive Life Skills Groups , Elizabeth A. Grant
Use of Self-Care Standardized Assessments in Occupational Therapy Skilled Nursing Home Practice , Courtney M. Green
The Impact of an Occupation Based Parkinson Caregiver Program on Caregiver's Quality of Life , Jennifer L. Labonte
The Impact of Education on Implementation of Mirror Box Therapy Across Occupational Therapy Practice Settings , Nicole Y. LaRue
The Home Health Aide Experience: Opportunities for Occupational Therapy , Julia Mindlina
Person-Environment Interactions: the Psychological Implications of Behaviors, Confidence, and Self-Efficacy in Falls Management. , Lisa S. Roberson
What Stops Some Occupational Therapy Practitoners From Providing Fieldwork Education? , Jacqueline S. Schafer-Clay
Exploring Therapist Engagement Using Process Consultation , Rachel B. Spaide
Examining the Benefits of Educating Caregivers About Tummy Time in the Acute Care Setting , Alexandra L. Turner
Movement Opportunities Through Vestibular Engagement To Rhythm (mover) , Lindsay B. Williams
Submissions from 2018 2018
Occupational Therapy Intervention for Project Search Interns With Autism Spectrum Disorder: Potential for Improved Transition Outcomes , Jessie L. Bricker
Perceptions of ATP Certified Occupational Therapy Practitioners on Assistive Technology Education in Occupational Therapy Programs , Karen M. Dishman OTD, OTR, ATP
A Pilot Experimental Study of Adding the Copm To the Occupational Therapy Evaluation Process In the Swing-bed Division of A Rural Hospital Setting , Sarah T. Durbin Ms.
The Impact of Interactive Education on Caregivers Caring for Individuals With Dementia , Lisa K. Hong
Pre-Sleep Routines in Adult Normal Sleepers , Jean Koketsu
Nursing Perceptions of Occupational Therapy for Delirium Management in the Intensive Care Unit , Emma McClellan
Cognitive and Metacognitive Factors in Reading Comprehension for Occupational Therapy Assistant Students , Cynthia L. Meyer
Training Appalachian, Hospital-based Occupational Therapists on the Use of Standardized, Occupation-based Outcome Measures and Treatment Concepts for Traumatic Upper Extremity Injuries: A Pilot Program , Donald G. Pitts
Submissions from 2017 2017
Sensory-based Group Treatment in Reducing Physically Acting-out Behaviors and Perceived Levels of Distress , Tiffany Barnette
Investigating the Effectiveness of Web-based Modules Reinforcing Therapy Topics for Caregivers involved in Early Intervention , Terri L. Beard MS, OTR/L
Investigating the Effectiveness of Web-based Recommended Practice Tutorials for Caregivers of Children in Early intervention Programs , Terri L. Beard
Opening Minds Through Art: Engaging Art Agencies To Foster Community Participation and Commitment , Ashlyn Cunningham
The Residency Program Experience: Impact on Resident and Mentor , Lisa Hiestand
Perceptions of the Impact of Non-Contact Boxing on Social and Community Engagement for Individuals With Parkinson’s Disease , Casey E. Humphrey
Exploring Clinical Fieldwork Educators’ Perceptions and Expectations of Occupational Therapy Student Professional and Technical Skills At the Beginning of Level II Fieldwork , Jessica A. Mason
Exploring Fieldwork Educators' Expectations of Occupational Therapy Students' Professional and Technical Skills , Jessica A. Mason
Ergonomics Within the Workplace: an Occupation Based Injury Prevention Program for Computer Users , Jessica T. Maxwell
Leadership Roles: Creating Inclusiveness Within A Worship Environment , Susan L. Morreau
Workplace Factors Affecting the Delivery of Occupational Therapy Services: Perspectives of Occupational Therapy Practitioners , Robert J. Mullaney
The Effectiveness of Occupational Therapist Guided Remediation Through Handwriting Home Programs , Cindy W. Poole Mrs.
The Effectiveness of Occupational Therapist Guided Remediation Through Handwriting Home Programs , Cindy W. Poole
Sensory-based Services in Adult Mental Health , Leslie Reed
Understanding the Impact of Substance Abuse on Occupation Using the Lifestyle History Questionnaire , Mikel Stone
Implementation of Modified Constraint-induced Therapy in Upper Limb Stroke Rehabilitation in an Inpatient Rehabilitation Hospital , Umana W. Udoeyop
Submissions from 2016 2016
Empower Me! Don’t Abuse Me”: an Occupational Therapy Approach To Violence Prevention , Canique Brown
The Experiences of the Parents of Children Undergoing Occupational Therapy Intervention for the Occupation of Feeding , Michael A. Coldiron
An Occupation Based Practice Educational Program Model Implementing Online Learning , Kristina K. Elam
The Secret Ingredient for Improving Infant/Child Mental Health: Teaching Parents To Play , Geraldine Healy Marini
Impact of an Occupation-based Practice (OBP) Learning Module on Perceptions of OBP and Selection of Occupation-based interventions By Occupational Therapy Assistant Students , Allen S. Keener
Assesement of an Occupation-based Practice Module for an Occupational Therapy Assistant Curriculum , Mary Kim Qualls
Container Culture: an Educational Program To Reduce the Overuse , Ashleigh R. Toy
Submissions from 2015 2015
Enriching Occupational Therapy in Early Intervention: Using and Documenting the Evidence , Shelli Dry and Christine Myers
A Descriptive Study of Menopausal Woman's Life Experiences, Stressors and Their Occupational Meanings , Melanie Ford Dr.
Sleep Occupation Quality and Occupation-based Hand Function in Carpal Tunnel Syndrome , Angela M. Goorman MS, OTR/L
Community Based Programming Promoting Physical Activity , Jennifer Hight M.S. OTR/L
The Role of Occupational Therapy in Primary Care , Priti Patel
Breastfeeding Initiatives in Rural Kentucky: an Action Research Approach To Improving Public Health , Mallory D. Ratliff
Dog Visitation in Long-term Care and Its Effects on Depression , Leah Shea Simpkins
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Home > School of Health and Natural Sciences > Occupational Therapy > Capstone Projects
Occupational Therapy | Graduate Capstone Projects
Students in the Occupational Therapy program spend their last three semesters creating a capstone project. This major academic achievement represents a synthesis of content learned throughout the program.
Subject matter such as theory, research methodology and analysis, program development, and education of clients are applied to either faculty lines of research or projects that will serve the community.
Students gather in teams to complete the thesis under the mentorship of their faculty thesis advisor. Completed theses are disseminated to a wide audience of constituents either in poster sessions, workshops, or peer-reviewed journals.
Theses/Capstones from 2023 2023
A Qualitative Study on Long-Term Adherence to Home Exercise Programs in People with Parkinson’s Disease , Caroline Stafford, Brennan Decena, Shawn Lopez, and Judith Thepkaisone
Exploring the Occupational Transition of Leaving a Cult , Justine Thompson, Baylee R. Chelossi, Emily Osborn, and Christian J. Quitoriano
Life After Brain Injury - Family Perspectives , Shaina Snyder, Everlee Anderson, Allison Wyek, Elijah Tolentino-Medios, and Cathyisabella Kintanar
Life After Brain Injury - Survivor and Family Perspectives , Brandon Duenas, Gary Eng, Haleli Moalem, and Miguel Regidor
Life After Pediatric Hemorrhagic Stroke: Family Centered Outcomes , Janice Brown, Jordan Ng, Reilly Todd, and Alyssa Vo
Measuring Outcomes of Occupational Therapy Facilitated in Natural Settings with Young Children , Amie Smith, Deepak Dale, Brinda Saini, Zoe Peters, and Amanda Laccone
Occupation-Based CNA Program to Build Caregiver Knowledge and Self-Efficacy in Dementia Care , Lucky Ung, Judy Chen, and Michelle Hong
OTs Delivering Culturally Sensitive Care for Dementia Family Caregivers From Diverse Backgrounds , Abraham Lai, Lucy Palacios Mendez, and Darren Sarmiento
Promoting Cultural Arts Access through Sensory-Friendly Theatre , Chanelle Bautista, Alyssa Cho, Jazmine Cunanan, Ariana Marino, and Miko Ramos
The LOTUS Project: A Resilience Program for Dominican University of California Occupational Therapy Graduate Students , Melissa Morini, Naema Dahdoul, Ashley Moffett, Regine Erika Saldivar, and Viviana Vazquez
Training Program for Occupational Therapists Working with Skilled Caregivers in Skilled Nursing Facilities , Lovegifty Dudero, Mai Huynh, and Ridhee Patel
Theses/Capstones from 2022 2022
Adults with Sensory Defensiveness and Their Use of Coping Strategies , Cassidy McCurdy, Sonia Patiño, Julia McMahon, and Sophia Hagen
A Virtual View of Occupation: Transactionalism in MMORPGs , John Miklos, Alex Nold, Shasta Rice, and Amanda Flores
Batok: The Exploration of Indigenous Filipino Tattooing as a Collective Occupation , Ana Cabalquinto, Carmela Dizon, Chelsea Ramirez, and Mai Santiago
Developing a Resilience Program for Occupational Therapy Students , Sienna Guzman, Jenna Lazo, Rachel Thompson, and Madisson Walker
Exploration of Occupational Barriers of At-Promise Youth with Photovoice , Francis Bie, Brianna Baisch, Quyntz Ellenwood, Kerry Krohn, and Iliana Santellan
Holistic Occupational Therapy Dining Interventions Supporting Individuals with Dementia in Skilled Nursing Facilities , Kathleen Osio, Sabrina Anne Cezar, Ashley Lorton, and Lisa Worsham
Identifying Motivators, Facilitators, and Barriers to Engaging in an Online Fine Motor Exercise Program , Kristine Ricossa, Kyndra Menefee, Lauren Rally, Mia Do, and Charis Chan
Impact of Assistive Technology Applications in Higher Education for Students With and Without Disabilities, Continued , Melanie C. Barillas, Alma E. Cortez, Tamera Y. McNeil, Geneen C. Samaniego, and Julia E. Zasso
Impact of COVID-19 on students and faculty in higher education , Joshua Manio, Kirsten Bas, Megan Griffith, Sophia Mendoza, and Christian Jiao
OT Consultation for Cultural Arts Accessibility: Therapists' Perspectives , Jeremy Firstenberg, Reichelle Bella, Dezarina Bernales-Mendez, Anisha Chum, and Lucy Thach
Virtual Visitation: Promoting Social Occupations in Dementia Care , Carly Spina, Lizann Jovanovich, Ashley Jones, Pamela Baraceros, and Rena Ribeiro
Theses/Capstones from 2021 2021
A Cross-Content Validation: SOSI-M & BOT-SF , Eleanor Brewer, Emily Yuen, Alyssa Asuncion, Taylor Hanson, and Mariella Villanueva
Adaptive Gaming as an Occupation: Motor Phenomena and Lived Experiences , Christina Floyd, Melanie Blaisdell, Madeleine Pope, Audrey Metzger, Donna Chen Tubig, Lauren Andaya, and Christine Vincent
Adaptive Video Gaming in the Classroom , Lauren Ferrell, Daniela Mari Recinto, Desarae Finck-Fugazi, Christine Angela Manalang, and Noémie von Kaenel
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OTD Capstone Projects
Capstone projects from 2022 2022.
GiGi’s Playhouse Program Development , Jensen Anderson
Adult Program Development GiGi’s Playhouse , Ella E. Baggett
Burnout Solutions Through Wellness and Outdoor Adventure , Cassidy Bizzell
Promoting the Benefits of Therapy Dogs in Healthcare Settings through Children's Literature , Angela Bozik
The Knowledge, Skills, and Attitudes Needed for Entry Level Wheelchair Service Providers: A Collaboration with ISWP and CTF , Taylor Bumbalough
Illuminate Academy Shine Shop Resources and Kindergarten Market Research , Rya G. Carroll
Community Accessibility for Individuals with Disabilities , Marshall Dumas
Pediatric Manual Wheelchair Skills Handbook , Brooke Edwards
Advocacy and Collaboration to Promote and Enhance Services Provided by Ability App , Callie Emerson
Integrating Best Practice in Belmont’s OTD Curriculum through Research, Dissemination, and Development of Supplemental Course Materials , Alyson Graham
Promoting Client-Centered Learning and Education of Teenage Mothers , Katie R. Hartline
Educational Guides to Assistive Technology and Digital Literacy for Older Adults and Caregivers , Cheney D. Hess
Developing Resources to Promote Proficient Telehealth Service Delivery and Increase Knowledge about Making Changes to a State’s Practice Act , Cassandra M. Howe
Applying Self-Compassion and Stress Management Techniques to Increase Healthy Behaviors Among Women at The New Beginnings Center , Payton Knupp
Promoting Participant and Community Participation at Saddle Up! , Savannah R. MacIsaac
Assessment of Independent Living Skills for Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities: The BrightStone Experience , Amy Mack
Promoting Occupational Well-Being Through Program Development at Rock Steady Boxing , Meredith F. Maines
Home and Environmental Modifications and Community Resources for Individuals with Visual Impairment , Kimberly McLaughlin
Promoting Community Accessibility Through Advocacy and Networking with The Ability App , Chloe C. Moore
Nobody Likes Busy Work: TILTing an OTA Program's Curriculum , Sarah Parkinson
Believe in All: Adaptive Gymnastics Program , Pooja Patel
Evaluating Accessibility in TN State Parks , Ashley C. Phillips
Enhancing OTD Clinical Pathophysiology Course Curriculum , Ashley N. Rabuck
Coaching for Independent Living Skills in Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities at Friends Life Community , Ashley G. Raby
Vehicle Modification Resources for Families of Tucker’s House , Heather Ribolla
Abundant Life Youth Program: Promoting Positive Youth Development through Outdoor Experience , Elizabeth Robinson
Illuminate Academy Kindergarten Market Research and Shine Shop , Shauna Rocha
Independent Study Curriculums for Adult Students with IDD at Lipscomb University - IDEAL , Megan Roman
Developing Evidence Based Protocols to Enhance Occupational Therapy Treatment of the Upper Extremity , Alexandra Ross
Promoting Therapist’s Use of IADLs: Establishing a Pet Care Protocol with Stallworth Inpatient Rehab , Christa Schmieder
Development and Implementation of an Outcome Measure for MOVE Inclusive Dance , Morgan Sondergeld
Driving with Low Vision: Development of Evidence Based Practice Manual for Bioptic Drivers , Emily Rose Sonni
The Parkinson's Wellness Project: An 8-part educational video series , Samantha L. Stevenson
Abundant Life Adventure Club Youth Program: Positive Youth Development through Outdoor Recreation and Adventure , Gabriela Swiecki
Increasing Self-Determination Throughout the Transition Process: A Resource Guide for Benton Hall Academy , Melanie N. Vacchiano
Occupational Therapy and Animal Assisted Therapy: Advocacy for the Field & Best Practice , Mackenzie E. VanderBloomen
Teaching and Supplemental Material Development for Belmont University's OTD Neuroscience Course , Jessica Van Ryzin
Developing an Educational Foundation for Incorporating Animal Assisted Interventions into Rehabilitation Settings , Chandni Vyas
Capstone Projects from 2021 2021
Life Skills Curriculum for Lower Middle School Students at Benton Hall Academy , Elizabeth Atkins
GiGi's Playhouse Program Development , Tatianna Balis
Withdrawing without withholding: A quantitative report of factors indicative of the need for early rehabilitation services after intrauterine drug exposure , Brooke G. Bohanan
Supporting Working Family Caregivers and Older Adults Through an Educational Employer-Based Eldercare Program , Chanté Bowens
Addressing Comorbidity Education Needs in TriStar Skyline’s Readmission Reduction Program , Savannah Carroll
Home Modification Resources for Families of Children with Disabilities , Brittany Chamberlin
Social Communication in Learners Using Transactional Supports , Brittany Clark
Integration of Occupational Therapy Into Primary Care , Averie Conn
Creating an Occupational Therapy Supported Wellness Program: Nurture Your Postpartum Body , Lincoln Elliott
Promoting Awareness and Healing in Persons in Mental Health and Addiction Recovery in Middle Tennessee , Savannah Rain Flint
Clinicians' Perspectives on the Permobil Explorer Mini , Searcy Fox
Clinicians' Perspectives on the Permobil Explorer Mini , Hannah Guffey
Lipscomb IDEAL: Promoting Independent Living Skills in Students with Intellectual Disabilities , Abigail Hamblen
Creating Home Modification Solutions for Individuals with Spinal Cord Injury , Ryan Heuer
Occupational Therapy and Animal Assisted Interventions: Professionalizing the Field , Annie Hudson
Establishing OT Programming Within a Local Correctional Facility , Kayla Kennedy
Equine-Assisted Activities: Increasing Participation and Quality of Life for Individuals with Disabilities , Melissa Mabry
Exploration of Community Resources for Adults and Children with Disabilities and Their Caregivers in Middle Tennessee , Amanda McCutchin
Developing Power Skills and Effective Partnerships with Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities , Madison McLean
Strategies for Promoting Engagement in Youth Advocacy Program , Dana Murray
Clinicians Perspectives on the Permobil Explorer Mini , Lilly Otoole
Illuminate Academy Interoception Curriculum & Resources , Paige Poole
Reimagining Room In The Inn’s Housing Readiness Program: Providing Teaching Strategies to Reach All Participants , Kara Reed
Advocacy for Older Adults at a State Unit on Aging , Nicki Richardson
Navigating the community with a disability: How Ability App can help and why OTs should get involved , Hailey Scandin
An Occupational Therapy Approach to Developing Empowerment: Supporting the Recovery of Women Affected by Substance Abuse in a Residential Treatment Facility , Margaret Schneider-Adams and Molly Schneider-Adams
Integrating Occupational Therapy and Animal Assisted Therapy , Erin Trella
Occupational Therapy Service and Clinic Development within Student-Run, Pro-Bono Outpatient Rehab Clinic , Nicole Versace
Environmental Interventions and Modifications for Individuals with Down Syndrome: Creating an Assessment Tool and Social Story for Increased Participation , Erica Williams
Capstone Projects from 2020 2020
Pediatric Feeding Therapy at it's Finest: A Comprehensive Approach , Shelby Anderson
Nurses for Newborns – Incorporating an Occupational Therapy Perspective in its Work with Women and Families in the Perinatal Period , Lynsey Beros
Strategies for Hybrid Teaching , Julia Bilotta
Increasing Participation in Children and Adults with Disabilities at Christ Presbyterian Church , Taylor Boggus
Accessibility and Inclusivity at the Frist Art Museum , Andrea M. Boyer
Advancing the Scientific Understanding of Spiritual Care for Trauma in Combat Veterans and First Responders , Megan Broecker
Advocacy For Occupational Therapy Within A Local Jail , Caitlin Clark
Evaluating Fitness-to-Drive Among Individuals with Sensory Deficits: A Retrospective Chart Review , Caroline Clark
Introducing Occupational Balance and Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction to Women at The New Beginnings Center , Piper Cleveland
Power Skills Curriculum Development for Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities at Friends Life Community , April Coleson
Supporting Older Adults Through Aging in Place and CAPABLE Programs , Laura Compton
Bringing an Occupational Therapy Perspective to Linden Waldorf School , Morgan Craig
Self Regulation Protocol for MOVE Inclusive Dance , Rebecca Denton
Cultivating Vocational and Independent Living Skills through Meaningful Occupations , Sawyer Dullaghan
Addressing challenges in solid food transitioning in infants , Stephanie Gonyea
Exploring the World of ON TIME Pediatric Power Mobility , Lauren Hanna
LymphaTouch™ as a Preparatory Method for Chemo-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy and Radiation-Induced Fibrosis: A Case Study , Abigail Harris
Implementation of the Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory (PEDI-CAT) with Equine Assisted Activity and Therapy Participants , Tori Hendricks
"Mommy & Me" Constraint Therapy at Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt , Logan Herndon
Efficacy and Caregiver Perceptions of Child Passenger Safety Device Interventions for Behavioral and Postural Deficits , Michaela Isenberg
Promoting Physical Activity & Social Participation in Young Adults with IDD with Best Buddies, Belmont Chapter , Courtney Janusz
AOTA Continuing Education: Occupational Therapy’s Role in Addressing Sexuality and Intimacy , Tiffany E. Lee and Jacqueline M. Marquez
Holistic Home Modification: Developing a Client-Centered Approach to Home Assessments and Quality of Life Measures , Maggie Little
Promoting Sensory Environments and Strategies for Tennessee Baptist Children's Homes , Emma Mace
Development and Implementation of Employment and Housing Power Week Curriculum For Next Steps , Kelli McClintock
Support, Advocacy, and Education for Individuals with Mental Illness , Mackenzie Mellinger
Increasing Access to Play: Establishing a Switch-Adapted Toy Library at Christ Presbyterian Church , Megan Moody
Promoting Interprofessional Collaboration Through Education in the Inpatient Rehabilitation Setting , Emma Murphy
Developing Exercise and Education Programs for Boxers with Parkinson’s Disease , Kristine Ramsey
Breaking Down Barriers: Utilizing Virtual Resources to Promote Occupational Balance Among Vulnerable Populations In the Midst of a Global Pandemic , Roya Rezadoost
On Site Home Assessments for Individuals with Disabilities , Lacy Roling
Increasing Employment Success: Helping Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities at Friends Life Improve Job Readiness Skills , Madeleine Ruff
ONTIME Self-Initiated Mobility , Katherine Sanders
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Occupational therapy doctoral capstone projects.
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This collection includes capstone projects authored by doctoral students in the Department of Occupational Therapy. If you are an OTD student and need access to upload your project, please contact the IUPUI University Library Center for Digital Scholarship ([email protected]).
Recent Submissions
- Increasing the Use of Technology in Pediatric Inpatient Rehabilitation Nguyen, Elizabeth ( 2022-05-03 ) Assistive technology (AT) can facilitate increased participation and independence for individuals, and occupational therapists (OTs) are well suited to utilize it with their patients. The use of technology, specifically ...
- Advancement of Clinical Skills in Inpatient Pediatric Psychiatry Pence, Grace ( 2022-05-05 ) Cincinnati Children’s Medical Hospital Center is widely known as a national leader in pediatric medical care. This capstone project advances the gap in services with evidenced-based, health-literate educational handouts ...
- An Approach to Providing Occupational Therapy Services Within a Post-Intensive Care Clinic Manning, Jeremy ( 2022-05-01 ) Patients discharged from lengthy ICU stays due to critical illness are often accompanied by post-intensive care syndrome (PICS). PICS is a condition that presents with physical, cognitive, emotional, and psychiatric deficits ...
- Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Practices: Student and Educator Perspectives Smith, Carlton ( 2022-05-02 ) Background: Diversity, equity, and inclusion is a term that has gained popularity within the last few years, especially as the profession declares its commitment to such initiatives. Current educational standards do not ...
- Doctoral Capstone Report: Understanding Cravings and Triggers in Students Attending a Recovery High School in a COVID-19 Era Wisser, Breanna ( 2022-05-01 ) The adolescent population continues to be one of the most vulnerable at-risk populations for developing a substance use disorder (SUD), however only 0.3% of diagnosed adolescents receive the necessary treatment to begin ...
- Clinical Strategies to Increase Client Adherence to Home Exercise Programs Farnlacher, Danielle ( 2022-05-02 ) Providing a home exercise program to patients is one of the most fundamental aspects of therapy in outpatient rehabilitation due to the potential for restoring an individual’s strength and functional abilities following a ...
- Improving Multidisciplinary Approach to Complex Discharge Patients: An Evidence Based Approach Din, Noor ( 2021-04-23 ) Eskenazi Hospital’s rehabilitation therapists have identified a gap in how complex discharge patients care is approached. With increased caseloads and high role demands, the therapy team is not able to provide this population ...
- Intervention Development for Camp Mariposa Aaron’s Place: Increasing Functioning in Families Impacted by Substance Use Disorder Solesky, Allison ( 2021-05-06 ) Substance use disorder (SUD) has negatively impacted many children and families across the state of Indiana. Camp Mariposa Aaron’s Place was recently established in the Indianapolis community and serves children aged nine ...
- Occupational Therapy’s Role in Low Vision: A Doctoral Capstone Experience Wolford, Charly L. ( 2021-04 ) Low vision is a prevalent condition found in the aging population. Occupational therapists hold a unique skillset in which they are able to assess and treat low vision, however due to lack of education, training, and ...
- Occupational Therapy's Role in Hand Therapy: Approaches and Perspectives Shelto0n, Hayley ( 2021-04 ) Hand therapy is a practice area within occupational therapy. Occupational therapists have a unique skillset in which they are able to treat patients with upper extremity musculoskeletal injuries while realizing that each ...
- Easterseals Crossroads RISE Program: Functional Living Skills Training for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities Flores, Chelsea M. ( 2021-04-27 ) Functional living and community skills are needed to for being an independent individual in society. Individuals with intellectual disabilities (ID) make up nearly two percent of the United States population, or an estimated ...
- Providing Therapeutic Materials to Families with Children Participating in Telehealth Services: Caregiver and Therapist Perception of Impact on Telehealth Services Benich, Jacob ( 2021-04-27 ) Telehealth has been a lesser-known service delivery option for occupational therapy for many years. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, telehealth has now become mainstream and had even been utilized as a complete ...
- The Efficacy and Feasibility of Occupational Therapy Programming Focused on Health and Wellness within a Homeless Shelter Munson, Victoria ( 2021-04 ) Homelessness is a serious problem and can have many negative effects, including poor health (Hodge et al., 2017). Homelessness is closely tied to occupational deprivation and occupational injustice (Cunningham & Slade, ...
- Occupational Therapy and Telehealth in Indiana: Doctoral Capstone Project Report Lockwood, Veronica ( 2021-04-27 ) The capstone project focuses on providing baseline knowledge to OTs in the state of Indiana on providing effective and beneficial telehealth services to bridge the gap caused by COVID-19 due to social-distancing policies. ...
- Enhancing Therapy-Based Programs Through Virtual Volunteer Training Bloom, Cara E. ( 2021 ) GiGi’s Playhouse is a non-profit organization that serves individuals with Down syndrome from infancy through adulthood. GiGi’s supports the development, acceptance, and achievements of those with Down syndrome alongside ...
- A Telehealth Initiative at Hopebridge, LLC: A Doctoral Capstone Project Fulton, Grace ( 2021-04 ) The spread in telehealth utilization has been astonishing, with the United States Center for Disease Control (2020) reporting 154% growth in just one years’ time. Though telehealth practice itself has grown, available ...
- Doctoral Capstone Experiential at Camp Mariposa: Aaron’s Place Huber, Megan H. ( 2021-04 ) Dependence on alcohol, illicit substances, and opioids impact the parent-child relationship, childhood development, and child behaviors (Romanowicz et al., 2019). There is a strong association between parental substance ...
- Technology Use of Older Adults to Promote Aging in Place at Franciscan PACE Center Gregory, Lauren ( 2021-04-27 ) Technology use among older adults has been shown to be beneficial for their overall health, independence, socialization, and quality of life. Technology promotes aging in place for these individuals, especially during the ...
- Standardizing an Organizational Approach to Hospital Accreditation at an Inpatient Rehabilitation Unit Pridemore, Alyssa ( 2021-04-29 ) Accreditation is a process that many healthcare organizations undergo in order to evaluate the quality, efficiency, and effectiveness of the services they provide. Current literature suggests that many organizations struggle ...
- The Impact of a Sensory-Based Parent Coaching Program on the Occupational Performance of Toddlers with Developmental Disabilities Stoll, Hannah B. ( 2021 ) Sensory processing challenges are common in children ages 0 to 3 receiving early intervention services and interfere with the occupational performance of children during family mealtimes, playtimes, self-care activities, ...
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OTD Doctoral Capstone
MADISON BLAIR, OTDS Occupational Therapy Continuum of Care Throughout Marietta Memorial Health Systems Site: Marietta Memorial Hospital + Mount Carmel Health System, Marietta, OH Expert Mentor: Candi Atkinson, MOT, OTR/L, Occupational Therapist | Marietta Memorial Hospital, Marietta, IN Faculty Mentor: Beth O'Rourke, OTD, OTR/L, BCPR
ALEX COOL, OTDS, CLIPP Pelvic Floor Rehabilitation: Promoting Occupational Therapy Interventions for Women with Pelvic Floor Dysfunction Site: Parkview Regional Medical Center (PRMC), Fort Wayne, IN Expert Mentor: Margaret K. Bronson, PT, DPT, WCS, COMT, CSCS, Physical Therapist | Parkview Regional Medical Center | Fort Wayne, IN Faculty Mentor: Michelle Mays, OTD, OTR/L, CHT, CEES
SAMANTHA JENSEN, OTDS Development of a Spinal Cord Specialty Program Site: Aultman Woodlawn Inpatient Rehabilitation, Canton, OH Expert Mentor: Ryan Kaya, PT, DPT, MS Supervisory PT, Inpatient Rehabilitation, Aultman Hospital, Canton, OH Faculty Mentor: LeAnn Schackow, OTD, CBIS
ABBY LOEWENSTEIN, OTDS Advanced Immersion within the TBI Population with a Concentration on Acquired Vision Deficits Site: Rainbow Rehabilitation Center, Ypsilanti, MI Expert Mentor: Carole F. MacQueen, OTR/L Senior OT Clinical Specialist in Stroke/TBI Rehabilitation | Rainbow Rehabilitation Center, Ypsilanti, MI Faculty Mentor: LeAnn Schackow, OTD, CBIS
MADISON MORPHEW, OTDS Investigating Stroke Rehabilitation in an Inpatient Rehabilitation Setting Site: Parkview Hospital, Inpatient Rehab, Ft. Wayne, IN Expert Mentor: Dana Chandler, MOT, OTR/L Occupational Therapist | Parkview Hospital, Inpatient Rehab, Ft. Wayne, IN Faculty Mentor: Julie Snyder, OTD, CSRS
KELLY STASIULEWICZ, OTDS Occupational Therapy for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) in an Acute Setting Site: OhioHealth Grant Medical Center & OhioHealth Riverside Methodist Hospital, Columbus, OH Expert Mentor: Derrek J. Noll, MOT, OTR/L, Occupational Therapy Associate Manager | OhioHealth Riverside Methodist Hospital, Columbus, OH Faculty Mentor: Julie Snyder, OTD, CSRS
LARYN O'DONNELL, OTDS Stepping Stones to Academia: Developing an Occupation-Based Specialty within Assistive Technology and Accessible Design Site: Rehabilitation Research Design and Disability Center at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Expert Mentor: Roger O. Smith, Ph.D., OT, FAOTA, RESNA Fellow Faculty Mentor: Jeanne Sowers, OTD, MA, OTR, CAPS, CEES
KATHERINE CROWELL, OTDS Aquatics and Occupational Therapy Site: YMCA of Greater Fort Wayne | Turnstone Center for Children and Adults with Disabilities | My Autism Ally | Huntington University - Fort Wayne, IN Expert Mentor: Amanda Shively, PTA, ATRIC, Outpatient Orthopedic Physical Therapist Assistant | Parkview TherapyONE, Ft. Wayne, IN Faculty Mentor: Michelle Mays, OTD, OTR/L, CHT, CEES
KAYLA DEATON, OTDS Adaptive Clothing for Young People Site: CapAble Sensory Products - Fort Wayne, IN | Huntington University - Fort Wayne, IN Expert Mentor: Michael William Tranquill, MA, OTR/L, Founder, Chief Operating Officer | TransContinental Healthcare, LLC, Chatham, NJ Faculty Mentor: Ruth Ford, Ed.D., MSBS, OTR/L, CLIPP, FAOTA
RACHAEL GODFROY, OTDS Pathfinder Service Exercise Program to Improve Health and Wellness at the YMCA Site: Parkview Huntington Family YMCA, Huntington, IN Expert Mentor: Steven Upham, MA, LAT, ATC, Assistant Athletic Trainer | Phoenix Rising FC, Tempe, AZ Faculty Mentor: Laura Gerig, PhD
CASSIDY HORODECZNY, OTDS Modifying a Sensory Trail Site: Cheff Therapeutic Riding Center, Augusta, MI Expert Mentor: Kim M. Berggren, Lead Instructor / Education Director | Cheff Therapeutic Riding Center, Augusta, MI Faculty Mentor: Patricia Henton, OTD, OTR/L, ICA, CEIM
SAMANTHA JEFFRIES, OTDS From Struggle to Success Within the Homeless Population Site: Family Promise of Athens, Athens, GA Expert Mentor: Blayne McDonald, MSW Service Director | Family Promise of Athens, Athens, GA Faculty Mentor: Sara Best, OTD, OTR/L, CAS
ALI LANNOM, OTDS, CEES, CLIPP Occupational therapy & limb loss: Promoting a holistic approach through community-based services Site: Fourroux Prosthetics, Nashville, TN | SRT Prosthetics and Orthotics, Indianapolis, IN Expert Mentor: Brooke O'Steen, OTR | Upper Extremity Clinical & Education Specialist | Occupational Therapist | SRT Prosthetics and Orthotics, Indianapolis, IN Faculty Mentor: Michelle Mays, OTD, OTR/L, CHT, CEES
SYDNEY MERICLE, OTDS Occupation Therapy for Cancer Support Throughout the Lifespan Site: Gilda's Club Quad Cities, Davenport, IA Expert Mentor: Kelly Hendershot, MSW Program Director | Gilda's Club Quad Cities, Davenport, IA Faculty Mentor: Jeanne Sowers, OTD, MA, OTR, CAPS, CEES
CHLOE CROWELL, OTDS Hand and Upper Extremity Rehabilitation Site: Kentucky Orthopedic Rehab Team (KORT), Louisville, KY Expert Mentor: Kelly K. Moore, MS, OTR/L, CHT, Certified Hand Therapist/ Hand Therapy and Education Coordinator | KORT OBC, Louisville, KY Faculty Mentor: Nathan Short, Ph.D., OTD, CHT, CEES, CPAM
ALLYSON R. TROUT, OTDS Advancement in Hand Therapy and Neurological Diagnoses in the Outpatient Setting Site: Parkview Huntington Hospital, Huntington, IN | Huntington University - Huntington, IN | Huntington University - Fort Wayne, IN Expert Mentor: Ashley Wilson, MOT, OTR/L Occupational Therapist | Parkview Huntington Hospital, Huntington, IN Faculty Mentor: Nathan Short, Ph.D., OTD, OTR/L, CHT, CEES
MARIBEL DEGUZMAN, OTDS Addressing Sexual and Pelvic Health in Clinical Practice Site: Motivate Health, Inc., Rockford, IL Expert Mentor: Denise Nichols, OTR/L, PRPC, BCB-PMD, Owner, Director Outpatient Facility | Motivate Health, Inc., Rockford, IL Faculty Mentor: Sara Best, OTD, OTR/L, CAS
SARAH MONVILLERS, OTDS Building a Business in Maternal Health Occupational Therapy Site: Live Well Collaborative, Cincinnati, OH | The Mother Nurture Center, Redondo Beach, CA | Tender Beginnings, Cincinnati, OH | Nurtured Family Wellness, LLC, Cincinnati, OH Expert Mentor: Janae Grimshaw, MS, OTR/L, CPMT, SWC, IBCLC, Occupational Therapist, The Mother Nurture Center, Redondo Beach, CA Faculty Mentor: Michelle Mays, OTD, OTR/L, CHT, CEES
ANNA SILVESTRI, OTDS, CLIPP Bariatric Care: A Holistic Occupational Therapy Approach Site: Columbus VA | Columbus, OH Expert Mentor: Kristine Diehl, MD | Physician, and Owner |Delaware Family Care Associates | Wilmington, DE Faculty Mentor: Michelle Mays, OTD, OTR/L, CHT, CEES
GRACE BOLOMOPE, OTDS OTD Program Design & Program Development Site: Huntington University (Huntington, IN & Fort Wayne, IN) Expert Mentor: Beth O'Rourke, OTD, OTR/L, BCPR, Associate Professor of Occupational Therapy | Huntington University, Fort Wayne, IN Faculty Mentor: Ruth Ford, Ed.D., MSBS, OTR, CLIPP, FAOTA
SAMANTHA CALL, OTDS Expansion of Occupational Therapy Based Resources in China Site: Living Hope International/ Living Hope Global Ministries | OCJ Kids, Phoenix, AZ Expert Mentor: Angie Blevins, Director Living Hope International / Living Hope Global Ministries Faculty Mentor: Beth O'Rourke, OTD, OTR/L, BCPR
ANNA LYNCH, OTDS Creating Occupational Therapy-Based Resources for the Medically Underserved Pediatric Population of China Site: Living Hope International/ Living Hope Global Ministries | Turnstone Center for Children and Adults with Disabilities | Huntington University - Fort Wayne, IN Expert Mentor: Angie Blevins, Director Living Hope International / Living Hope Global Ministries Faculty Mentor: Beth O'Rourke, OTD, OTR/L, BCPR
KELLI DALLER, OTDS Occupational Therapy in Justice-Based Settings Site: Pacific University, Hillsboro, OR | Washington County Community Corrections Center (WCCC), Hillsboro, OR Expert Mentor: John A. White, Jr., Ph.D., MA, FAOTA, OTR/L, Professor of Occupational Therapy | Pacific University, Hillsboro, OR Faculty Mentor: Laura Gerig, PhD
MARISSA HILL, OTDS Stir It Up: Expand and Empower Site: Stir It Up, LLC, Grand Rapids, MI Expert Mentor: Zoe Bruyn, Founder & CEO | Stir It Up, LLC, Grand Rapids, MI Faculty Mentor: Beth O'Rourke, OTD, OTR/L, BCPR
MADDIE KREILL, OTDS Doctoral Capstone: Transition to Adulthood Site: Oakwood High School & Project SEARCH - Troy, OH Expert Mentor: Rebecca D. Sledge, High School Intervention Specialist | Oakwood High School, Oakwood, OH Faculty Mentor: Patricia Henton, OTD, OTR/L, ICA, CEIM
KELLY PIEPENBRINK, OTDS Increasing Quality of Life of Individuals with all Abilities Site: Emmanuel Community Church, Fort Wayne, IN Expert Mentor: Jamesdean Visley, OTD, OTR/L | Assistant Professor | Occupational Therapist | Huntington University, Fort Wayne, IN Faculty Mentor: Patricia Henton, OTD, OTR/L, ICA, CEIM
ALLISON SCHNEIDER, OTDS Incorporating Occupational Therapy into a Transitional Program's Curriculum Site: Cincinnati Children's Hospital- Project Search, Cincinnati, OH Expert Mentor: Susan Rutkowski | Administrator, Co-Director of Project Search | Cincinnati Children's Hospital, Cincinnati, OH Faculty Mentor: Jeanne Sowers, OTD, MA, OTR, CAPS, CEES
REBECCA BURKHART, OTDS Best Practice Rehabilitation Program Pathway: Beginning in the NICU Site: Tower Health Reading Hospital, Reading, PA | St. Luke's University Health Network, Bethlehem, PA | Neumann University, Aston Township, PA Expert Mentor: Holly E. Mays, DPT, CCI, Adult Ortho, and Pediatric PT | Reading Hospital/Tower Health, Reading PA Faculty Mentor: Ruth Ford, Ed.D., MSBS, OTR, CLIPP, FAOTA
ARIANA DELAY, OTDS, CLIPP Pediatric Neurodevelopmental Clinical Research Site: Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH Expert Mentor: Karen Harpster, Ph.D., OTR/L | Assistant Professor, Division of Research in Patient Services LEND Program | Occupational Therapist | Cincinnati, OH Faculty Mentor: Michelle Mays, OTD, OTR/L, CHT, CEES
RAVINA NAKUM, OTDS Expanding Sensory Sensitivity in the Emergency Room Setting at Northwestern Medicine-Central Dupage Hospital Site: Northwestern Medicine at Central DuPage Hospital, Winfield, IL Expert Mentor: Zankhana Desai, BSN, MSN, RN, Associate Manager, Emergency Department and Pediatric Emergency Department | Northwestern Medicine at Central DuPage Hospital, Winfield, IL Faculty Mentor: Patricia Henton, OTD, OTR/L, ICA, CEIM
AARONE CEFALO, OTDS Best Practice Resource Guideline for Pediatric Stroke Site: Crossway Pediatric Therapy, Charlotte, NC Expert Mentor: Shelley Anne Dean, OTD, OTR/L, President/Owner | Crossway, Inc. dba Crossway Pediatric Therapy, Charlotte, NC Faculty Mentor: Patricia Henton, OTD, OTR/L, ICA, CEIM
CARA CLICK, OTDS Home Exercise Videos and Therapeutic Low-Cost Alternatives for Pediatrics Site: Hopebridge, LLC, Kokomo, IN Expert Mentor: Boyd Teusch, COTA | Hopebridge, LLC, Kokomo, IN Faculty Mentor: Jeanne Sowers, OTD, MA, OTR, CAPS, CEES
KELLY ENSIGN, OTDS Integration of Trauma-Informed Care into Pediatric Occupational Therapy Site: Utah Community Action Head Start, Salt Lake City, UT Expert Mentor: Victoria Edmonds | Special Needs Coordinator | Utah Community Action Head Start, Salt Lake City, UT Faculty Mentor: Sara Best, OTD, OTR/L, CAS
CAROLINE RICCITELLI, OTDS Pediatric Sensory-Integration Protocol Site: Theracare Inc, TOTS (Theracare Outpatient Therapy Services), Fishers, IN Expert Mentor: Melanie Witkowski, MOT, OTR/L, Director / Occupational Therapist | Theracare Inc, TOTS (Theracare Outpatient Therapy Services), Fishers, IN Faculty Mentor: Sara Best, OTD, OTR/L, CAS
KATELYN STOUT, OTDS Increasing Mealtime Participation in the Pediatric ASD Population with Interdisciplinary Collaboration Site: Hopebridge, LLC, Kokomo, IN Expert Mentor: Boyd L. Teusch, COTA Fieldwork Coordinator | Hopebridge, LLC, Kokomo, IN Faculty Mentor: Jeanne Sowers, OTD, MA, OTR, CAPS, CEES
ALLYSON WARNER, OTDS Sensory Processing within the Pediatric Population Site: Piller Child Development, Phoenix, AZ Expert Mentor: Aimee Piller, Ph.D., OTR/L Owner/Lead Occupational Therapist | Piller Child Development, Phoenix, AZ Faculty Mentor: Patricia Henton, OTD, OTR/L, ICA, CEIM
BROOKE EWING, OTDS Visual Deficits Site: Fort Wayne Community Schools, Fort Wayne, IN | Huntington University - Fort Wayne, IN Expert Mentor: Tracey Crews, OTR/L, Occupational Therapist, IEP Therapy | Fort Wayne Community Schools, Fort Wayne, IN Faculty Mentor: Beth O'Rourke, OTD, OTR/L, BCPR
KAYLA FREDERICK, OTDS Resilience Development in Children With Adverse Childhood Experiences: An Occupational Therapist's Role Fort Wayne Community Schools, Fort Wayne, IN Expert Mentor: Lesley Love, OTD, OTR/L | Occupational Therapist | Fort Wayne Community Schools, Fort Wayne, IN Faculty Mentor: Sara Best, OTD, OTR/L, CAS
BRIANNA HILL, OTDS Occupational Therapy-based Yoga Site: Morgan Occupational & Speech Therapy (mOST), Malibu, CA Expert Mentor: Jennifer Morgan, MOT, OTR/L, CEO & Occupational Therapist | Morgan Occupational & Speech Therapy (mOST), Malibu, CA Faculty Mentor: Patricia Henton, OTD, OTR/L, ICA, CEIM
KIRSTEN KUHN, OTDS A Guide to Sensory Rooms in the School Site: Pathfinder Educational Center, St. Joseph County, MI & Sensational Brain LLC, Galesburg, MI Expert Mentor: Gwen Wild, MOT, OTR/L | Occupational Therapist and Owner of Sensational Brain's BrainWorks products | Sensational Brain LLC, Galesburg, MI Faculty Mentor: Sara Best, OTD, OTR/L, CAS
SHANA TUTTLE, OTDS, CLIPP Kindergartener Handwriting Abilities (Visual Perception & Fine Motor Skills) Site: Greensburg Elementary School | Greensburg, IN Expert Mentor: Martha Montgomery, OTR/L, Occupational Therapist | Greensburg Community Schools, Greensburg, IN Faculty Mentor: Reagan Berstresser-Simpson, OTD, OTR/L
LOGAN BAGBY, OTDS, CLIPP Home Modifications for Older Adults Living in Recreational Vehicles Site- Koremen, LLC| Indianapolis, IN Expert Mentor- Jeffrey Hughes | Executive Director of Koreman Disability LLC & Portals LLC| Indianapolis, IN Faculty Mentor- Ruth Ford, Ed.D., MSBS, OTR/L, CLIPP, FAOTA
LACY DEITRICK, OTDS Mechanical Animal Sessions: A Mean for Support for Dementia Site: Joyful Journey: Adult Day Service, West Lafayette, IN | Westminster Village, West Lafayette, IN Expert Mentor: Kinney Foster, Memory Care Facilitator | Westminster Village, West Lafayette, IN Faculty Mentor: Beth O'Rourke, OTD, OTR/L, BCPR
TORI MADARIS, OTDS Tai Chi as a Fall Prevention Program Site: Gracework's Bethany Lutheran Village Retirement and Community Living, Dayton, OH Expert Mentor: Alex Sheets, Exercise Specialist, Rock Steady Boxing Coach | Bethany Village, Dayton, OH Faculty Mentor: Ruth Ford, Ed.D., MSBS, OTR/L, CLIPP, FAOTA
PEYTON PIKE, OTDS The Effects of Rock Steady Boxing as an Occupational Therapy Intervention Site: Parkview Huntington Family YMCA, Huntington, IN Expert Mentor: Vanessa Macias | Director of Healthy Living, Membership Director, and Athletic Trainer | Parkview Huntington Family YMCA, Huntington, IN Faculty Mentor: Beth O'Rourke, OTD, OTR/L, BCPR
LAUREL SCHROEDER, OTDS Rural Older Adults Aging in Place Site: Visiting Angels, Edgerton Senior Center, Park View Skilled Nursing Facility (Edgerton, OH) Expert Mentor: Kelly Wilhelm, Owner | Visiting Angels, Edgerton, OH Faculty Mentor: Andrew Rivera, OTD, OTR/L, LMT, AEP, CLIPP
JOCELYN SPITZ, OTDS Enhancing Engagement in Meaningful Occupations for Older Adults with Dementia/Cognitive Impairment Site: The Chateau at Moorings Park, Naples, FL Expert Mentor: Emily E. Lozier, OTR/L, Occupational Therapist | The Chateau at Moorings Park, Naples, FL Faculty Mentor: Ruth Ford, Ed.D., MSBS, OTR/L, CLIPP, FAOTA
MEGAN AZZARELLO, CEAS I, AOEAS Ergonomic Program Development at The Rising Workplace Site: The Rising Workplace, Fairview, NC Expert Mentor: Nikki Weiner, OTD, OTR/L, CBIS, AOEAS | Occupational Therapist, Clinical Director & Co-Founder of the Rising Workplace, Fairview, NC Faculty Mentor: Nathan Short, Ph.D., OTD, OTR/L, CHT, CEES
KATLIN COUCHMAN, OTDS Return-To-Work Programming: An Ergonomic Outlook Site: Vera Bradley Distribution Center, Roanoke, IN Expert Mentor: Jessica Fogle, CHMM, Corporate Environmental, Health & Safety Manager | Vera Bradley, Roanoke, IN Faculty Mentor: Nathan Short, Ph.D., OTD, OTR/L, CHT, CEES
CASSIDY JOHNSON, OTDS, CEAS II, CLIPP AgrAbility and Occupational Therapy's Role: Working with Farmers and Ranchers Site: Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN Expert Mentor: William E. Field, Ed.D. | Professor | Purdue University Agricultural & Biological Engineering Building, West Lafayette, IN Faculty Mentor: Ruth Ford, Ed.D., MSBS, OTR/L, CLIPP, FAOTA
Doctor of Occupational Therapy Degree Program Overview
Prerequisite courses, tuition and financial aid.

13 In-Service Ideas for OT Fieldwork Students
If you’re an occupational therapy student completing your level II fieldwork, you will likely have to come up with an in-service idea, which is a presentation or project you’re responsible for. Take it from me, deciding on an in-service idea for your fieldwork can be a daunting challenge!
Fieldwork flies by, and before you know it, it’s almost over and you need to come up with an idea ASAP!
I wholeheartedly recommend choosing a topic or project that you’re interested in and that you think will provide value to the therapists in your setting. You can also take note of what your fieldwork setting needs in terms of intervention ideas or items and make or present on something based on that need.
But if you’re still drawing a blank, this post will help give you some popular OT in-service ideas to get started. I want to note that these in-service ideas are tailored to the adult and geriatric rehab settings. If you’re looking for pediatric in-service ideas, Pinterest has a plethora of ideas for you as well.
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Present on Current Research Relating to Common Diagnoses
When therapists have been treating for a while, it can be hard to keep up to date on the latest in occupational therapy research.
Fieldwork student in-services focused on current research are great ways to present the most up to date information to all practitioners, especially since students have the latest information from their schooling.
Present on a Case Study That You Saw While In Fieldwork
Another common theme for in-services is to present on an interesting patient that you treated during your rotation. You could choose a patient that you saw an uncommon diagnosis or used a new intervention with. Adding in current research to the case study is also a great way to further educate coworkers and fellow students.
Create a Binder of Patient Education Handouts
This project is super helpful for settings that don’t have easy to access handouts to give to patients. In my settings (acute care and inpatient rehab), I regularly have to search for and print out patient handouts, so having a full binder of worksheets to copy would be such a time-saver.
Here are just some of the topics my coworkers and I came up with while brainstorming:
- Diabetes education
- COPD education
- Congestive heart failure education
- Stroke prevention
- Energy conservation techniques
- Specific orthopedic precaution handouts with images
- Tailored home exercise program
- Home safety after discharge
- Caregiver education for transfer techniques
- Health promotion for the most commonly seen diagnoses in your setting
The list could go on and on for this one! I would recommend writing a big “ORIGINAL” in yellow highlighter on each sheet so coworkers don’t take the originals without replacing them with copies.
Present on Functional Cognition Interventions
Presenting on interventions that address cognition functionally is a great topic since many of us in the field could use a refresher ourselves. Bonus points if you can create a clinic toolkit full of helpful worksheets to go along with the education.
If you need more information about functional cognition interventions, be sure to check out our article “ Functional Cognition and OT: Our Time to Shine. ”
Educate on Sensory Integration in the Dementia Population
If you’re working with older adults, presenting on sensory integration with advanced dementia or Alzheimer’s disease is a great way to educate other therapists who may not be as familiar with this. Here is some sensory integration information from Alzheimers.net to get you started.
Present on Low Vision Strategies
Along with many of these other topics, seasoned OTs as well as new OTs can benefit from education and adaptations regarding low vision in any setting. For more about low vision with regards to occupational therapy, check out these low vision strategies from AOTA to get started.
Make a Playing Card Velcro Board
Many facilities I’ve worked in have a playing card velcro board as a past in-service project since it addresses so many deficit areas. It’s great for visual scanning, functional reaching, standing tolerance, fine motor/gross motor coordination, attention, range of motion, and balance. The board will have each card attached with velcro so the patient can match/attach the corresponding card, as seen below:

Create an ADL Vest
If your setting doesn’t already have one, making an ADL vest is a great functional intervention for patients with decreased fine motor coordination and can be easily utilized in the gym.
Adding snaps, small and large buttons, zippers, even bra clasps is a great way to work on dressing for any patient with difficulty managing this aspect of dressing, for when they’re in the gym and can’t actually work on it.

Put Together a Folder of Quick Standardized Assessments
Many settings already have their own assessments for use, but in some settings, like acute care , it can be a challenge to find a quick and easy assessment on the fly.
If your setting doesn’t have their own collection of assessments, you can create a binder of free and quick assessments to use for aspects such as self-care, cognition, activity tolerance, balance, or fine motor coordination. This would be very valuable to any setting that doesn’t already have this!
Make a Medication Management Toolkit
Medication management is an important I-ADL to address for patients who will be going home and may be managing their own medications, especially if they have difficulties with high level cognitive tasks.
This is really important to address this before going home, so I make an effort to address this with any patient with even a mild cognitive impairment who will be doing this themselves when going home. The kit is also great for a fine motor coordination intervention.
For full detailed instructions on how to make your own medication management kit, check out this post from Carbon Creations. Trust me that it will be a valuable addition to the setting!
Make a “Groceries Galore” Kit
I created a Groceries Galore kit for one of my in-service projects when I was in my last Level II fieldwork, and it is super easy to make. Simply collect and rinse out various grocery containers of all shapes and sizes, with difficult lids and easier lids. You can add small Scrabble pieces, pennies, beads, etc. for an extra fine motor component.
Add your own price stickers to each container to grade it up to also address cognition. I also really like to have patients place the containers in high and low areas of our kitchen area for item retrieval, gross motor coordination, range of motion, and standing tolerance as a great occupation-based activity.

Put Together a Mirror Box
If you’re in a setting with stroke patients or complex regional pain patients, creating a mirror box is a really neat and helpful addition to the clinic. Here is a quick YouTube video on how to create and use a mirror box. Be sure to include printed instructions on how to use it as well as evidence supporting its use for future staff members.
Create Laminated Lab Value Cards
I saw this idea in one of the OT Facebook groups and thought it was great. Facilities may already have printed out lab value sheets, but making small, pocket-sized laminated cards would be a great value to you as a student or new grad. Instead of having to rifle through your clipboard for papers, a laminated version is easier to find and much more durable.
If the expenses aren’t too high, you could earn bonus points from your CI and coworkers by printing out several to hand out for the team therapists or fellow students to have as a quick reference.
Don’t Just Stop at These Ideas!
This list of my favorite OT fieldwork in-service ideas is definitely just a starting point. There are so many other ideas you or your fieldwork student can present on. If you’re still lost for ideas, asking coworkers for clinic needs or helpful topics is another great way to get more valuable in-service ideas.
I’d love to hear your previous in-service topics and favorite ideas as well! What else would you add to the list? Please share in the comments below!
This post was originally published on April 6, 2017 and updated on August 23, 2020.
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I’m currently in acute setting for my FW 2B. Having a hard time with ideas for my inservice. I love to be creative and bring different things but I’m having a hard time!
For acute care, you could see if your specific setting has a need for certain patient education handouts on diagnoses, precautions, etc, or lab values sheets for therapists. You could also present on an interesting diagnosis that you’ve seen. Your CI and other therapists at your site will know what they might need, so ask around for ideas! That usually never fails 🙂 Good luck!
These are super helpful! They’ll come in handy as I finish up my first level II fieldwork in a couple weeks. I always wonder about balancing what I think would be really great to have in a particular setting (in this case, a SNF) and what they (the OTs and OTAs there) are actually going to use. For example the grocery kit idea looks great (and I’d definitely want to use it) but kitchen-based interventions where I’m at tend to be rare. I suppose it’s a matter of collaborating with OTAs and OT about what kind of stuff you could bring that would be useful to the facility.
I’m so glad these are helpful for you! Yes definitely check with the therapists and see what they might be lacking; that could give you an even better idea of what they could use while also being educational for you to create. Good luck with the rest of your fieldwork and your in-service!
Im finishing up my second rotation in my level 2’s (was delayed due to covid) and i was placed with a home health company which i hear is rare for a student or new grad. Im struggling with an in service idea for my CI because she has everything! i was thinking a binder of pt handouts, or standardized assessments but shes already got a ton of that. I dont want to create anything to big due to her traveling and was trying to think of something that would be beneficial to her
You can ask your CI or even other company therapists/management what they may need, and if they don’t have any needs you could always cover a related topic/diagnosis or case study to present to the other therapists. Good luck!
These sound like amazing ideas!! I’m currently doing my level II FW at a state hospital and I am in charge of the Forensic units. I am having a hard time thinking of ideas for my inservice cause I’m not a strong researcher.. I want to think of something creative but not sure what to do…
Hello! I am currently on my second level II fieldwork at an outpatient clinic typically having a lot of orthopedic clients and some peds. I am also dealing with a lack of cultural competency at this current site. My supervisor made it clear that I do not have to do an in-service so if I turn around and say I do and it”s on cultural competency it feels slightly disrespectful. Does anyone have any ideas of how I can combine a project and cultural competency together? We see a lot of clients for shoulder ROM and pain.
I don’t think it would be disrespectful at all! You could frame it that your program recommends that you do an in-service and that you’re interested in cultural competency and would like to do a brief in-service on this. It’s a really important topic in our practice (in every setting) that I believe the therapists will find useful. Would love to hear from others on this!
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- 2020 Capstones
2020 Occupational Therapy Capstones
Student presentations, katie adams, darcy baker, jared baker, jessica baldridge, siera becker, taryn betka, alicia borcic, catherine boyle, jared breyer, morgan britton, marit brown, brianne bulleigh, laura campion, kathryn carano, emily carothers, inna kathreen chang, danielle chirhart, brianna gibbs cooper, madeline coughlin, taylor dalbey, sydney dickerson, charles e eberle, kaitlyn ellerman, paige engbers, olivia fair-lafferty, audra feehan, emily garcia, sarah gerken, ellie goerdt, margaret griffin, chase gronowski, anika hansen, whitney hewitt, jennifer hickey, taylor hiebert, marti m. hitz, macy hoskins, ashley hottman, michelle huesca, morgan huffman, angela ingram, daniel l. jackson, rebecca jensen, andrea juarez, jessica junio, elliana kastner, nicholas kellerhals, theresa kennelly, hilary kircher, taylor knecht, shaun kramer, coleman lay, emily ludwig, krizelle magdirila, molly marin, coleen mccarthy, lauren mcclung, macall mcfall, chris mcguff, kellie mckean, brianne mcmahon, evon mikulecky, audra miller, jennifer mitton, julia neppel, katherine north, sydney oehrke, katherine olmedo, claire passmore, mackenzie payne, jenna pelchat, katie petersen, erika petty, amy piekosz, brooke rasmussen, jimmy roberts, jayme rossow, shelby rozenboom, dezarai diana ramirez ryan, taylor sadler, caroline schmidt, hannah rose wysopal schramm, rachel schroeter, christina-marie sleight, kaitlyn stangl, brianna starr, michaela stevenson, peyton stork, carissa stratton, michael thomason, mackenzie twaddell, nicole vasquez, lena-maria volkers, emily walker, carina watson, taylor l. wienkes, madeline wille, jaclyn b. williams, marlise williams, nicole willse, jocelyn young-hyman.
Anna K. Domina, OTD, OTR/L Assistant Professor [email protected] 402.280.3407
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Home > Communities > School of Medicine & Health Sciences > OT > Occupational Therapy Capstones
Occupational Therapy Capstones
Capstones from 2022 2022.
An Occupational Therapy Practitioner’S Intervention Guide To Increasing Occupational Engagement In The Virtual Setting With Individuals Diagnosed With Serious Mental Illness , Oluwafeyikemi Deborah Adewoye
Addressing Autism Spectrum Disorder In A School Based Setting , Grant Baker
The Effects Of Retained Primitive Reflexes On Students’ Occupational And Academic Performance In The School Setting , Molly Banks
Tiny Humans, Huge Environments: All The Sense’S Coming Into Play , Jessica L. Blackman
Increasing Health, Wellness, and Self-Care in Older Adults Experiencing Mental Health Effects During and After a Pandemic , Hayley Blom
Protecting Against Pain And Stress In The Nicu: An Evidence-Based Eye Examination Guideline , Heather Jo Bowman
Aquatic Therapy: An Interprofessional Resource Focusing On Children With Developmental And Intellectual Disabilities , Mackenzie Martha Brokaw
Pediatric Telehealth Simplified: A Toolkit For The Rural Pediatric Occupational Therapy Practitioner , Stacy Michelle Buschette
Programming To Help At-Risk Youth Find Success In And Outside Of The Classroom , Nora Carlson
Occupation, Dissociation, and Queer Identity , Katie Christopherson
Promoting Adherence To Lymphedema Manageemnt: A Resource Guide For Ot Practitioners In Interprofessional Teams , Marissa Louise Dreiling
Meeting Sensory Needs: A Childcare Provider’S Guide To Support Sensory Strategies In The Daycare Setting , McKenzie Dye
Supporting Participation In Daily Tasks, Quality Of Life, And Well-Being For Individuals With Parkinson’S Disease Dementia , Miranda Kay Evanson
Addressing Challenges Related To Community Reintegration Following A Traumatic Brain Injury , Alexia Rose Gallagher
Addressing The Recreation And Social Participation Gap In Children With Disabilities: Program Development Of A Recreational Summer Camp , Benjamin Isaac Germolus
Care For The Caregiver: A Rural Perspective , Michaela Claire Gerving
Wellness Education For The Food Insecure Population , Erin M. Grensteiner
The Development Of A Transition To Motherhood Education And Support Program: Elevate Motherhood , Chloe R. Haas
Pathway Through Nature: A Nature-Based Occupational Therapy Program To Support Adolescent Mental Health , Danielle Grace Halstead
Rural Community Park Accessibility , AshleyMarie Patricia Hirdler
Interoception Toolkit: A Resource For Occupational Therapy Practitioners To Use With Children And Their Families , Heidi Lynn Janssen
A Sensory-Based Toolkit For Health Management Of Patients With Aggressive Behaviors In Acute Care , Meghan Janssen
Referral And Outcomes In An Equine Facilitated Occupational Therapy Program , Julie A. Juracich
Enhancing the Leisure, Social Participation, and Quality of Life of Older Adults Isolated during the COVID-19 Pandemic , Mariah LeRoux
Strategies For Campers With Sensory Challenges , Rachel Jessica Lindemann
How to Support Adolescents Affected by ACEs: An Advocacy Guide , Hallie Longtin
Oral Hygiene Education For Patients And Staff In An Inpatient Rehabilitation Setting , Cassandra L. Madsen
A Research Study To Identify Gaps And Barriers To Mental Health Treatment In Natrona County , Jedekiah Zean May
Bringing Peace To The River: Establishing Support Groups For Survivors Of Loss By Suicide , Allison Emily McGauvran
The “Nature” Of Growth: A Virtual Education Platform For Caregivers Of Children With Trauma , Katelyn Rose McLellan
Sex, Drugs, & Rockin’ Referrals: An Interprofessional Guide For Young Adults With Cancer , Nicole Cathryn Merchlewicz
Developing An Occupational Therapy Role In Pediatric Private Practice , Sydnie R. Merriman-Ferri
Bridging The Gap: A Comprehensive Discharge Guide , Ashley Marie Mutziger
Yoga As Occupational Therapy Intervention For Individuals With Upper Extremity Injuries , Dina Mu Nickoson
Accessibility in Rural America , Ashley Osbjornson
Occupational Therapist’S Role In Addressing The Psychological Impacts Of Pain In Clients With Upper Extremity Conditions , Shivangi Patel
Bridging The Gap Between Ancillary Health Professions And Rural Community Health Needs , McKenzie Rae Peterson
Iris Clubhouse: Experiences of Community Integration , Rebecca J. Reeves
Inclusivity In Usa Swimming: A Sport For Every Ability , Ellie Anne Roche
Functional Cognition In Long-Term Care: Implementing Allen’S Cognitive Level Screen , Sarah Janean Schumacher
Transitional Caregiver Support from NICU to Early Intervention Services. , Sophia Schutt
Upper Extremity Evaluation & Intervention through the Utilization of Occupation-based Activities within the Model of Human Occupation Perspective , Richard J. Seaman
Parent & Caregiver Education And Support: A Product To Support Families Of Childrn With Senosry Processing Difficulties , Jaslyn Robb Seeley
Building Life Skills And Reducing Recidivism , Kassandra Severson
Occupational Therapy Program Development For Group Threatment For Outpatient Pediatric Clinics: Technology Management , Amy Lynn Fust Shaver
A Home-Based Program To Support Parents/Caregivers Of Children With Complex Developmental Needs In Their Home Environment , Audrey Lind Soulek
Creating a Sensory Friendly Classroom , Kaitlynn Stearns
Enhancing Occupational Performance Outcomes For Individuals With Orthopedic Injuries That Includes Psychosocial Well-Being Considerations In Occupational Therapy , Tyler Stecher
A Product To Aid Adolescents In Re-Integration To In-Person Education And Social Activities During The Covid-19 Pandemic , Kristin Nicole Thompson
Educating the Interprofessional Team and Family About Sensory Challenges Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder May Experience , Delanie Vitosh
Secondary To Post-Secondary Education Transition: A Guide For Self-Advocacy And Self-Determination , Karleen T. VonKrosigk
Realizing, Recognizing, Responding, & Resisting Re-Traumatization: An Evidence-Based Toolkit for Occupational Therapists to Advocate for Their Role on Interprofessional Teams to Address the Impacts of Childhood Trauma , Abby Werkmeister
Capstones from 2021 2021
Occupational Therapy’S Role In Addressing Mental Health Needs In Middle Schoolers , Taylor Anderson, Emily Annen, and Seira Dick
Addressing Sexual Intimacy Post-Spinal Cord Injury with Clients and their Significant Other , Michelle Arnhalt and Taylor Beatty
Recovering from the Loss of a Loved One: A Group Protocol for Remaining Active in Valued Occupations while Coping with the Loss of a Loved One , Hailey Axtell and Ty Berg
Occupational Therapy for Pregnant Women: An Ergonomics Program for First-Time Mothers , Kaitlyn Berglund and Brianna Peterman
Increasing Quality of Life and Occupational Performance: A Treatment Protocol for Military Burn Patients and Their Families , Emma Chafin and Jessica Lambert
Broadening the Role of Occupational Therapists within the ICU Setting: An Occupation-Based Toolkit , Roxana Chirinos and Carly Derouin
The Role Of Occupational Therapy In Promoting Employment Outcomes With Individuals Diagnosed With A Serious Mental Illness , Lexie Coalwell and Allison Moran
Creating Sense of It: An In-service to Address Military Students Experiencing Sensory Deficits , Danielle Cox and Katelyn Jennings
A Guide for Occupational Therapist Working with Women with Postpartum Depression and Eating Disorders , Nathina Crabtree and Sara Gregoire
Prevention of Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders Among Individuals Utilizing a Home Computer Workstation , Dalton Fetsch and Jonah Kratochvil
A Group-Protocol: Returning to Life Post Breast Cancer Treatment , Janice Finley and Ashley Timm
Occupational Therapy and Primary Care: The Tools for Referral , Alexandra Grosser and Kelsey Tadman
Occupational Therapy’s Role in Developing Social Skills for Adolescents with Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder , Rachel Grubb and Amira Ragab
The Occupational Therapy Guide for Enabling Meaningful Social Participation Post-TBI , Vanessa Johnson and Hope Nelson
Creating an Adaptive In-School Sports Program to Increase Occupational Engagement and Performance in Children with Physical Disabilities: A Resource Manual for Occupational Therapists , Bethany Kasberger and Kaylee Loken
Prevention, Positioning, Participation: Wheelchair Education and Promotion of Occupational Engagement for Caregivers in SNFs , Sarah Lovelace and Brandon Steffen
A Practitioner's Guide: Using the Cognitive Performance Test to increase Independent Living Skills for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities , Alycia Peacock and Grace Spanos
Improving School Readiness in Home-Based Care Settings , Malea Peters and Shelby Wittenberg
Structured Ambassador Program for Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities in the Preschool Setting , Aspen Pitcher and Abby Wendel
Addressing Culture throughout the Occupational Therapy Process: Beyond the Basics , Samantha Plutko and Jacey Savage
Parental Caregiver Guide For An Adolescent With Down Syndrome: Transitioning Out Of High School , Kalindi Rachey and Hailey Johnson
Empowering Grand-Families Through Occupation: An Occupational Therapy Intervention Program for Grandchildren and Custodial Grandparents , Macie Romsdal and Gabrielle Wavra
Youth Mental Health Community Based OT Intervention Guide: Putting the Pieces Back Together , Bailey Schumacher and Meaghan Wolfgram
OT is the Missing Link in Postoperative Cognitive Dysfunction , Hope Schuster and Michaela Mayhood
Increasing Participation in Meaningful Occupations for Disabled Veterans Through the Promotion of Spirituality: An Intervention Resource Manual for Occupational Therapists. , Tristen Smith and Audrya Tarango
Coffee With Farmers , Ivy Steiger and Kelsey Sherry
Occupational Therapy Joining Bariatric Care Teams: A Web-Based Resource , Annabelle Tarnowski and Rylee Skyberg
Immersive Virtual Reality (VR) and Telehealth to Promote Engagement in Occupations for Rural Populations: Manual for Occupational Therapists , Brock Wahlert and Emily Utech
Capstones from 2020 2020
Therapeutic Use of Self: Continuing Education for Occupational Therapy Practitioners and Students , Jessica Anderson and Hannah Halbakken
Redirected Mindset: A Guide to a More Holistic Practice in Physical Rehabilitation , Sara Anderson and Ashley Malina
Culturally Responsive Care for American Indians and Alaskan Natives: An Online Training Module for Occupational Therapists , Dayton Bender and Penelope Yoosook
Addressing the Occupational Needs of Children with Post Traumatic Brain Injury in the School Setting , Reghan Boldt and Madisyn Rick
Occupational Therapy Best Practice Addressing Anxiety-Related Behaviors: Extending Strategies into the Classroom , Hannah Burks and Kristen Kilian-Weides
A Holistic Approach to Infant Sleep , MacKenzie Danielson, Karlie Marler, and Alyssa Turner-Strong
Occupational Therapy: Addressing Mental Health Needs in Permanent Supportive Housing , Jessica Drady and Drew Mapes
Home in Place: An Activities of Daily Living Resource Guide for Informal Caregivers Caring for their Loved One with Dementia , Justine Flattum and Nora Stevenson
A Home-based Program for Adolescents Recovering from Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa: The Promotion of Recovery in the Natural Context , Rachael Gabrelcik and Kathryn Jensen
The Role of Occupational Therapy with the Foster Care System: Implementation of Routine Screening Procedures , Sydney Gayton and Hannah Merges
Exploring a Best-Practice Approach for Preventing Challenging Behavior in Pediatric Occupational Therapy , McKenzie Ramsey Gehring and Kimberly Harmelink
Occupational Gearing For Child Rearing: Occupational Therapy’s Role in Helping New Mothers Succeed After Giving Birth , Alana Grabarkewitz and Lydia Swanson
Creating Inclusive and Culturally Competent Healthcare for the LGBTQ+ Community: A Curriculum , Caelin Hansen and Jordyn Himley
Hand Therapy Outcomes: Therapists’ Perceptions Of Occupation-Based Interventions In Practice , Cheyenne Hanson and Molly Maudal
Operationalizing Leisure as a Therapeutic Modality in Skilled Nursing Facilities: A Web-Based Resource , Elizabeth Hauck and Summer Miller
Occupational Therapy Based Resource Designed for Caregivers of Children in the Foster Care System , Courtney Haugen and Brianna McNelly
Filling the Gap: A Caregiver Guide for Children Transitioning out of Early Intervention , Parker Hoey and Marissa Rahlf
Assistive Technology for Mild Traumatic Brain Injury: A Group Protocol for Improving Occupational Performance of College Students , Jacob Horn and Kyler Peterson
An Allen's Cognitive Levels Training Program for More Comprehensive Interprofessional Care , Ashton Hudspeth and Colton Peltier
Understanding Values, Beliefs, and Spirituality Within a Diverse Country: Implications for Health Care Professionals , Miranda Ivers and Paige Rieger
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Occupational Therapy OT
Breaking Down the OTD Capstone Process

Nadim Batshon, OTD ’19, with his capstone poster.
Part of what distinguishes USAHS’ entry-level Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) degree from our Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT) degree is that our OTD students complete a capstone project. The capstone project is an opportunity for students to dive deeply into a topic that interests them within the OT field. At first, the process can seem both exciting and intimidating for students. To break it down, we spoke with Angela Blackwell, PhD, OTR, an associate professor of OT who co-coordinates the doctoral program on our campus in Austin, Texas.

Step 1: Define the Problem
Dr. Blackwell says that in their third trimester, OTD students “start to think about a problem that exists in the clinic or in society that OT can address. Ideally, they find a problem that hasn’t been adequately explored.” The student refines their definition of the problem based on observations, conversations, and a review of OT literature on the topic.
Students might find a new angle on a traditional OT practice area, such as helping people with disabilities. Or they might look within emerging practice areas, such as working with people experiencing homelessness, forensic populations, young people in foster care, people with substance abuse issues, and much more. Here are examples of some recent OTD projects:
- Salina Jivan, OTD ’20, sought to understand the impact of social distancing on seniors during the pandemic.
- Nadim Batshon, OTD ’19, compared current programs that help former prisoners re-enter society with what the occupational therapy profession could offer.
- Nikki Nguyen, OTD ’20, and Elizabeth Valera, OTD ’21, teamed up to create and implement a program to help teens in an emergency shelter regulate their emotions.
- Jessica Morgan, OTD ’20, created a website and podcast that serves as a resource for OTs who are exploring unconventional areas of practice.
Step 2: Form a Capstone Team
Students assemble a capstone team that consists of:
- A doctoral coordinator (for Austin students, this is either Dr. Blackwell or her colleague Steven Gerardi, PhD, OTD, OTR)
- A mentor, who may be an occupational therapist or other expert working in the student’s field of interest
- A site supervisor, who supports the student through the 14-week capstone experience process within the chosen setting
Of her role on the capstone team, Dr. Blackwell says, “I love seeing the students develop, and seeing our profession develop in new and interesting ways. I’m their cheerleader, on their team, their witness – I see them grow tremendously, gain confidence, and become experts in this area. I feel their pride.”
She adds that most OTD students aren’t accustomed to completing a project that is so self-directed and open-ended. “They’re used to handing in an assignment and getting a grade—but not having to rework something multiple times. So in the beginning, I set expectations that this will be an iterative process.”
Step 3: Brainstorm Possible Solutions
Next, the student brainstorms possible ways to approach their chosen problem. They have the option to develop and/or implement a program at a facility, conduct an onsite research study, write a scholarly paper, create more resources for OTs to work in their topic area, or other creative approaches—the possibilities are numerous. “What they choose depends on the student’s goals, personality, and access to facilities,” Dr. Blackwell says.
Students try to network and make connections with sites where they might want to conduct research or implement their program. Capstone team members can help facilitate connections, and USAHS has relationships with some sites that are happy to mentor multiple students over time.
This part of the process can be challenging for students who have lots of interests and ideas, Dr. Blackwell says. “Sometimes they freeze at this stage, so I try to not let them get overwhelmed. I advise them to keep the project small, and I urge them to trust me and trust the process. I tell them that no matter what topic they choose, the capstone project is a valuable process.”
Step 4: Write a Preliminary Proposal
In their fourth trimester, students write a preliminary proposal, articulating the problem and solution that they’ve defined. Their capstone team members review this proposal and give feedback, guiding the student as they see fit.
Students’ fifth and sixth terms are devoted to completing their onsite fieldwork. During this time, they continue to gather information and ideas for their capstone project.
Step 5: Write a Full Proposal
In the seventh trimester, students dig in and fill out a full proposal, which includes an introduction articulating the problem, a literature review about the issue, a detailed description of the methodology the student will use in their project, and appendices. Their capstone team members look at drafts of the proposal to make sure it’s developing in the right direction.
Step 6: Defend the Proposal
Near the end of their seventh term, students defend the proposal by presenting it to an audience that can include any member of the USAHS community, as well as the student’s friends and family. Members give constructive feedback. “We don’t let students defend it before they’re ready,” Dr. Blackwell says. “We keep working together until the proposal is in good shape. It’s a proud moment to see the students defend their proposal with confidence.”
Step 7: Conduct Research, Ideally Hands-On
After the proposal defense, the students begin the 14-week capstone experience, which is the hands-on portion of their project—with site visits, interviews, surveys, and more. “The ideal is boots on the ground, working with the population,” says Dr. Blackwell. However, during COVID-related shutdowns, some students have needed to alter their plans for hands-on work.
Step 8: Present the Findings
At the end of the eighth term, just before graduation, students present the findings of their capstone project in a poster, and they deliver an oral presentation. The whole USAHS community is invited. (During the pandemic, these have been conducted virtually, with students from multiple campuses able to view each other’s presentations.) Dr. Blackwell characterizes the presentation as “another proud moment.” She says, “The students become competent clinicians who can solve big problems. It’s exciting to see them come full circle—to see this application of evidence and theory that far exceeds that of their MOT peers. They gain a command of the profession and the topic they chose.”
The University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences (USAHS) offers hands-on Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT) and Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) degrees. Join a collaborative cohort of peers who learn under the mentorship of expert faculty-practitioners. Practice with mock patients in our state-of-the-art simulation centers and learn anatomy with our high-tech tools. Prepare for clinical practice with patients across the lifespan, as well as advanced roles in research, practice leadership, and policymaking. Residential (online coursework + in-person labs on weekdays) and Flex (online coursework + in-person labs on weekends) formats are available.
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Home > STUDENTWORK > OT-CAPSTONE
Occupational Therapy Capstone Presentations
Capstone presentations from 2022 2022.
The Typical Toddler: Diet and Approaches to Picky Eating , Carissa Adams
Understanding Advocacy for Promoting Occupational Engagement among Individuals with Disabilities , Rebecca L. Benson
Enhancing Life: Promoting Meaningful Interventions to Support Individuals with Dementia , Keelan N. Blasius
An Occupation-Based Approach to Empower Individuals Experiencing Homelessness , Sydney L. Bodensteiner
Promoting Mental Health of Middle and High School Students Using Universal and Targeted Strategies , Alyssa E. Brown
Occupational Therapy in Oncology Care: Methods for Treating Cancer-Related Fatigue , Marissa Emberly Cardenas
Expanding the Role of Occupational Therapy for Oncology Patients: A Focus on Tumor- and Blood-Based Cancers , Erika N. Clark
Occupational Therapy’s Role in Sensory Play Education in Daycare Setting , Bianca K. Claussen
Occupational Therapy’s Role in Music Student Health , Katie Ericsson
Promoting Occupational Therapy Involvement in End-of-Life Care Through Advocacy and Education , Macey Genzlinger
Mending the Mind: Exploring the Role of Occupational Therapy for Executive Dysfunction Post-Pediatric Traumatic Brain Injury , Shannon E. Hegland
Meeting Mental Health Needs of Parents Caring for Children with Disabilities by Facilitating Occupational Balance and Well-being , Emily J. Heumiller
Exploring Occupational Therapy in Perinatal Care: Promoting the Mental Health and Well-Being of Women During and After an Unplanned Pregnancy , Sydney M. Korn
Hula as a Protective Factor that Improves the Quality of Life to Those Who Dance in a Hula , Pepper T. Lum-Lung
Impact of Stigma on Students with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: Implications for School-Based Occupational Therapists , Sidney M. McReynolds Mrs.
Investigating the Impact of Parkinson’s Disease on IADL Performance, Emphasizing the Need for Earlier Diagnosis and the Value of Timelier Occupational Therapy Intervention , Brittney N. Moser
Occupational Therapy and Continuous Care: Pediatric Rehabilitation for Children with Medically Complex Conditions and Severe Burns , Elise M. Mueller
Supporting the Role of Professional Caregivers in Long-Term Care: Education, Training, and Caregiver Mental Health interventions that Promote Dementia Care Excellence , Katelyn A. Nelson
Application of Ergonomics in Healthcare through Environmental Adaptations , Johnny Nguyen
OT Entrepreneurship: Perceived Challenges & Resources , Gunnar Daniel Olson
Occupational Therapy’s Role in The Holistic Management of Chronic Pain , Megan K. Rodahl
The Aquatic Environment as a Tool for Facilitating Sensory Processing and Regulation , Christian Schneider
Promoting Engagement in a School Setting , Jordyn M. Sippel
Promoting Inclusive Play and Social Skills Development in Sioux Falls and Harrisburg, South Dakota , Madison C. Snelling
Incorporating Trust-Based Relational Intervention in Occupational Therapy to Address Mental Health Needs of Elementary Students , Maci K. Stouffer
Occupational Therapy Education to Support Families Affected by Huntington's Disease and Their Care Team , Morgan R. Weber
Rehabilitation Through Reintegration: Supporting Survivors of Stroke , Alexander T. Wiemann
Capstone Presentations from 2021 2021
Occupational Therapists’ Role in Supporting Students with Reading Disabilities , Tania Alexander
Advanced Practice in Aquatic Therapy: Exploring Occupational Therapy in an Aquatic Environment , Brenna K. Barash
An Occupation-Based Program for Fostering Healthy Life Skills among Youth in the Juvenile System , Shelby E. Beckman
Virtual Reality and Its Impact as an Intervention on Meaningful Occupations for Individuals with Mental Health Diagnoses , Alison S. Benson
Bathrooms, Incontinence, and Withholding OH MY: Occupational Therapy’s Role in Pediatric Constipation Management , Erin J. Buse
Complex Conditions of the Hand: A Resource for Rural Therapists , Jay D. Cooper
Exploring Dance-Based Occupational Therapy Interventions Among Children and Adolescents with Disabilities and Special Needs , Amy J. Davis
Exploring Occupational Therapy with Athletes Using Principles of Lifestyle Redesign® to Support Academic Success and Life Balance. , Michaela M. Dendinger
An Occupational Therapy Program to Enhance Academic Performance Among Children in the School System Using American Sign Language , Amy N. Dragoo
Creating Inclusive Classroom Environments Through Education and Coaching , Leah Hagen
Promoting Social and Emotional Development in Preschool Children through TBRI® Nurture Group© , Sydney P. Harris
Musculoskeletal Conditions and Performance Anxiety Among Musicians: An Occupational Therapy Approach , Vitoria Heier
Improving Quality of Life among Individuals with Neurocognitive Disorders using Occupational Therapy and a Sensory Integration Approach , MaKenzie K. Johnson
Supporting Caregivers and Survivors of Stroke in their Journey through Stroke Recovery via Telehealth Services , Keri Kamphoff
Developing Skills Utilizing Assistive Technology in Occupational Therapy: From Entry-Level to Tech-Savvy , Konner W. Kielman
Clinical Practice Guidelines for Hand Therapy and Application of the Occupational Adaptation Model , Noah R. Kottke
Complementary and Integrative Approaches for Occupational Therapy Practitioners: An Educational Experience , Wanda Kay Lauer
Advocating for the Field of Occupational Therapy in a Childcare Setting , Nicole K. Leinhart
Empowering Occupational Therapy Practitioners through Virtual Education on Seating and Wheeled Mobility , Jane A. Loscheider
Supporting the Holistic Treatment of Adults with Upper Extremity Injuries: Bridging the Gap Between the Clinic and Classroom , Stephanie W. McClung
Refocusing on Fine Motor: Increasing Accessibility to Fine Motor Resources in a Virtual World , Robin R. McLey
Governor Gains: A Remote Program Connecting Home and School , Madison L. Michels
Theory to Practice: The Role of Occupational Therapy in Enhancing the Well-Being of Individuals in Critical Care , Rachel D. Murphy
Occupational Therapy Services for Sheltered Individuals Experiencing Homelessness , Ariana Oorlog
Community-Based Occupational Therapy: Promoting Family Centered Care , Erin L. Pilkerton
The Effectiveness of VITA4Vets on Improving Job Interview Confidence and Competence While Reducing Anxiety Among Veterans , Jenae K. Schneider
Role of Occupational Therapy in the NICU and Post-NICU Settings , Katlyn M. Schochenmaier
Preparing Adolescent Immigrants Transition to Their New Environment: Addressing Mental Health and Occupational Participation , Reina I. Sebastian
Caregiver Perceptions of Environmental Modifications for Sensory Processing , Jaimie Lynn Smith
Effectiveness of the Early Start Denver Model for Young Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder , Taylor M. Tschetter
Service-learning and case-based learning’s impact on student’s clinical reasoning : A repeated measures design study , Gordon B. Tsubira
Promoting Caregiver Competency to Support Children with Experiences of Adversity Through Occupational Therapy Education , Dana L. Vandenberg
The Benefits of Utilizing a Sensory Room in a Pediatric Outpatient Setting , MacKenzie L. Wand
Occupational Participation, Performance, and Satisfaction in Survivors of Human Trafficking , Rebecca M. Wangberg
Perceptions of Spirituality Among Occupational Therapy Practitioners: An Exploratory Study of End-of-life Care , Charles Ralph Webb
Exploring Occupational Therapy's Role in Tourism and the Experience of Traveling with a Disability , Kendel N. Wheat
Capstone Presentations from 2020 2020
Exploring Occupational Therapy’s Role in Concussion Management to Promote Occupational Performance , Nevin Andreas
Supporting Youth of All Abilities in a Childcare Setting , Erica Beare
Developing a Group Occupational Therapy Program for Adults Experiencing Homelessness , Jenny Dobias
Occupational Therapy in Oncology Care: Experiences with the Pediatric and Adult Populations , Jillian Estes
Adapted Air-Rifle Shooting: The Role of OT in Developing a Community-Based Program , Andy Farriell
Improving Access to Occupational Therapy through Integration into Pediatric Primary Care , Kelsey Foxhoven
Living Large in Daily Life: LSVT BIG Made Meaningful , Alex Greger
Occupational Therapy's Role in Pelvic Floor Rehabilitation , Paige Groetken
Grand Pals: an Occupation-Based Intergenerational Program , Taylor Hanson
An Organization-Level Occupational Therapy Consultation Approach: Increasing Art Museum Access for Visitors with Autism Spectrum and Sensory Processing Disorders , Paige Harpenau
The Role of Occupational Therapy in the Physical and Psychological Rehabilitation of Perinatal Mothers , Ashley Heine
An Occupational Therapy Life Skills Training Program to Help At-Risk Youth Transition Successfully into Adult Life , Kara Honius
Mighty Minds: a Life Skills Program for Children with Experiences of Trauma , Tori Nelson
MAMASTE: Exploring the Role of Occupational Therapy in Maternal Health with an Occupation-Based Yoga Program , Sara O'Connor
Leadership is the Way: Teaching and Scholarship in Transition Services , Ben Olson
Horsin' Around: a Hippotherapy Approach to Occupational Therapy Intervention , Mallary Paitz
A Trauma-Informed Practice Protocol for Pediatric Occupational Therapy Practitioners , Jessica Reishus
Promoting Healthy Sexuality across the Domain of Occupational Therapy , Wade Robinson
Exploring Occupational Therapy Advocacy , Kara Shroll Blue
Occupational Therapy’s Role in Public Space Design and Accessibility , Jenny Welu
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The Scoop on an ILOTA Intern’s Capstone Projects

The scoop on an ILOTA Intern’s Capstone Projects: Ari’s Perspective
Hello, leaders of the world! My name is Ariana S. Carrillo-Ortega, and I am a third-year student at Midwestern University. I am currently completing my capstone with the Illinois Occupational Therapy Association (ILOTA) under the mentorship of John Dudzik, Beverly Menninger, and Anne Kiraly-Alvarez. I am most excited to understand the different roles within the organization and contribute to new and existing efforts. My capstone interests primarily include student leadership capacity, student engagement, and J.E.D.I (justice, equity, diversity and inclusion) efforts within the professional organization.
A little bit about me is that I was born in Guadalajara, Jalisco, and raised in Illinois, where I am still heavily immersed in Mexican customs and traditions. Growing up, my parents were activists for the immigration community and frequently took my sisters and I out of school to attend friendly protests for immigration reform. This invitation to attend protests taught me to look beyond my immediate issues and instead pay attention to the societal issues in the community at large. I will always remember all the brave and courageous individuals who shared their stories and created a safe space for immigrants. I felt inspired by the activist's ability to make people feel seen, provide a vessel for minority voices, and, most importantly, demand basic human rights. I attribute a lot of my beliefs and values to growing up in this type of environment. It has allowed me to see all individuals as valuable members of our community regardless of abilities, healthcare needs, citizenship status, race, gender, socioeconomic status, sexuality, etc. Apart from advocating for my community, some of my favorite occupations include spending time with family, soccer, hiking, crafting, and completing puzzles. My primary interests related to the field of occupational therapy (OT) involve working with individuals with neurological conditions and academia.
Before I talk about the inspiration for my capstone, I wanted to provide a foundation for what capstone entails. According to the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE), the occupational therapy capstone is an integral part of doctoral occupational therapy programs. The doctoral capstone begins after the student has completed their didactic coursework and level II fieldwork rotations. The doctoral capstone has two components, including the capstone project and capstone experience. The goal of the doctoral capstone is for students to develop an in-depth knowledge of clinical practice skills, research skills, administration, leadership, program and policy development, advocacy, education, and theory development (2022). One of the advantages of completing a capstone is that each student can individualize the project over the course of the 14-week experience under the guidance of an expert mentor.
On the contrary, there are so many exciting facets of the occupational therapy profession that it can be challenging to narrow down one topic to focus on! Thus, the inspiration for my capstone project really goes back to my upbringing and the AOTA (American Occupational Therapy Association) 2025 vision. The vision states, "As an inclusive profession, occupational therapy maximizes health, well-being, and quality of life for all people, populations, and communities through effective solutions that facilitate participation in everyday living." (AOTA, 2018). In addition to this statement, five guideposts are outlined in an effort to guide and achieve this goal for various stakeholders. The five guideposts include the following; (1) Effective, (2) Leaders, (3) Collaborative, (4) Accessible, and (5) Equity, inclusion, and diversity. As students, sometimes it can feel overwhelming to live up to this, or for that matter, contribute to the AOTA vision. I ask myself and others, Why do we feel like this ? Most of the time, I get responses like “ I am JUST a student .” This raises the question, where is this notion coming from? Are there unspoken rules (i.e., Leadership begins after graduation, I need years under my belt, I need permission to lead)? Can students contribute to the vision of 2025? What is the message state and national organizations are conveying to students, and how are professional organizations assisting students and the future of this profession?
Another reason I have chosen to focus on the student population is because students are the second largest group that makes up the Illinois Occupational Therapy Association. Therefore, I want to ensure student voices and inputs are represented when professional organizations create conferences, webinars, and resources. I believe the true value in joining a professional organization lies when the organization continues to strive to meet the needs of its members. Although ILOTA currently offers opportunities and resources for students, I’d like to explore options to capitalize on the needs of students so that student members maximize their membership benefits and feel supported in the role of a student.
At this time, the capstone project is still under construction. Thus far, I have developed a survey and have disseminated it to all occupational therapy (OT) and occupational therapy assistant (OTA) students in the state of Illinois. The aim of the survey was to capture the students’ voices and input related to perspectives on leadership and engagement with ILOTA. The student input is extremely valuable for developing this project by ensuring the project vehicle is well-informed and created by students for students. The next steps are to analyze the data, present the information, and choose the most appropriate vehicle for this project to meet the needs of the students. With the preliminary data I have begun to review, the data (student input) has derived three possible projects. I am very excited to share the results of the survey! I think the survey results shed light on how students are modernizing leadership and provide insights into some of the barriers and supports fueling leadership.
A typical day for me consists of compiling resources, including searching the literature on student leadership, leadership theories, and member engagement within professional organizations. The majority of my time is spent analyzing data I have collected from students in the state of Illinois and creating a platform to disseminate the information! In addition, I frequently listen to podcasts related to occupational therapy and leadership. I really enjoy reading all the Eleanor Clarke Slagle Lectures because it reignites my passion for the profession. It’s also beautiful to see how leadership is progressing and is an ever-evolving process. I am currently reading two books called “Expansive Impact: An Invitation to Lead in Everyday Moments” by Sarah M. Young and “The Student Leadership Challenge” by James Kouzes and Barry Posner. The books are excellent reads, and I have definitely resonated with some of the struggles both books highlight related to leadership. It’s been eye-opening to know I am not the only one who feels this way, and the preliminary student survey results are also congruent. Overall, my ideologies of leadership continue to transform as I continue to explore resources. With that said, I want to share the eloquent words of Elliese Judge. "You don't have to be a superstar or an overachiever to lead; you just need to care about something and do something about it. It doesn't have to be big, just do something. Every great change starts small. You just need to take that first step, not because you necessarily have the authority or responsibility, but because you care." Last, I attend monthly meetings and have joined a few committees.
I have recently joined the Student Conclave Committee and re-joined the Conference Committee. I have enjoyed getting to know other practitioners and students through joining communities, contributing to different efforts, and, most importantly, learning new skills through various roles. Joining these committees has given me an overwhelming appreciation for ILOTA volunteer members and leaders who continue to share their knowledge and donate their time to make events and resources available. Without the volunteer members, the organization and profession would not be the same. On the Student Conclave Committee, my responsibilities include seeking out presenters and finding new experiences for students! In the Conference Committee last year, I served as the raffle coordinator. However, this year I would love to take on a different role to expand my toolbox further. I am also looking to start a dedicated Student Committee that has been in the works for a while with Dr. Kiraly-Alvarez, Dr. Erin Suchy, and current E-OTD student Jocelyn Tam. More details to come soon!
Through the internship experience, joining various committees, and attending SIS meetings, I have learned that there are many opportunities within ILOTA for students to get involved and membership benefits for students to explore! I have begun to take advantage of the free educational webinars ILOTA offers, access resources related to current practice issues in IL, doctoral capstone resources, networking opportunities, and other discounted conferences.
Overall, I am excited to see where my capstone project goes! I have been fortunate enough to have an incredible group of mentors that continue to believe in my efforts, are incredibly passionate, and provide guidance. I have also been fortunate to rely on Claudia Maloberti, another capstone student, during my time with ILOTA. We have a great dynamic and bring out the best in each other. I can’t wait to continue to be a part of ILOTA beyond capstone. My biggest takeaway from this experience has been that leadership and engagement within a professional organization doesn’t have to start after you graduate or after a few years under your belt. It starts now! If you are passionate about a topic or are seeking change in any capacity, please consider using ILOTA as a resource. You’d be amazed how many individuals share similar passions. Sometimes achieving change is easier when you have a village behind you. Lastly, my advice to other students is to consider ILOTA as a future capstone site, as the work has only begun with us. We hope that by sharing our experience, students are open to the idea of entering into non-traditional areas for capstone and conquering the “ I am JUST a student ” feeling. Your voice is powerful, and it matters too!

The scoop on an ILOTA Intern’s Capstone Projects: Claudia’s Perspective
Hi everyone! My name is Claudia Maloberti, and I am a third-year student at Huntington University in Fort Wayne, Indiana. I am completing my capstone experience with the Illinois Occupational Therapy Association. My mentors are Anne Kiraly-Alvarez and Jeanne Sowers. I am grateful for the opportunity to work with ILOTA’s mentor/mentee program and excited for the kick-off very soon! My capstone interests include promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in occupational therapy and ways to promote the profession.
I am originally from the Chicagoland area & decided to attend OT school out of state to develop connections outside my community. Prior to occupational therapy school, I attended Triton College, then transferred to The University of Illinois at Chicago, where I obtained my bachelor’s in rehabilitation sciences. In my free time, I like to spend time with my family, travel, cook, and work my part-time job. I am the business manager for a landscaping business and was able to manage working and school throughout my didactic courses and fieldwork!
The inspiration for my capstone project stems from my undergraduate experience. Not enough information was available to students to help them pursue a career in occupational therapy. I did not develop a comprehensive understanding of what occupational therapy entails as a career until my senior year at UIC when I took an introduction to occupational therapy course. While the course was great, if it were offered to students earlier in their careers, students would have access to better resources to apply to an OT/OTA program successfully. Creating free resources available to any student increases access to the field to apply to programs.
I also wanted to advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion in occupational therapy, as current clinicians do not have enough diversity. To better serve our communities and clients, we must shift the field to recruit and retain practitioners of diverse backgrounds. I am passionate about diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives because we must create equitable and inclusive environments for everyone. Occupational therapy practitioners advocate for occupational justice for their clients to have equal opportunities and experiences to reach their full potential. You do not have to wait until you are a practitioner to advocate to change the field of OT to advocate for DEI principles; students’ voices can also be a force for change.
Currently, we are almost at the halfway mark for our capstone experience! My capstone project’s focus is creating educational resources for the mentor/mentee program. I have created an outline with resources to guide my curriculum development. I wanted to ensure I created educational content aligned with current curriculum standards and objectives. I created and disseminated a qualitative research survey through ILOTA for current OT/OTA students to gain more information about their experience applying to OT/OTA programs. I currently have two of four modules completed for the mentor/mentee program & I am super excited for the pre-OT/OTA students to use the information for their educational journeys. My next steps are to create an in-service presentation for students at my university about the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion principles in OT/OTA school curriculums, create a leadership resource for students, and complete the AOTA DEI Toolkit.
A typical day for me is pretty busy. I am creating curriculum modules that require an extensive amount of research to find information that is appropriate for pre-OT students to know before applying to OT school. Each module contains a pre-test, a PowerPoint presentation, a variety of activities, and a post-test. I also meet with my mentors on a weekly basis to discuss progress and receive feedback on the resources I have completed so far.
I am on the community outreach committee and the mentor/mentee subcommittee. I enjoy attending committee meetings and getting to know practitioners in the area. I also have the opportunity to attend executive board meetings during my time as an intern at ILOTA. I hope to one day hold a board position, so it is great to see firsthand the roles and responsibilities each board member holds.
Through ILOTA membership, I can attend various meetings and network with other students and current OTPs. The student conclave is coming up, and I am excited to network with other students and clinicians, learn about job opportunities after graduation, and obtain additional information about taking the NBCOT.
I am super grateful for the opportunity to work with ILOTA for my capstone project. My mentors and members of ILOTA have been very supportive of the initiatives I want to accomplish & are always willing to help when needed. I am also thankful for the opportunity to work with Ariana S. Carrillo-Ortega throughout the capstone experience. We work super well together & consistently support one another! It is awesome to have another student passionate about bringing about change in the field of OT to work with! My biggest takeaway from the capstone experience is to create your project around your passions. I look forward to working on my project every day because I am passionate about incorporating diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives into the current OT curriculum & recruitment strategies for the field. My advice to future capstone students would be to consider working with ILOTA because every member is passionate about uplifting and advocating for occupational therapy practitioners and students!
If you are interested in working with ILOTA for your capstone project, my suggestion would be to research what initiatives they are currently working on. On the ILOTA website, you are able to research current committees and special interest sections. If there is a committee that aligns with your interests, join and attend a few meetings. You could network with current clinicians and other students and reach out to them and discuss your ideas for a capstone project!
Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education. (2022). 2018 accreditation council for occupational therapy education (ACOTE) standards and interpretive guide: August 2022 interpretive guide version. https://acoteonline.org/accreditation-explained/standards/
American Occupational Therapy Association. (2018). AOTA’s Centennial Vision and executive summary. American Journal of Occupational Therapy . https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.61.6.613
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The Best 150 Capstone Project Topic Ideas
10 May 2022
Quick Navigation
❔What is a Capstone Project?
Capstone Project Ideas:
- 💾Computer Science
- 🎒High School Education
- 💻Information Technology
- 🎭Psychology
- 🪄Management
- 🪛Engineering
- 💰Accounting
✅Capstone Writing: 10 Steps
The long path of research works ahead, and you can’t find any capstone project ideas that would be interesting and innovative? The task can seem even more challenging for you to feel all the responsibility of this first step. The top 150 capstone ideas presented below aim to make a choice not so effort-consuming.
With the list of the capstone project topics we've picked for you, you'll be covered in major subjects. Continue reading, and you'll get ideas for capstone projects in information technology, nursing, psychology, marketing, management, and more.
What is a Capstone Project?
Educational institutions use the capstone project to evaluate your understanding of the course on various parameters. For the students, the work on the project gives an excellent opportunity to demonstrate their presentation, problem-solving and soft skills. Capstone projects are normally used in the curriculum of colleges and schools. Also called a senior exhibition or a culminating project, these assignments are given to finish the academic course.
This assignment has several different objectives, among which are the following:
- to encourage independent planning,
- to learn to meet up deadlines,
- to practice a detailed analysis,
- to work in teams.
It's not that easy to pick the right capstone paper topic. The problem intensifies as each student or separate teams have to work on a single assignment which has to be unique. The best capstone project ideas may possibly run out. However, whatever topic you opt for, you’d better start your preparation and research on the subject as early as possible.
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Amazing Capstone Project Ideas for Nursing Course
Studying nursing is challenging, as it requires a prominent theoretical foundation and is fully practical at the same time. You should have to do thorough research and provide evidence for your ideas, but what to start with? The preparation for your capstone project in nursing won’t be so overwhelming if you make use of these capstone title ideas:
- Innovation and Improvement in Nursing
- Vaccination Chart Creation
- The Role of Nurses in Today's Society
- Shortage in Nursing and Its Effects on Healthcare
- Evidential Practices and Their Promotion in Nursing
- Global Changes in the Approach to Vaccination
- Top Emergency Practices
- Preventive Interventions for ADHD
- Quality of Nursing and Hospital Personnel Shifts: The Interrelation
- Ways to Prevent Sexually Transmitted Diseases
- Brand New Approaches in Diagnostics in the Nursing Field
- Diabetes Mellitus in Young Adults: Prevention and Treatment
- Healthcare in Ambulances: Methods of Improvement
- Postpartum Depression Therapy
- The Ways to Carry a Healthy Baby
Attractive Computer Science Capstone Project Ideas
Computer science is so rapidly developing that you might easily get lost in the new trends in the sphere. Gaming and internet security, machine learning and computer forensics, artificial intelligence, and database development – you first have to settle down on something. Check the topics for the capstone project examples below to pick one. Decide how deeply you will research the topic and define how wide or narrow the sphere of your investigation will be.
- Cybersecurity: Threats and Elimination Ways
- Data Mining in Commerce: Its Role and Perspectives
- Programming Languages Evolution
- Social Media Usage: How Safe It Is?
- Classification of Images
- Implementation of Artificial Intelligence in Insurance Cost Prediction
- Key Security Concerns of Internet Banking
- SaaS Technologies of the Modern Time
- Evolvement of Mobile Gaming and Mobile Gambling
- The Role of Cloud Computing and IoT in Modern Times
- Chatbots and Their Role in Modern Customer Support
- Computer Learning Hits and Misses
- Digitalization of Education
- Artificial Intelligence in Education: Perspectives
- Software Quality Control: Top Modern Practices
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Several High School Education Capstone Project Ideas for Inspiration
High school education is a transit point in professional education and the most valuable period for personal soft skills development. No wonder that the list of capstone project ideas in high school education involves rather various topics. They may range from local startup analysis and engineer’s career path to bullying problems. It’s up to you to use the chosen statement as the ready capstone project title or just an idea for future development.
- A Small Enterprise Business Plan
- Advantages and Disadvantages of Virtual Learning in Schools
- Space Tourism: The Start and Development
- Pros and Cons of Uniforms and Dress Codes
- What is Cyberbullying and How to Reduce It
- Becoming a Doctor: Find Your Way
- Career in Sports: Pros and Cons
- How to Eliminate the Risks of Peer Pressure
- Ensuring Better Behaviours in Classroom
- Cutting-Edge Technologies: NASA versus SpaceX
- The Reverse Side of Shyness
- Stress in High School and the Ways to Minimize It
- How to Bring Up a Leader
- Outdated Education Practices
- Learning Disabilities: What to Pay Attention to in Children’s Development
Capstone Project Topics in Information Technology – Search for Your Best
Information technology is a separate area developed on the basis of computer science, and it might be challenging to capture the differences between them. If you hesitate about what to start with – use the following topics for capstone project as the starting point for your capstone research topics.
- Types of Databases in Information Systems
- Voice Recognition Technology and Its Benefits
- The Perspectives of Cloud Computing
- Security Issues of VPN Usage
- Censorship in Internet Worldwide
- Problems of Safe and Secure Internet Environment
- The Cryptocurrency Market: What Are the Development Paths?
- Analytics in the Oil and Gas Industry: The Benefits of Big Data Utilization
- Procedures, Strengths and Weaknesses in Data Mining
- Networking Protocols: Safety Evaluation
- Implementation of Smart Systems in Parking
- Workplace Agile Methodology
- Manual Testing vs. Automated Testing
- Programming Algorithms and the Differences Between Them
- Strengths and Weaknesses of Cybersecurity

Psychology Capstone Project Ideas
Society shows increasing attention to mental health. The range of issues that influence human psychology is vast, and the choice may be difficult. You’ll find simple capstone project ideas to settle on in the following list.
- The Impact of Abortion on Mental Health
- Bipolar Disorder and Its Overall Effects on the Life Quality
- How Gender Influences Depression
- Inherited and Environmental Effects on Hyperactive Children
- The Impact of Culture on Psychology
- How Sleep Quality Influences the Work Performance
- Long- and Short-Term Memory: The Comparison
- Studying Schizophrenia
- Terrorist’s Psychology: Comprehension and Treatment
- The Reasons for Suicidal Behaviour
- Aggression in Movies and Games and Its Effects on Teenagers
- Military Psychology: Its Methods and Outcomes
- The Reasons for Criminal Behavior: A Psychology Perspective
- Psychological Assessment of Juvenile Sex Offenders
- Do Colours Affect The Brain?
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Capstone Project Ideas for Management Course
Studying management means dealing with the most varied spheres of life, problem-solving in different business areas, and evaluating risks. The challenge starts when you select the appropriate topic for your capstone project. Let the following list help you come up with your ideas.
- Innovative Approaches in Management in Different Industries
- Analyzing Hotels Customer Service
- Project Manager: Profile Evaluation
- Crisis Management in Small Business Enterprises
- Interrelation Between Corporate Strategies and Their Capital Structures
- How to Develop an Efficient Corporate Strategy
- The Reasons For Under-Representation of Managing Women
- Ways to Create a Powerful Public Relations Strategy
- The Increasing Role of Technology in Management
- Fresh Trends in E-Commerce Management
- Political Campaigns Project Management
- The Risk Management Importance
- Key Principles in the Management of Supply Chains
- Relations with Suppliers in Business Management
- Business Management: Globalization Impact
Capstone Project Ideas for Your Marketing Course
Marketing aims to make the business attractive to the customer and client-oriented. The variety of easy capstone project ideas below gives you the start for your research work.
- How to Maximize Customer Engagement
- Real Businesses Top Content Strategies
- Creation of Brand Awareness in Online Environments
- The Efficiency of Blogs in Traffic Generation
- Marketing Strategies in B2B and B2C
- Marketing and Globalization
- Traditional Marketing and Online Marketing: Distinguishing Features
- How Loyalty Programs Influence Customers
- The Principles of E-Commerce Marketing
- Brand Value Building Strategies
- Personnel Metrics in Marketing
- Social Media as Marketing Tools
- Advertising Campaigns: The Importance of Jingles
- How to Improve Marketing Channels
- Habitual Buying Behaviours of Customers
Best Capstone Engineering Project Ideas
It’s difficult to find a more varied discipline than engineering. If you study it – you already know your specialization and occupational interest, but the list of ideas below can be helpful.
- How to Make a Self-Flying Robot
- How to Make Robotic Arm
- Biomass Fuelled Water Heater
- Geological Data: Transmission and Storage
- Uphill Wheelchairs: The Use and Development
- Types of Pollution Monitoring Systems
- Operation Principles of Solar Panels
- Developing a Playground for Children with Disabilities
- The Car with a Remote-Control
- Self-Driving Cars: Future or Fantasy?
- The Perspectives of Stair-Climbing Wheelchair
- Mechanisms of Motorized Chains
- How to Build a Car Engine
- Electric Vehicles are Environment-Friendly: Myth or Reality?
- The Use of Engineering Advancements in Agriculture
More than just a spell check
Editors on PapersOwl can edit your paper and give recommendations on how to improve your writing:
- Punctuation
- Sentence structure
- Academic style
Capstone Project Ideas for MBA
Here you might read some senior capstone project ideas to help you with your MBA assignment.
- Management Strategies for Developing Countries Businesses
- New App Market Analysis
- Corporate Downsizing and the Following Re-Organization
- How to Make a Business Plan for a Start-Up
- Relationships with Stakeholders
- Small Teams: Culture and Conflict
- Organization Managing Diversity
- What to Pay Attention to in Business Outsourcing
- Business Management and Globalization
- The Most Recent HR Management Principles
- Dealing with Conflicts in Large Companies
- Culturally Differentiated Approaches in Management
- Ethical Principles in Top-Tier Management
- Corporate Strategy Design
- Risk Management and Large Businesses
Capstone Project Ideas for an Accounting Course
Try these ideas for your Capstone Project in Accounting – and get the best result possible.
- How Popular Accounting Theories Developed
- Fixed Assets Accounting System
- Accounting Principles in Information Systems
- Interrelation Between Accounting and Ethical Decision-Making
- Ways to Minimize a Company’s Tax Liabilities
- Tax Evasion and Accounting: Key Principles
- Auditing Firm Accounting Procedures
- A New Accounting Theory Development
- Accounting Software
- Top Three World Recessions
- Accounting Methods in Proprietorship
- Accounting Standards Globally and Locally
- Personal Finance and the Recession Effect
- Company Accounting: Managerial Principles and Functions
- Payroll Management Systems
Capstone Writing: 10 Essential Steps
Be it a senior capstone project of a high school pupil or the one for college, you follow these ten steps. This will ensure you’ll create a powerful capstone paper in the outcome and get the best grade:
- One of the tips to choose a topic that your professors would be interested in is picking a subject in the course of your classes. Make notes during the term and you will definitely encounter an appropriate topic.
- Opt for a precise topic rather than a general one. This concerns especially business subjects.
- Have your capstone project topic approved by your professor.
- Conduct a thorough information search before developing a structure.
- Don’t hesitate to do surveys; they can provide extra points.
- Schedule your time correctly, ensuring a large enough time gap for unpredictable needs.
- Never avoid proofreading – this is the last but not least step before submission.
- Stick up to the topic and logical structure of your work.
- Get prepared to present your project to the audience, learn all the essential points, and stay confident.
- Accept feedback open-mindedly from your teacher as well as your peers.
Preparation of a powerful capstone project involves both selection of an exciting topic and its in-depth examination. If you are interested in the topic, you'll be able to demonstrate to your professor a deep insight into the subject. The lists of ideas above will inspire you and prepare you for the successful completion of your project. Don’t hesitate to try them now!
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Final Capstone Project
The Occupational Therapy (OT) Capstone is the integration of three OT courses:
- OT 494 Directed Study in Occupational Therapy, Introduction to Scholarly Writing
- OT 589 Readings in Occupational Therapy
- OT 995 Scholarly Project or OT 997 Independent Study
OT 995 or OT 997 is the final course in this series; the student team chooses which course they wish to take. This is required of all students in the final semesters of their academic preparation. At the end of this process the student completes an oral comprehensive presentation to the faculty and has successfully completed the five required chapters of their project approved and prepared for binding and placement in the SMHS Library.
The final capstone course is an opportunity for students to demonstrate that they have achieved the goals for learning established by their educational institution and major department. Regardless of which course the student chooses, each course is designed to assess the student's ability to integrate learning from the courses in the major and prior academic experiences. Each course requires the application of that learning to a project which serves as an instrument of evaluation.
Past Capstone Projects
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Doctoral Capstone
The capstone is a multifaceted assignment that serves as a culminating academic and intellectual experience for students completing the occupational therapy program at the University of Central Arkansas. Capstone projects are designed to encourage students to think critically and solve challenging problems. These student-led projects include activities such as conducting novel research, program development, advanced clinical practice, education, advocacy and much more.
Occupational therapy students who have completed the program at the University of Central Arkansas have left their mark across the state of Arkansas, the United States and around the globe. These capstone projects are yet another example of why we say at UCA: Go here . Go Anywhere .
UCA Capstone Students Are Making a Difference Around the World
To explore all of the places where UCA OTD students are leaving their mark, click on the link below. Each capstone project will be represented by a pin on the map and identifies the name of the student, his or her graduating cohort, along with the project title of the completed capstone project. Prospective students to the program are encouraged to investigate previously completed capstone projects and generate ideas on how they might leave their mark .
Click on image to access interactive map

Capstone Abstracts
The following is a list of abstracts of completed capstone projects that offer a synopsis and more details of the work of students who are represented on the map. Click on any of the images by cohort to see a complete list of abstracts for each respective cohort.

Students enrolled in the program can find all information related to the capstone in the University of Central Arkansas Doctoral Capstone Manual by accessing the link below. The document includes an introduction to the capstone project, description of capstone committee members, capstone course descriptions and timeline of the project. Additionally, the manual serves as a resource for policies related to the capstone as well as copies of forms required to complete the project.
UCA OTD Doctoral Capstone Manual
Phone: 501-450-5017 Fax: 501-450-5568 [email protected]
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OTD Capstone Catalog
- Post date --> July 22, 2022

We are very excited to announce a brand new feature for members of the OT Potential Club : The OTD Capstone Catalog!
As part of an occupational therapy doctoral program in the United States, doctoral students spend 560 hours working on a capstone project.
The purpose of a capstone project is to help students take a deep dive into an area of OT, synthesize the information, and then disseminate their findings. These projects have the potential to help OT professionals all over the world improve our clinical practices.
But, until now, it’s been difficult to find and read these projects!
With our new capstone directory, OT professionals from around the globe can easily see the latest capstone projects from graduating OTD students. Likewise, other doctoral students can see examples of past projects, to help them generate ideas.
And, our favorite part is that students and working professionals can interact about the project!
Here’s what the Catalog looks like:

Here is a list of the current capstone topics in the Club:
- Community-Based Intervention and Programming; DEI in Higher Education
- Bilingual Practice, International Perspectives on OT, OT & Communication
- Self Study Syllabus on Reproductive Justice and OT
- The Summit Model: Viewing International Service Learning (ISL) from an Occupational Science Lens
- Occupational therapists’ role in treating pelvic floor dysfunction across the lifespan
- Impact of occupational therapy-led education on the stress and quality of life of caregivers of persons with stroke
- Occupational Therapy within the Population of Female Survivors of Sex Trafficking With History of Substance Use Disorders
- Mealtime Challenges in the School Setting: Therapeutic Processes and Practitioner Experiences
- AOTA Capstone Improving Research Dissemination and Implementation with Podcasting
- Occupational Therapy’s Role on the Design Team
- Advocating for the Expansion of OTP’s Role in Multi-Tiered Services in the School-Based Setting
- Leadership in Clinical Practice: Creating a Student Guide to Starting a Private Telehealth Practice
- Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) in Occupational Therapy: Expanding the focus to national, state, and university levels
- R(1) you ready to be in academia?: A Doctoral Capstone in Academia
Our Capstone Contest (Just for fun!!)
You worked hard on your capstone! That’s why we are excited to run this 2022 contest for the catalog:
The capstone project with the most comments on Dec. 31st, will win $500 !
How to submit to the capstone catalog
If you are interested in sharing your capstone with members of the OT Potential Club, here is all you have to do:
1.) Sign up for a student membership to the OT Potential Club .
2.) Submit the following information:
- One sentence description of your project.
- Student name
- Name of Mentor
- Setting and location
- Virtual / In-person / Hybrid
- Method/Design/Approach
- Results/Outcomes
- Conclusions
- Ideas for next steps to build on this topic
- 2-3 tips for students undertaking a similar project
- Deliverables
These are meant to be short and sweet, so only 1-2 sentences for each bullet point is encouraged.
Here’s an example of how the submission looks:

Are you looking for a capstone mentor?
The other perk of being part of the OT Potential Club is our incredible network of OTs from around the globe . On our OT directory, some members have indicated interest in serving as a mentor in particular subject areas. You can see these professionals below.
At OT Potential, our mission is to help the majority of occupational therapy practitioners from around the globe make a habit of regularly exploring new OT-related research. So, participating in the dissemination of capstone projects has been a natural fit for us. We hope you find it to be a win-win for both students and working practitioners.
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Home > Health Professions Division > College of Health Care Sciences > Department of Occupational Therapy > HPD_OT_CAPSTONE > 9

Department of Occupational Therapy Entry-Level Capstone Projects
Capstone title.
Culminating Project in Program Development: Resources for Occupational Engagement for Families and Educators of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Catherine Lane , Nova Southeastern University Follow
Submission Date
Document type.
Entry Level Capstone
Degree Name
Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD)
First Mentor
Dr. Mariana D'Amico
NSUWorks Citation
Catherine Lane. 2021. Culminating Project in Program Development: Resources for Occupational Engagement for Families and Educators of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Capstone. Nova Southeastern University. Retrieved from NSUWorks, . (9) https://nsuworks.nova.edu/hpd_ot_capstone/9.
Since June 17, 2021
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Home > JCRS > Occupational Therapy > OTDCAPSTONES
Doctorate of Occupational Therapy Program Capstone Presentations
The Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) capstone project and formal presentation is the final milestone in the doctoral candidate's curriculum. The formal presentation to academic and clinical communities showcases the culmination of an individual capstone project and experience completed by each doctoral candidate that is suitable for dissemination upon graduation.
To learn more about Jefferson's Occupational Therapy Doctorate program, please visit their website .
Submissions from 2022 2022
Empowering Individuals with Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva: Designing Assistive Devices via an Embedded Interdisciplinary Education Program Between Occupational Therapy and Industrial Design , Kyndra Adams; Andrew Berger; Kimberly S. Mollo, BFA, OTD, OTR/L; Tod Corlett, MID, IDSA; and Eric Schneider, BFA, MS IDSA, RSA
Outcomes of the NuroSleeve and Occupational Therapy on Upper Extremity Function of an Individual with Chronic Stroke: A Case Report , Jeremy P. Armstrong
Engaging Stakeholders as Advisors on the Design of a Large-Scale Calibration Study of the Spinal Cord Injury Movement Index (SCI-MI) Item Pools. , Olivia M. Biller and M J Mulcahey, PhD, OTR/L, FASIA
SENSE-able teams: Interdisciplinary perceptions of supports and barriers to implementing sensory-based interventions in early intervention classrooms , Margaret Booth; Kathleen Carr; Alex Logue, OTD, OTR/L; and Lydia Navarro-Walker, OTD, OTR/L, CLA
Autism-Friendly Vision Exams: An Adapted, Evidence-Informed Manual to Support Individualized Sensory Interventions in Vision Centers , Rachel Boyer and Roseann Schaaf, Phd,OTR/L/FAOTA
Reshaping Perspectives: Exploring Occupational Therapy's Role in Servicing Individuals from Historically Marginalized Groups and Environments , Iris W. Burns; Adair Sanchez; and Tina M. DeAngelis, EdD, MS, OTR/L
Refinement of a Bucket of Spinal Cord Injury Movement Index (SCI-MI) Items for Administration Acutely After Spinal Cord Injury , Martha K. Childress and M J Mulcahey, PhD, OTR/L, FASIA
Examining the Feasibility of Incorporating the Virtual Dementia Tour into Healthcare Education , Sarah Dever and E. Adel Herge, OTD, OTR/L FAOTA
OT student Perspectives: Exploring factors contributing to success , Chelsea E. Fagan; Madeline Humphries; and Rebecca Sinko, MS, OTD, OTR/L, CLA
Addressing Loneliness and Chronic Disease Management in Older adults: Piloting the Liberating Loneliness Program in Primary Care , Bethany Lin and Tracey Vause Earland, PhD, OTR/L,FNAP
Supporting Autistic Individuals in Healthcare: Development and Implementation of Evidence-Based Trainings on Sensory Needs , Danielle Lynn and Roseann Schaaf, Phd,OTR/L/FAOTA
Evaluating Progress: Perceptions and Assessments in an Intensive Pain Rehabilitation Program , Hal Martin; Miranda Powers; and Allison Giannone, OTD, OTR/L
From Seeds to Roses: Cultivating OT Practice Though a Coaching Approach , Katherine Sailor; Natalie Coronado; and Marie-Christine Potvin, PhD, OTR/L
Making Space for Occupational Therapy in Collaborative Mental Health Care , Anabelle Scalora; Sam Sutton; and Tina M. DeAngelis, EdD, MS, OTR/L
Supporting Families of Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities/Downs Syndrome and Dementia: A Resource Program , Sydney Smith and E. Adel Herge, OTD, OTR/L, FAOTA
Occupational Therapy's Role in Serious Mental Illness , Sam Sutton, Anabelle Scalora, and Tina DeAngelis
Supporting Caregivers of Older Adults Managing Chronic Conditions Using an Occupational Therapy Approach , Sarah Yemane, Ed.M and Tracey Vause Earland, PhD, OTR/L, FNAP
Submissions from 2021 2021
Redefining Sensory Preferences: Outcomes from a Pilot Design Collaboration for Individuals Living with Intellectual Disabilities to Promote Access, Awareness, and Acceptance in the Community through the Community Sensory Profile (CSP) , Christopher Acquafredda; Kimberly S. Mollo, OTD; Elizabeth Shirrell, MFA; Sarah McNabb, MEd, OTD; Michael Barrett, OTD; and Lydia Navarro-Walker, OTD
Breaking Barriers: The Role of Occupational Therapy for Individuals Who Are/Have Been Unhoused , Alexa Arnold; Carly Black; and Tina DeAngelis, EdD
Spinal Cord Injury Movement Index (SCI-MI):Development of an Item Pool Amenable to Administration Early after Spinal Cord Injury , Hannah Dalton and M J Mulcahey, PhD
Neuroplastic changes as a result of coaching: A narrative review , Giulia Heydeman and M J Mulcahey, PhD
Cooking Up Skills for Independent Living: Promoting Engagement through Inclusive Design for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities , Cynthia Jih; Kimberly Mollo, OTD; Elizabeth Shirrell, MFA; Sarah McNabb, MEd, OTD; Michael Barrett, OTD; and Lydia Navarro-Walker, OTD
Understanding the Resettlement Experience of Newcomers in Philadelphia: Identification of Meaningful Daily Life Activities – Furthering Image Development and Item Tracking , Zoe Kress; Molly McKim, MA; and Stephen Kern, PhD
The Liberating Loneliness Program: An Evidence-Informed Protocol for Addressing Loneliness Among Older Adults in Primary Care , Alissa Laham and Tracey Vause-Earland, PhD
Exploring the Impact of Individualized Action Plans on Feelings of Loneliness and Self-Efficacy Among Older Adults in Primary Care , Mary Kate Lyons and Tracey Vause-Earland, PhD
“I could really use this”: Learning coaching in a non-traditional fieldwork setting , Alexis Morales; Erin West; and Marie-Christine Potvin, PhD
Designing a sensory friendly environment to enhance participation in healthcare for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder , Lady Rios-Vega; Roseann Schaaf, PhD; and Amy Carroll, OTD
Supports and opportunities for neurodiversity inclusive practices at Jefferson , Caitlin Rosica; Roseann Schaaf, PhD; and Amy Carroll, OTD
Usefulness of the NTG-EDSD: Evaluating the Validity of a Screening Tool for Dementia in Adults with Intellectual Disabilities , Margaret Ryan; Allison Tuso; and Adel Herge, OTD
Wellness Oriented Regulation Toolbox for a Healthier You (WORTHY): An Accessible Tool for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities with a foundation in Inclusive Design , Mishayla Smith; Kimberly Mollo, OTD; Elizabeth Shirrell, MFA; Sarah McNabb, MEd, OTD; Michael Barrett, OTD; and Lydia Navarro-Walker, OTD
WE-ROOT: Planting Seeds Together to Promote Social Participation and Physical Wellness in Youth with Psychosis , Caitlin Taylor; Sarah Zagorac; and Tina DeAngelis, EdD
Submissions from 2020 2020
Spine Range of Motion Measurement Training Protocol: A Reliability Study , Madelyn Adams and M J Mulcahey, PhD
Health Coaching in Context for Caregivers of Youth with SCI: A Feasibility Study , Bernadette Alpajora and M J Mulcahey, PhD
Identifying, Implementing, and Measuring Knowledge Translation Strategies through Collaborative Industrial Design and Occupational Therapy Curricula , Michael Patrick Barrett; Sarah McNabb, MEd; and Kimberly Mollo, OTD
Barriers and Facilitators for Neurotechnologies Upper Limb Rehabilitation , Samantha Burke; Cecilia Pivarunas; and Namrata Grampurohit, PhD
Utilizing Occupational Therapy Programming to Improve Locus of Control and Employability of Young Adults Who Have Experienced Homelessness , Jennifer Doto; Sonny Misa; and Tina DeAngelis, EdD
Translating an Evidence-based Program for Adults with Intellectual Disabilities and Dementia: Skills2Care®-Intellectual Disability , Jennifer Hsu and Adel Herge, OTD
What is Staff Perception on Barriers and Facilitators to Violence Free Living for Survivors of Intimate Partner Abuse , Richard Jeffries and Lydia Navarro-Walker, OTD
Spinal Cord Injury Movement Index (SCI-MI): Fine Motor Domain , Rachel Y. Kim and M J Mulcahey, PhD
An Advanced Staff Training Program for Direct Support Providers Caring for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities and Dementia , Rebecca Langbein and Adel Herge, OTD
Team Teaching and Professional Development in Higher Education: Educator Perspectives , Courtney Mulligan; Haley Moshier; and Rebecca Sinko, OTD
Evaluating Caregiver Needs and the Feasibility of an Occupational Therapy Consultation Service to Caregivers of People with Dementia in a Geriatrics Ambulatory Clinic , Stefani Samuels and Tracey Vause-Earland, PhD
Students Perceptions of Occupational-Therapy Based Coaching in Post-Secondary Education , Gabriella Santos; Erin Harrington; and Marie-Christine Potvin, PhD
An Interdisciplinary Approach to Increasing Exercise in Older Adults: A Pilot Study , Tarun Sharma and Tracey Vause-Earland, PhD
Understanding the Resettlement Experience for Newcomers in Philadelphia: Identification of Meaningful Daily Life Activities , Liza Sherretta; Sarah Weinblatt; and Stephen Kern, PhD
Assessment of Fidelity to Health Coaching in Context , Taylor Sivori and M J Mulcahey, PhD
Compassion Fatigue and Job Satisfaction Among Domestic Violence Agency Staff , Gabrielle White and Lydia Navarro-Walker, OTD
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Occupational Therapy

Our department facilitates meaningful research and a robust education for future occupational therapists through the Doctor of Occupational Therapy program and an occupational therapy pathway. With state-of-the-art facilities, a small student-to-faculty ratio, hands-on learning opportunities and more, the department prepares students to assist people in achieving their goals, maintaining or rebuilding their independence and participating in everyday activities.
Welcome to the Department of Occupational Therapy
The field of occupational therapy helps individuals of all ages maximize independence in daily living so they can achieve their goals and do the things they want to do. Occupational therapists assess clients' needs, design personalized plans and services, introduce adaptive equipment as needed, and offer support as clients navigate a new environment adapted to their circumstances.
At USD, our faculty and students take a holistic, person-centered approach – one that considers the physical, psychological and social needs of clients and understands the importance of adapting the environment to fit the person. This foundation enables our students to enter the field of occupational therapy as compassionate professionals who are prepared to meet clients where they are at. At the same time, our students are gaining technical and practical expertise through hands-on learning experiences; our state-of-the-art facilities enable collaborative and simulated learning opportunities, and the fieldwork elements of our program provide students with real-world settings in which to apply their knowledge. These experiences are guided by expert faculty who understand the opportunities and demands of the profession and are there to support students every step of the way toward their careers as occupational therapists.
Join our community of listeners, experts and change-makers in the Department of Occupational Therapy at USD.
Meet the department.
Ranelle Nissen
Shana Cerny
Mackenzie Feldhacker
Marcia Harnois
Karen Hebert
Rita Humphrey
Moses Ikiugu
Whitney Lucas Molitor
Jessica McHugh
Allison Naber
Recent news.

Health Sciences Professor, Alumnus Participate in 437 Project for Suicide Awareness
A group of 12 runners, including a USD assistant professor of occupational therapy and an alumnus, will participate in a fundraising run across the State of South Dakota later this month to support mental health, specifically, suicide prevention.

USD Day at the Capitol Cultivates Fundamental Connections
Health Sciences students forge relationships with legislators who serve South Dakotans.

Maximizing Simulation and Team-Based Learning Experiences at USD
Picture this: A USD nursing student stands over a lifelike manikin that has an advanced computer system that simulates real-life conditions and reactions to medicine in the heart, lungs, stomach and more.
Known for Excellence
The usd occupational therapy program was one of the first 12 programs in the u.s. to offer the otd program., usd is home to the state's only comprehensive health sciences school and medical school., our students consistently achieve a 100% passage rate on the national board for certification in occupational therapy exam..

USD's OTD program is fully accredited by the ACOTE of the AOTA.
Department opportunities & resources.
The capstone allows doctoral students to enhance skills in advanced clinical practice, scholarship, administration, leadership, advocacy, program and policy development, education or theory development. The field experience may occur in a traditional or non-traditional site, and the student is expected to perform beyond that of an entry-level occupational therapist. Some examples of previous projects by OT students include explorations of the role OT plays in pediatric cancer treatment, dance across the lifespan, visual training, understanding OT and parent education in the NICU, OT's role in pediatric cancer treatment, caring for the caregiver, working with survivors of human sex trafficking, and acute rehabilitation. Whatever your interest is, our faculty will work with you to find a direction that sparks your curiosity and helps develop your specialty.
Our students learn in real-world settings and serve their communities. Here are just a few of the experiences offered through our O.T.D. program:
- Participating in simulations alongside students from a variety of disciplines.
- Completing fieldwork in one of our 175+ partner sites around the nation.
- Attending state and national occupational therapy conferences.
- Choose an area of specialty to explore and research through your capstone experiential project.
USD is home to more than 170 student organizations, including several that are housed in the Department of Occupational Therapy. You may be interested in creating projects and hosting outreach opportunities to make friends, developing new skills and exploring your interests.
Pi Theta Epsilon
Pi Theta Epsilon is a professional honor society for occupational therapy students. Through involvement in this organization, you can network with your peers, seek professional development opportunities and further your passion for occupational therapy.
Student Occupational Therapy Association (SOTA)
You have an opportunity to serve your local and regional communities through the Student Occupational Therapy Association. Students in this group get involved in after-school programs, food and school supply drives, activities at assisted/independent living facilities and highway cleanups.
Occupational therapy students learn from faculty who are experts in their fields. Check out the faculty-led research topics that have led to student collaborations and publications.
Departments & Facilities

Teaching and Research Laboratory
Located in the Sanford Coyote Sports Center on USD's campus in Vermillion, the Teaching and Research Laboratory is a centralized location for occupational therapy, physical therapy, kinesiology and sport management, and sports medicine programs. There are collaborative spaces for the various programs, as well as state-of-the-art classrooms, laboratories and clinical spaces that facilitate hands-on learning.

Learning and Leading Together
The Department of Occupational Therapy offers a high quality, rigorous education while prioritizing a welcoming and collaborative environment. Our small student-to-faculty ratio and our faculty's open-door policy enable a tight-knit community; our faculty work closely with students to help them achieve their goals, and our students enjoy a connected network of peers who care about each other's success. Our department is a place where research and practice take place alongside collaborative learning and growing.

The Region's Leader in Health Care Education
USD is home to the only comprehensive health sciences school and medical school in the state. This advantage offers our students the unique opportunity to learn and train alongside peers in a variety of disciplines, equipping them with the collaborative experiences they need to be effective members of their future patients' care teams.
We are also proud to have strong relationships with the region's leading health care providers. These partnerships offer our students invaluable opportunities for developing professional connections, getting hands-on experiences and serving their communities early in their education.

Practice in State-of-the-art Facilities
Outcomes and accreditation.
Students must graduate from an ACOTE-accredited program and successfully pass the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy exam in order to apply for state licensure and to practice as an occupational therapist.
For more information, visit the AOTA website or contact:
ACOTE 6116 Executive Boulevard, Suite 200 North Bethesda, MD, 20852-4929 Phone: (301) 652-AOTA (2682) www.acoteonline.org
Certification & Credentialing
Graduates of the program will be eligible to sit for the National Certification Examination for the Occupational Therapist administered by the NBCOT. After successful completion of this exam, the individual will be a registered occupational therapist. Most states require licensure to practice; however, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT certification examination. A felony conviction may affect a graduate's ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or attain state licensure.
Occupational Therapy Outcomes
The USD OT Program was one of the first 12 programs in the nation to offer the Doctor of Occupational Therapy (O.T.D.). Our graduates have a 100% pass rate on the NBCOT Exam as outlined in the table below and on the NBCOT website .
Retention and Progression
*May include students who entered under different admission cycles.
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- Occupational Therapy > -->
- Capstone Experience
Sara Stephenson Capstone Coordinator and Assistant Clinical Professor
Capstone experience & project, one of the last steps in obtaining your nau occupational therapy degree.
During the final semester of the program, students complete a 14-week Capstone experience & project . The Capstone is an integral part of the program’s curriculum design which includes an in-depth learning experience that is designed to develop students into practice-scholars . Students begin the Capstone following successful completion of all coursework and both Level II Fieldwork rotations.
Students choose the focus of their Capstone
This student-driven capstone can be completed in a variety of settings and typically contains multiple focus areas such as:
- Clinical practice skills
- Research skills
- Program and policy development
- Theory development
- Administration
Working with a mentor
One year prior to starting the Capstone , students contact potential mentors during the capstone planning course. A mentor is an individual who possesses the expertise in the student’s chosen focus area and does not have to be an occupational therapy practitioner. Mentoring a capstone student is a collaborative process where the mentor supports the student in achieving mutually agreed upon learning objectives and shared project goals. Capstone objectives and goals are unique to each student/mentor collaboration and are created during the planning process.
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Student Capstone Projects
This collection of [email protected] includes capstone projects submitted in partial fulfillment of the degree requirements at the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences The collection currently contains doctoral capstones from the Occupational Therapy Program.
Capstone Papers from 2022 2022
The Role of OT in Adapted CrossFit , Emily Adams
Occupational Rights Workshops: Critical Reflection, Discussion, and Collaboration with Occupational Therapists , Michelle Arakaki
An Occupational Therapy Guidebook for Individuals with Substance Use Disorder , Cassidy B. Ardoin
Supporting the Transition Out of the Family Caregiver Role: An Occupation-Centered Approach , Whitney Wilbanks
Capstone Papers from 2021 2021
Stimming Expresses Empathy, not to be Masked or Persecuted: A Scoping Review and Case Study of the “Double-Empathy Problem” Solved by Recognizing the Autism Language , Kathryn Haas
Occupational Therapist’s Role in Addressing Transition Support Through Life Skills , Rupa Parikh
Qualitative Exploration of Mealtime Routines and Parental Stress of Children with Pediatric Feeding Disorders: Analysis of Occupational Performance , Andrea Patino
Occupational Therapy’s Role in Addressing Sexuality and Intimacy for Individuals with Progressive Neuromuscular Disorders , Lindsay N. Richards
Analysis Of Occupational Therapy’s Role to Promote Healthy Sleep Participation to Support Caregivers of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder , Sophia N. Roman
Exploring Occupational Dysfunction and Occupational Performance for Youth in Homeless Shelters , Akio Ross
An Investigation of Occupational Therapy Utilizing Sensory Modulation to Manage Co-Morbid Chronic Pain and Substance Use in Order to Promote Occupational Performance and Recovery , Claire Ruth
Occupational Therapy in Youth Violence: An Occupation-Based Program for At-Risk Youth , Jasmine Shahin
An Occupation-Based Program to Promote Mental Health of At-Risk Youth in an After-Care Setting , Alexa Smith
Occupational Therapist Role in Post-Secondary Education Transition Program: Emphasis on Self-Advocacy Skills , Nikki K. Voorhees
Capstone Papers from 2020 2020
Perceived Impact of Non-contact Boxing on Daily Life and Occupational Participation at Home Among Individuals with Parkinson's Disease , Kristen E. Bignal
Exploring the Concurrent Validity of the Indoor Mobility Pre-driving Screen (IMPS): A Comparison of the IMPS and EF-Car Motion Driving Simulator. , Nicholas T. Bolen
Non-pharmaceutical Methods for Pain Management: An Occupational Therapist’s Perspective on Chronic Pain , Alison L. Brown
Exploring accessibility and social inclusion for children with hearing impairments in residential camps through the occupational therapy lens , Tiffany Coles
Benefits of Equine-Based Therapy for Individuals with Dementia , Lauren Fearn
Enhancing Engagement in Older Adults with Alzheimer's Disease at a Reminiscencce Therapy Adult Day Center , Kendra C. Gillio
Sensory Approach to Self-Regulation for Adolescent Survivors of Sex Trafficking: An Occupational Therapist's Perspective , Elyse Harmon
Exploring Occupational Disruption in Newly Diagnosed Individuals with Cancer with Minor (Dependent) Children , Riley S. Harrold
Occupational Therapy’s Role in Assisting with Community Reintegration for Survivors of Human Trafficking , Jane Jany Huynh
Understanding the Impact of Social Distancing on Older Adults and Senior Centers to Better Adapt Towards a New Normal , Salina Jivan
An Occupational Therapy Approach to Education for Foster Parents , Alexandra E. Judd
Occupational Therapy and Accessibility in the Outdoors and Summer Camps , David M. Lewis
Developing Educational Resources to Support the Use of the Hippotherapy Evaluation and Assessment Tool , Emily Peoples
Leadership Roles in the Field of Occupational Therapy , Christina Pitts
Occupational Therapy's Role in Pain Management using Virtual Reality , Johnathan Quach
Turning Everyday Activities into Play: Building Relationships and Fostering Connections for Adopted Children and Children in Foster Care , Marissa E. Siu
Mental Health in the School System: Providing Tools and Resources for Teachers , Hannah Skinner
The Role of Occupational Therapy for Homeless Women and Women At-Risk of Homelessness , Kelcey Storkersen
Improving Awareness and Access to Adaptive Sports , Alison S. Takagaki
Occupational Therapy's Role in Adapting Residential Youth Camps for Increased Inclusion , Brittany Tate
Occupational Therapy's Role in Matching Handlers and Assistance Dogs with Occupational Needs , Jyoti K. Tatla
Animal-Assisted Therapy and Quality of Life in Patients with Dementia , Karissa D. Thomson
Occupational Therapy Student Pro Bono Clinic: Creating a Sustainable Model , Shane Tong
Occupational Therapy's Role in the Transition to Employment for Youth and Young Adults , Jeanne M. Ventura
Supporting The Role And Transition To Motherhood Through The Occupation Of Feeding , BethAnne N. Vidmar
Inclusion in Religion and Spirituality for Children with Special Needs , MacKinzie C. Weiss
Capstone Papers from 2019 2019
Development of a Financial Literacy Component for a Comprehensive Secondary Transition Program for Diploma-bound Students with Learning Differences , Rose Marie Borillo
Occupational Therapy's Role in Maternal Mental Health within Transition from NICU to Home , Victoria Briltz
Perspectives of Occupational Therapy Practitioners on Benefits and Barriers on Providing Occupational Therapy Services via Telehealth , Taylor Corey
Identifying Occupational Therapy Role for Individuals in Substance Abuse and Addiction Recovery Programs , Tyler Cruz
Increasing Social Participation in Senior Center Through Program Development , Diana Dinh
Caregiver Perspectives on Telehealth: A Service Delivery for Occupational Therapy , Rebecca Johnston
Assessing Workplace Wellness for the Occupation of Hairdressing , Alex Kim
Enhancing Quality of Life of People With Visual Impairments Through Aesthetic Techniques , Christia M. Labro
The Role of Occupational Therapy for Survivors of Human Trafficking , Margaux Mariano
Promoting Productive Aging among Low-Income Older Adults , Sarah Matsuoka
Lifestyle Management for Vestibular Disorders , Michelle Pock
Exploring the Role of Occupational Therapy in Primary Care , Tina Rosselli
Identifying Opportunities for the Role of Occupational Therapy in a Correctional Setting , Maxwell Sand
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Occupational Therapy OTD Capstone Projects OTD Capstone Projects Class of 2022 The University of Indianapolis, School of Occupational Therapy is proud to announce the completion of the Doctoral Capstone & Experiential (DCE) for the Occupational Therapy Doctorate Class of 2022.
Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstone Projects The Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) Program is an advanced, post-professional online program designed to create occupation-based practitioners who will be ethical leaders of change in occupational therapy services for diverse populations.
Occupational Therapy | Graduate Capstone Projects Students in the Occupational Therapy program spend their last three semesters creating a capstone project. This major academic achievement represents a synthesis of content learned throughout the program.
OTD Capstone Projects Belmont's Doctoral Program in Occupational Therapy (OTD) is designed for those who wish to enter the field of occupational therapy at the highest level of preparation. This collection contains doctoral-level capstone poster projects created by Belmont OTD students. Jump to: Capstone Projects from 2022 PDF
The capstone project focuses on providing baseline knowledge to OTs in the state of Indiana on providing effective and beneficial telehealth services to bridge the gap caused by COVID-19 due to social-distancing policies. ... Enhancing Therapy-Based Programs Through Virtual Volunteer Training Bloom, Cara E. (2021)
OTD Doctoral Capstone. Adult Rehabilitation Populations. Assistive Technology. Community-based Programs. Hand Therapy Pathway - Clinical Practice Skills. Health & Wellness. Higher Education. International & Local Mission Initiatives. Occupational Justice & Inclusion.
It's great for visual scanning, functional reaching, standing tolerance, fine motor/gross motor coordination, attention, range of motion, and balance. The board will have each card attached with velcro so the patient can match/attach the corresponding card, as seen below: Image via Pinterest, original source unknown Create an ADL Vest
An exploration of hippotherapy as a tool in occupational therapy for individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders. Hippotherapy Benefits and Reasoning for Coverage Emily Carothers A case study highlighting the impacts of essential oils in improving infant state regulation and use as a preparatory activity in the NICU.
Occupational Therapy Capstones Follow Capstones from 2022 PDF An Occupational Therapy Practitioner'S Intervention Guide To Increasing Occupational Engagement In The Virtual Setting With Individuals Diagnosed With Serious Mental Illness, Oluwafeyikemi Deborah Adewoye PDF Addressing Autism Spectrum Disorder In A School Based Setting, Grant Baker PDF
The capstone project is an opportunity for students to dive deeply into a topic that interests them within the OT field. At first, the process can seem both exciting and intimidating for students.
The occupational therapy capstone is a culminating experiential course which allows the doctoral student to enhance skills in advanced clinical practice, scholarship, administration, leadership, advocacy, program and policy development, education, or theory development.
The scoop on an ILOTA Intern's Capstone Projects: Ari's Perspective. Hello, leaders of the world! My name is Ariana S. Carrillo-Ortega, and I am a third-year student at Midwestern University. ... My primary interests related to the field of occupational therapy (OT) involve working with individuals with neurological conditions and academia. ...
Capstone Project Ideas for Management Course Studying management means dealing with the most varied spheres of life, problem-solving in different business areas, and evaluating risks. The challenge starts when you select the appropriate topic for your capstone project. Let the following list help you come up with your ideas.
The Occupational Therapy (OT) Capstone is the integration of three OT courses: OT 494 Directed Study in Occupational Therapy, Introduction to Scholarly Writing OT 589 Readings in Occupational Therapy OT 995 Scholarly Project or OT 997 Independent Study
Capstone projects are designed to encourage students to think critically and solve challenging problems. These student-led projects include activities such as conducting novel research, program development, advanced clinical practice, education, advocacy and much more.
OT Student Projects Student Capstone Projects OTD Student Capstone Projects- Class of 2021 Development of a Sensory Day at a Children's Museum Garrison Arinder Designing a Caregiver Communication Tool in the Context of Episodic Care for the Outpatient Pediatric Setting Beth Baugh
As part of an occupational therapy doctoral program in the United States, doctoral students spend 560 hours working on a capstone project. The purpose of a capstone project is to help students take a deep dive into an area of OT, synthesize the information, and then disseminate their findings.
Catherine Lane. 2021. Culminating Project in Program Development: Resources for Occupational Engagement for Families and Educators of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Capstone. Nova Southeastern University.
Doctorate of Occupational Therapy Program Capstone Presentations The Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) capstone project and formal presentation is the final milestone in the doctoral candidate's curriculum.
Capstone Experiential Projects Hands-on Learning Student Organizations Faculty and Student Scholarship Departments & Facilities Explore the departments, facilities and centers that contribute to your education in the Department of Occupational Therapy. Teaching and Research Laboratory
Capstone objectives and goals are unique to each student/mentor collaboration and are created during the planning process. Occupational Therapy Location Room 6th floor Building Health Sciences Education Building 435 N 5th Street Phoenix AZ Phoenix, AZ 85004 Contact Form Email [email protected] Phone 602-827-2834 Fax 602-827-2425 Social Media
Outcome Measure Three. Gain advanced knowledge of how to implement evidence-based intervention strategies to improve outcomes of infants diagnosed with NAS. Learning Objectives: Complete certification course to become a Certified Educator of Infant Massage. Complete a minimum of 1 CEU course related to interventions in the NICU.
The entry-level occupational therapy doctoral (OTD) programs first started in 1998 (Stephenson et al., 2020). There are now 240 programs applying for accreditation, in the process of accreditation, or accredited (Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education [ACOTE], 2021).
This collection of [email protected] includes capstone projects submitted in partial fulfillment of the degree requirements at the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences The collection currently contains doctoral capstones from the Occupational Therapy Program.