The occupational therapy program at Cleveland State prepares students to address population-health issues in the community through the capstone process. Students collaborate with a local site to design a capstone experience. After working on site for 14 weeks, the student completes an individual capstone project to demonstrate synthesis and application of knowledge gained. These posters highlight the accomplishments of the occupational therapy doctoral students at Cleveland State University.
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Development of a Dating Violence Prevention Program for Adolescents
Melissa Arellano 2024
This capstone focused on the development of an 8-session program with The Journey Center for Safety and Healing that aims to empower high school-aged adolescents through activity and leisure-based sessions to develop skills and routines to promote healthy dating... (read more)
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Occupational Therapy's Role in the Area of Eating Disorders and Body Image
Tayler Arjune 2024
The role of Occupational Therapy with the eating disorder and body image population is not widely addressed. This capstone, worked alongside TripleAWellness, to advocate for occupational therapy services within the population of body image and eating disorders by educating... (read more)
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Universal Guideline Manual (UGM) for Inclusive Physical Education Service (PES) Courses at Cleveland State University (CSU)
Jamie Bartolovich 2024
In collaboration with the Department of Health Sciences and Human Services at Cleveland State University, this capstone included the development and dissemination of a Universal Guideline Manual for physical education instructors at CSU. Incorporating diverse teaching methods and adaptive... (read more)
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The Positive Impact of Occupational Therapy Working with Foster Youth on Campus; Leading by Example
Nautica Bell 2024
Aged-out foster youth are under-serviced requiring support in the transition to adulthood. This capstone focused on the development of a guidebook and education on mental health, sensory needs, and life skills for foster youth. The resources showed a positive... (read more)
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Transitions to Independent Living for Adults with an Intellectual Disability/Down Syndrome
Samantha Blashinsky 2024
This capstone included an 8-week curriculum designed and implemented to meet the needs of individuals with an intellectual/developmental disability at The Down Syndrome Association of Northeast Ohio. This program addressed transitions to independent living skills, such as post-secondary education,... (read more)
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Promoting Occupational Justice Within an Adaptive Rock Climbing Program
Kate Bliven 2024
This capstone project enhanced Rec2Connect's adaptive rock climbing program through a contextual analysis which identified areas for improvement and guided the development of comprehensive resources for facilitators supporting individuals with and without disabilities. The project aimed to enrich engagement... (read more)
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Care Partners as the Client: Understanding the Needs of Informal Care Partners of Older Adults with Dementia and Addressing Their Challenges
Mariam Boulos 2024
This capstone at Brush Development produced an educational dementia program to meet the specialized needs of at-home care partners. Content within this program addresses the challenges for both the care partner and the person with dementia through strategies that... (read more)
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Implementation of OT Services through a Reverse Job Fair for Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD)
Rachel Braunegg 2024
Employment rates for adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities (IDD) is extremely low, despite having the desire and skill sets to work (Friedman, 2019). This capstone, partnering with Cleveland State University's Center for Career Development & Exploration, provided RISE... (read more)
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Occupation-Based Wellness within the Veteran Population
Jennie Burdette 2024
Transitioning from military to civilian life often leaves veterans with long-lasting difficulties which includes physical and mental health challenges that affect different aspects of daily functioning. This capstone, at Baldwin Wallace University’s Student Veteran Center, provided occupation-based education and... (read more)
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Returning to Sexual Activity and Intimacy After Spinal Cord Injury
Hanna Bush 2024
Sexual activity and intimacy are meaningful occupations for many individuals, regardless of ability. According to the OTPF-4, sexual activity and intimacy are activities of daily living. It is also a right for persons to have access to engage in... (read more)
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Increasing Cultural Inclusivity Within Your Practice: DEI Toolkit for Occupational Therapy Practitioners
Kaitlyn Deere 2024
In the world of healthcare, there is an alarming amount of health disparities and lack of access to quality healthcare for those belonging to marginalized communities. The purpose of this capstone was to create a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion... (read more)
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Occupational Therapy in the U.S. Criminal Justice System: Assessing Leisure Engagement and Parental Roles within the Criminal Justice Setting
Kelly Dezsi 2024
In collaboration with Northeast Reintegration Center, this capstone examined the effects of leisure engagement on nurturing relationships between incarcerated mothers and their children. Furthermore, it advocated for occupational therapy services in the criminal justice setting by identifying critical needs... (read more)
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Adaptive Outdoor Recreation to Promote Health and Well-being for Adults with Disabilities
Brittany Earle 2024
Individuals with physical disabilities are disproportionately excluded from leisure pursuits including outdoor recreation due to various barriers. In collaboration with Cleveland Metroparks, I created a program designed for adults with disabilities to enhance health and well-being through participation in... (read more)
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Increasing Occupational Therapists' Knowledge and Awareness of Service Dogs
Emily Freyberg 2024
This capstone involved the development and dissemination of a resource manual on service dogs for children based on collaboration with the 4 Paws for Ability organization. This manual provides occupational therapists with education on the purpose and scope of... (read more)
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The Truth to Transitioning: Development of a Trans* Specific Occupational Therapy Practice Framework Involving an Integrative Care Model
Amanda Gale 2024
Transgender and gender-diverse (TGD) clients are underserved by occupational therapy practitioners (OTPs) throughout their transition journey. This research based capstone involved completing stakeholder interviews with OTPs and TGD individuals to inform and update an existing occupational therapy model and... (read more)
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Arm and Hand Functional Priorities of Individuals with Tetraplegia
Ashley Giffen 2024
This research-based capstone conducted at MetroHealth Rehabilitation Institute determined specific functional arm and hand priorities among individuals with tetraplegia. The identification of these client values will inform the development of future rehabilitation processes and technological advancements to improve overall... (read more)
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PLAAY on the Move Manual for Dynamic Floor System
Brittany Henke 2024
The dynamic floor is an interactive projector that facilitates play opportunities for children with physical disabilities. The purpose of this capstone was to develop a manual that will be used to assist clinicians with use of the dynamic floor... (read more)
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Improving Community Integration Through a Leisure Program to Address Cyclic Veteran Homelessness.
Breeanna Host 2024
This capstone worked to provide increased leisure opportunities and build leisure skills for homeless veterans through the development of a leisure program and community speaker series at Harry Donovan Jr. Valor Home. This program focused on improving community integration... (read more)
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Optimizing Effects of Occupational and Physical Therapy Post Stroke
Taylor Joseph 2024
Even after rehabilitation, 40% of individuals post-stroke are left with upper extremity residual deficits. This capstone, completed at Cleveland Clinic's Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, focused on current research that is being conducted to optimize the effects of... (read more)
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Justice Involved Individuals and Sensory Processing
Anessa Kleem 2024
Incarcerated individuals can have sensory processing challenges - these challenges can be exacerbated by the corrections environment. This capstone, at the Ohio Department of Rehab and Corrections, advocated for education of staff on sensory processing. This program provided staff... (read more)
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Understanding the Impact of Trauma-Informed Interventions on Child and Family Mental Health, Dynamic, and Engagement in Occupations
Jaela Kynard 2024
This capstone, conducted at the Cuyahoga County Board of Developmental Disabilities, determined the efficacy of assessments and interventions for children and families affected by trauma. Comprehensive resource guides were developed regarding occupational therapy's role and trauma-responsive methods to support... (read more)
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Northeast Reintegration Center Leisure Program
Jessica Mravec 2024
Occupational therapists have the opportunity to develop programming for inmates to increase skills and engagement in meaningful leisure activities, and to help inmates successfully reintegrate into the community. Through the collection of data from my needs assessment, I created... (read more)
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Promoting Positive Maternal Mental Health: Co-Occupational Education, Engagement, and Empowerment in the Perinatal Period
Elyse Mueller 2024
This capstone, which took place at University Hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, focused on enhancing maternal well-being and the maternal/infant dyad. This was promoted and advocated for through telehealth sessions for perinatal individuals and by increasing the awareness and... (read more)
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Investigating How Children with Autism Respond to Virtual Environments
Mykaela Naragon 2024
Over 90% of individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder face sensory processing challenges. Virtual environments can trigger adaptive sensory responses akin to real-world experiences. This preliminary study explored how students with autism interact within virtual settings. Conducted at Julie... (read more)
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Resiliency Program Implementation on Children with Chronic Pain and Caregivers
Madison Palmer 2024
This capstone included the implementation of an 8-week resiliency-building program for children with chronic pain and their caregivers. This program provided the children and caregivers with education on mindfulness, coping strategies, and social support to overcome challenges they experience... (read more)
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Promoting skill development, inclusion, and participation by implementation of activity-based sensory-enriched programs for children
Amanda Pearson 2024
Both neurotypical and neurodivergent children need more opportunities to engage in activity-based programs to promote overall development. We Rock the Spectrum Kids Gym is an OT-based facility designed for children of all ages and abilities. This facility promotes socialization... (read more)
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Empowering Fall Prevention: Development and implementation of Volunteer Peer Liaison Program Manual
Marissa Poalson 2024
This capstone project addressed the community's lack of knowledge and training in fall prevention strategies by developing and implementing a volunteer peer liaison fall prevention manual. The manual outlined guidelines and provided training to support participants of the fall... (read more)
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Enhancing Hospice Care: Integrating altered engagement in occupations through the dimensions of doing, being and becoming
Heather Raible 2024
Evidence demonstrates engagement in occupation at the end of life is perceived as insignificant and disregarded, therefore, often absent from care. My capstone identified new avenues for facilitating meaningful engagement in occupations that fulfilled individual needs and desires during... (read more)
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Occupational Therapy Program Fostering the Development of School Readiness Skills in Refugee Children
Grace Reminder 2024
U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI)- Cleveland offers programming and services that help immigrants, refugees, and uprooted individuals transition to life within the United States. Refugee children face challenges with socialization, mental health, and experience a great deal... (read more)
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Using the Nintendo Switch as an exercise modality to increase the enjoyment, motivation, and determine feasibility of the use of exergaming in community-dwelling older adults
Monica Samboa 2024
About one-fourth of older adults are inactive. Exergaming can provide older adults with physical activity to increase their well-being. The capstone focus was to examine feasibility of the Nintendo Switch as a home exercise modality for older adults and... (read more)
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Occupational Therapy Practitioners’ Perspectives on Pain Management Following Spinal Cord Injury
Helen Saul 2024
This capstone was done in collaboration with MetroHealth Rehabilitation Institute and Cleveland State University. This qualitative study explored the role of occupational therapy in pain management for individuals with spinal cord injuries. The specific strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats... (read more)
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Life Skills and Young Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
Kara Stults 2024
This capstone included the development and implementation of a 5-week life skills program for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities at Beyond the Challenge. This program focused on improving self-determination and life skills for these adults to increase independence... (read more)
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AI and Mobile App Utilization for Hand Therapy among Patients with Lower Socioeconomic Status
Olivia Trickett 2024
Background: The capstone project aims to enhance upper extremity rehabilitation in underserved communities by creating educational resources for practitioners on mobile app usage. Methods: Conducted interviews with a hand therapist, and conducted a literature review on mobile app usage... (read more)
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Addressing Burnout Among Caregivers of People with Spinal Cord Injury
Rachael Vance 2024
This capstone, completed at Louis Stokes Cleveland Veterans Affairs Medical Center, involved the implementation of a 6-week occupational therapy program to address the mental health needs of veterans with spinal cord injury. As part of this program, a needs... (read more)
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Occupational Therapy and Human Trafficking Recovery: A Novel Educational Model
Jacklyn Voytko 2024
Human trafficking recovery frequently fails to address the complex needs of survivors. Occupational therapy is uniquely qualified to meet those needs, but is commonly overlooked. This capstone involved the development of an evidence-based educational model, emphasizing trauma-informed and culturally... (read more)
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Student-athletes and their hidden opponent: Assessing and supporting student-athlete mental health and well-being
Dena Wenzinger 2024
Suicide is now the second most common cause of death among college athletes in the United States. This capstone involved conducting an in-depth needs assessment of the mental health resources in the Athletics Department at Cleveland State University. There... (read more)
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Parkinson’s Disease and Occupation Focused Wellbeing
Ashley Adamczewski 2023
This capstone was completed at InMotion™, a community wellness center that serves individuals with Parkinson's disease. The purpose was to advocate for occupational therapy services in the community as preventative care and educate InMotion™ clients on how occupational therapy... (read more)
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Pediatric Occupational Therapy Kits for Cuyahoga County Families
Shiri Akrish 2023
Pediatric occupational therapy kits were provided to families of children ages 3-5 served by Family Connections of Northeast Ohio. Kits were used to accessibly educate families on occupational therapy services. Each kit included a developmental milestone checklist, follow-up resources,... (read more)
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Implementing a Health and Nutrition Program in Schools to Promote Healthy Lifestyle Choices
Justine Anderson 2023
y program aims to address obesity by educating faculty, children, and parents on proper nutrition and exercise to provide kids with the resources to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Students participated in groups incorporating fun ways to exercise, learning about... (read more)
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Occupational Therapy for Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
Clarice Aquila 2023
This capstone was completed at Cleveland State University as a point of outreach to various organizations in Northeast Ohio to determine the gaps in services for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Occupational therapy services within this population have... (read more)
