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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Parkinson’s Disease and Occupation Focused Wellbeing
Ashley Adamczewski
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 can be beneficial to enhance quality of life and overall wellbeing.
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Pediatric Occupational Therapy Kits for Cuyahoga County Families
Shiri Akrish
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, and items to encourage cognition, social-emotional, and fine & gross motor skill development.
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Implementing a Health and Nutrition Program in Schools to Promote Healthy Lifestyle Choices
Justine Anderson
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 food groups, creating food crafts with healthy foods, then trying those foods at their leisure. The idea is to expose them to new and/or healthier foods to expand their options for a healthier diet. Resources were also sent home for parents to give them fun activities to do at home that will continue developing their child’s knowledge and expand their palate.
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Occupational Therapy for Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
Clarice Aquila
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 been promoted to various organizations.
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Sexuality and intimacy support for individuals with IDD: A study of Ohio county services
Emmy Baldwin
Individuals with development and intellectual disabilities face barriers to participating in activities related to relationships and sexual well-being. This capstone focused on surveying Ohio county organizations to determine what services are available to support individuals in navigating sexuality and intimacy, culminating in a research paper exploring gaps and opportunities.
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Modification of the Comfortable Cafeteria Program to Foster the Inclusion of Students with Disabilities
Abigail Barnette
The purpose of this capstone was to design and implement a modified lunch program that fits the distinct needs of students with low-incidence disabilities within Cleveland Metropolitan School District. The final product included modified lesson plans and materials that will guide future implementations.
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How Can Occupational Therapy Enhance Existing Substance Use Disorder Treatment in Summit County, Ohio?
Mary Barrett
This capstone project focused on the role of occupational therapy in substance use disorder treatment. While working at Cleveland State University a needs assessment of the services available in Summit County was conducted. The final project was the development of a pilot OT intervention program for agencies to utilize in their treatment services.
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The importance of a self-determination integrated transition-to-work program for young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities: A program development plan
Carissa Bellino
This capstone experience was completed at Beyond the Challenge, an adult day program for young adults with Down Syndrome. The goal was advocating for the need to address "soft skills" for successful employment. The final outcomes was the development and implementation of an 8-week program promoting self-determination skills through work-related activities.
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Addressing mental health for veterans with spinal cord injury
Colleen Bentler
This capstone was completed at the Cleveland VA Medical Center and included the development and implementation of a 6-week mental health program for veterans with spinal cord injuries. The program provided veterans with resources and positive coping strategies to improve mental health, while providing therapists with evidence-based interventions to address inpatient veteran well-being. Implications of this project outline the benefits to providing group-based interventions to address mental health concerns and the importance of destigmatizing access to mental health services within the veteran population.
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Occupational Therapy's Value in a Campus Support Program for Former Foster Youth
Autumn Blatt
This capstone focused on students at Cleveland State University's Pratt Center, which provides support for students with a history in foster care. Capstone activities included implementing workshops focused on important life skills and psychosocial development. The final product was a grant proposal on behalf of the Pratt Center.
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Sensory Processing versus Behaviors in Preschool-Aged Students
Megan Brugnone
The capstone was completed at Sutter Park Preschool. After careful observation and research, checklists were created to help teachers and OTs identify the differences between sensory preferences and behaviors in students (3-6 years old). Teachers were given information to help them determine when additional supports were needed as well.
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Incorporating "Occupation" into Evaluations and Treatments for the Hand and Upper Extremity Population
Kaelyn Cantrell
This capstone was at the Cleveland clinic Hand Therapy Department. It focused on exploring, identifying and creating ways to enhance the use of occupation into evaluations and interventions for individuals with hand and other upper extremity conditions. This was done by identifying five evidence and occupation-based recommendations that could be implemented and explored at the Cleveland Clinic (research on outcome measures, updating a handout to address activities of daily living (ADLs) while wearing a splint, updated ADL kits, creating treatment cards, and created a manipulation board). This information was disseminated to the hand therapists for future use in practice.
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Well Mind, Well Life: A Mental Wellness Program for LGBTQ Young Adults
Michelle Casey
This capstone was in partnership with the LGBT Community Center of Greater Cleveland. It included the development of a peer-led program for queer-identifying young adults to promote mental wellness. Free resources have been provided to the site to enhance mental wellness promotion at the Center.
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The Development of an Inclusive Post-Secondary Program at Cleveland State University: Doctoral Capstone Project
Riley Chiu
This capstone was focused on the development of an inclusive post-secondary program for students with intellectual disabilities, the Reciprocal Inclusion Student Experience Program at Cleveland State University. Activities included designing courses on career development, independent living, and self-determination for the novel program and communicating with the community to advocate for diversity inclusion..
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Occupational therapy within the Senior Community: Low Vision's Influence on Social Participation
Erin DiFranco
This capstone focused on the impact of low vision on social participation within the senior community at Ohio Living. Activities were provided to enhance social participation in the facility by educating staff on low vision resources that will make social activities more accessible for residents with low vision.
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Sensory Map of Local Zoo: A Capstone Project
Felicity Elsaesser
This capstone was conducted at the Cleveland Zoo in partnership with Cleveland State University. An accessible map was created to allow individuals with sensory sensitivities to enjoy this large, outdoor space. The final outcome was an increase in the accessibility and inclusivity at the zoo.
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Trauma-Informed Care Professional Development for K-12 Educators from an Occupational Therapy Perspective
Sarah Farrance
According to SAMHSA, more than 66% of children report that they have experienced at least one traumatic event by the age of 16. The focus of this capstone project was create a trauma-informed care professional development program to equip K-12 educators in traditional school settings so that they can address trauma in their students appropriately and successfully. This was done through understanding, working with, and implementing the Every Moment Counts mental health promotion initiative with the students at Bridges Learning Center in Akron Public Schools.
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Inclusive Postsecondary Education for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities
Allyson Fedor
This capstone facilitated the development of the RISE Program at Cleveland State University, a certificate program for young adults with intellectual disabilities- including academic coursework, opportunities for employment, independent living, social participation, and self-determination. Activities focused on the peer mentorship program and supports for student wellness, residence life, and campus engagement.
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Mental Health Promotion in Occupational Therapy
Taylor Frazee
The capstone project was completed at Cleveland State University to assist the Occupational Therapy Doctorate Program with the creation of learning experiences for its students so they may effectively advocate and promote the mental health of clients served. It identified barriers in practice, gathered evidence to support the use of mental health promotion in practice, and created resources to enhance students’ abilities to advocate for OT’s scope of practice in mental health.
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Occupational Therapy's Role in Infant Feeding & Postpartum Support
Megan Gallagher
A smooth transition to parenthood requires education and preparation on what to expect and new roles, responsibilities, and occupations. This capstone, in collaboration with Nurture Columbus, developed educational resources for new parents to help meet their infant feeding goals and facilitate a smooth transition throughout the postpartum period. In addition, education for healthcare professionals on the distinct value of occupational therapy during the perinatal period is included.
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How Programing and the Enviorment Impact Occupation Participation with Individuals Living on a Secured Unit
Courtney Gast
This Capstone was completed at Crestmont North in Lakewood. Modifications to the enviorment and activities program increased purpose and meaningful participation for older adult residents 55 years and older living within a secured unit. A written guide was developed for the activities staff with resources to enhance the care of older adults
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Training Program for First Responders on Autism Spectrum Disorder
Danielle Giles
In collaboration with the Cuyahoga Board of Developmental Disabilities, this capstone expanded and updated the current autism training program for the Cleveland Police Department. The goal of the capstone was to use best research and practice to promote more positive interactions between law enforcement and autistic members of the community.
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Doing, Being, Becoming, & Belonging: Addressing Leisure to Improve Quality of Life (QoL) for People with Spinal Cord Injury (SCI)
Melanie Grady
Client-centered adaptive recreation and leisure activities were explored in rehabilitation and community settings, in collaboration with the Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) Department at the Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center. A guidebook was created outlining adaptive leisure equipment and local opportunities in promote participation and fulfillment among individuals with SCI.
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Life Skills Program for Refugees
Diana Hasan
p capstone included the development and implementation of a 6-week life skills program fro refugees at U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants. This program provided the refugee population with hands on experience and education of the necessary life skills to adapt and navigate in their new home and community, while improving their quality of life.
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Community Safe Space for Individuals Impacted by the Opioid Epidemic
Lindsay Haywood
This capstone was developed with Project White Butterfly, a non-profit organization, for individuals impacted by a loved one’s substance use. The goal was to create a supportive social gathering that focuses on safety, transparency, peer support, empowerment, and renewal of hope while utilizing a Trauma-Informed Care model.