Date of Award

4-2023

Degree Type

Capstone Project

Degree Name

Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD)

Department

Occupational Therapy

First Advisor

Renee Lyon

Second Advisor

Holly Grieves

Abstract

The purpose of this capstone project was to create a customized assessment tool that evaluates soft employability skills and quantifiably measures progress made over time. This project was completed at the Michigan Career and Technical Institute (MCTI). MCTI is a post-secondary vocational and technical training center for adults with disabilities. This project was completed as current literature regarding vocational rehabilitation evaluation and soft employability skills is underdeveloped and requires further research. Also, existing vocational rehabilitation assessments are heavily focused on an individual's physical capabilities. Existing assessments that address soft skills also do not meet demands of MCTI and assessment customization was necessary. This topic is of importance for Occupational Therapy as soft skill challenges may limit an individual's ability to achieve and maintain competitive employment and may therefore reduce occupational participation. The assessment content was guided by existing literature, working with, and observing MCTI students in their natural classroom environment, and through feedback from experienced clinicians. Descriptive inter-rater and test-retest reliability analyses were also completed after utilizing the assessment with MCTI students. Training videos were created, and additional sustainability measures were completed during the experience. Benefits, limitations, and future recommendations are also discussed within this project.

Download

Share

COinS