Date of Award

4-2024

Degree Type

Capstone Project

Degree Name

Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD)

Department

Occupational Therapy

First Advisor

Katia Hughes

Second Advisor

Holly Grieves

Abstract

Students with disabilities frequently experience a gap in services as they grow older and after exiting the public education system. During school, students have Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) to support their education, but once they graduate, the services they were receiving expire. Occupational therapy is under- utilized in transition planning for students after graduating high school and entering adulthood. The purpose of this DCE was program development and advocacy with the Project SEARCH transition program while exploring the role of occupational therapy has in transition planning for high school students with disabilities. The goal of this project was to improve work skills and independence of the students enrolled in this program, evaluating students for program readiness before beginning program, and program carryover into jobs after graduation. This was completed using objectives including creating and leading group lessons and activities in the classroom, creating an assessment to screen Project SEARCH candidates, reassessing program graduates for maintained skills in the workplace, providing direct support at internships, and education on the sensory system and strategies for self-regulation. These objectives were created to improve students’ skill set and independence utilizing occupational therapy services as well as evaluating students before and after the transition program.

Download

Share

COinS