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Accessible Shores: Promoting Beach Accessibility in Florida
No full textThis research experience sought to improve beach accessibility for members of the community facing barriers to occupational participation. Beach accessibility is essential for creating meaningful experiences and improving well-being through exposure to blue spaces. Despite its benefits, numerous environmental and systemic barriers hinder individuals with disabilities from safely accessing spaces. To further research this issue and challenges to participation, survey responses from community members of Jacksonville, Florida were gathered and analyzed for common themes. Conversations with professionals in the area allowed for greater insight on available resources and assistive device technology that could improve beach accessibility. To showcase this information and provide a positive experience, an accessibility event was coordinated to include affected members of the community, hosted by vendors who could provide assistive devices and resources to shed light on what is available to improve their experience in blue areas. A number of vendors, such as SportsAbility, provided all-terrain wheelchairs and resources that event attendees could try in order to see how they may use this equipment in the future. Through this experience, I came to the realization that environmental barriers did not solely represent barriers individuals may face, as man-made barriers posed significant issues regarding funding, adequate staffing, and supportive policies put in place to be inclusive of beach use for all. As occupational therapists, there is a recognized need for advocacy and spreading awareness of existing resources to help others participate in this valuable occupation.https://encompass.eku.edu/otd-capstone-posters/1065/thumbnail.jp
A Pedagogical Activity for Developing Pre-service Teachers’ Language Awareness through Dialogue
No full textThis article introduces a pedagogical activity used in a linguistics course tailored for pre-service elementary teachers. Also recognized as a best practice in an action research study, the language exploration activity engaged pre-service teachers in dialogue and reflection during their interactions with graduate teaching assistants (GTAs) who possessed multilingual proficiency on a college campus. The pre-service teachers reported developing an understanding of language systems and reinforcing their knowledge as they applied the course concepts about linguistics and second language learning to a novel context. The paper explains the execution of the pedagogical activity and explores the implications for crafting educational activities that leverage the linguistic and cultural proficiencies of multilingual scholars in undergraduate ESL endorsement courses
Winter break is here! Are you taking classes? How on-campus tabling sessions improve student perceptions of Winter Term Courses
No full textThere has been significant disruption and competition in higher education in recent years and this is anticipated to continue moving forward. Universities have expanded product offerings, including courses during their winter break to allow students to catch up, get ahead, or earn additional credentials. We examine the effectiveness of on-campus tabling sessions to see how this marketing strategy impacts student perceptions of courses offered during Winter Term. We find this to be an effective strategy in attracting students with high levels of goal attainment and those with high perceived satisfaction levels of Winter Term courses. This marketing strategy can help universities capitalize on one of their product offerings and generate additional revenue streams in the face of limited government resources and a looming demographic drop-off
Enhancing Health Professions Students’ Attitudes and Self-Efficacy to Care for Unhoused Populations
Get PDFHealth professions students, including occupational therapy students, often have limited exposure to unhoused populations, which may alter their attitudes and self-efficacy to participate in their care. In turn, this could reduce access and quality of care for these marginalized groups. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of a phased multimodal learning approach on interprofessional health sciences students’ attitudes and self-efficacy in providing care to unhoused individuals. A pre-posttest single group design was used to evaluate a didactic presentation, poverty simulation, and street-based experiential learning experience. Findings revealed significant differences in students’ (N=257) attitudes and self-efficacy in providing care, and many students reported this as an “eye-opening experience.” This learning approach evoked a strong emotional response, improved attitudes and self-efficacy, and has implications for future advocacy efforts related to caring for unhoused populations
Addressing Sexuality in Occupational Therapy Practice: A Qualitative Exploration of Students’ Needs, Barriers, and Facilitators
Get PDFDisability and chronic disease can have a profound effect on individuals’ sexuality and sexual health, resulting in decreased quality of life for many. While sexuality and sexual health are identified within the domain of occupational therapy (OT), this topic is not routinely addressed in clinical practice. This qualitative phenomenological study explored the perceived needs, facilitators, and barriers to addressing sexuality in clinical practice by 10 graduate OT students recruited from one Western New York (WNY) university. Semi-structured virtual interviews were conducted utilizing a researcher developed interview guide. The Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF) was used as the conceptual framework for the study. Data were analyzed inductively using thematic analysis, followed by mapping the identified themes deductively to the established domains of the TDF. Ten domains were identified as likely to influence whether or not sexuality is addressed in clinical practice, including knowledge, skills, social/professional role and identity, beliefs about capabilities and consequences, intentions, environmental context and resources, social influences, emotions, and behavior regulation. The results highlight the barriers, facilitators, and action steps, as perceived by OT students, that are needed in order to effectively address sexuality in clinical practice, including increasing sexual health curriculum within OT education, providing opportunities for practice and experience, and integrating sexual content into routine practice
Resilience Building in Appalachian College Students: The Intersection of Motivation and Identity
Get PDFAppalachian students are underrepresented in existing literature regarding higher education. Central Appalachia also has some of the lowest median household incomes and college attrition rates in the country. Appalachian culture is unique with its collectivistic culture which prioritizes familial bonds. This has previously been found to have an academic impact for Appalachian students. For this study, Appalachian college students at Eastern Kentucky University were recruited to investigate if social versus personal identity had an impact on academic achievement as measured by grade-point average. Resilience levels were also measured to investigate an effect from resilience of students on personal versus social identity. The results indicated that Appalachian college students do have a more collectivistic outlook, with a higher mean social identity score than personal identity score. Social and personal identity did not have an effect on GPA. Resilience levels also did not have an effect on personal or social identity scores. Collectivism in Appalachian college students can be explored in further research and be encouraged in institutions that have serve Appalachian students. An increase in retention and graduation rates can help Appalachia’s residents break cycles of generational poverty and socioeconomic disparity
In the Garden of Skincare: Exploring the Benefits and Regulations of Botanical Ingredients
Get PDFWith the rising consumer demand for more natural skincare products, botanical ingredients have become more prevalent in skincare products. Skincare products with botanical properties are being preferred over those with chemical properties due to their biological origins. However, there are debates as to why botanical products are being used widespread and if they are safe to use. The safety of ingredients within cosmetics is observed by multiple regulatory systems throughout the world. These regulatory systems oversee making sure that each ingredient is extracted and purified before being incorporated into a cosmetic or skincare product. One goal of this project was to determine if botanical ingredients are safe to use and should be chosen over chemical ingredients. A literature review was conducted to gather information about the botanical ingredients commonly found in natural skincare products, the cultural usages of natural ingredients, the marketing behind natural cosmetic brands and products, the extraction and purification processes that natural ingredients undergo, and the regulatory systems that keep extraction and purification processes in check. The literature review concluded that botanical ingredients are safe to use when regulatory systems ensure that extraction and purification methods have been performed correctly, and when research has been conducted on the ingredients
Storytelling Through Silence
Get PDFA few of the earliest forms of communication between people include talking, dancing, and singing. Storytelling is a popular art form of communication that is used to convey stories. Storytelling can be conveyed through talking, dancing, and singing. These stories can be told using spoken language to recall a specific event that happened and the emotions one felt during this event. According to the National Storytelling Network, storytelling is used to “encourage the active imagination of the listener” (2023). This means that a storyteller presents their story and the audience actively listens or watches to interpret its meaning. Typically, spoken languages are used to verbally communicate these stories. While storytelling through oral communication is the most popular medium used, there are other ways to communicate past events and feelings. Stories can be told through music, dance, poetry, written communication, signed languages, and orally. There are many examples of storytelling including spiritual rituals, speeches, English oral poetry, American Sign Language (ASL) poetry, written work, dance choreography, musical compositions, and visual vernacular. These allow people to communicate their feelings through various means. This paper discusses different forms of storytelling and how they can be used. The forms specifically highlighted will be ASL poetry, dance, and song (music and lyrics)
Anxious, Stressed, or Overwhelmed: The Typical Sensory Processing Pattern of First-Year Occupational Therapy Students
Get PDFThis research discusses the four sensory processing patterns, sensory sensitivity, sensory avoidant, sensory seeking, and low registration, demonstrated by first year occupational therapy doctoral program students. These four patterns describe how our brains process sensory information from the environment and from our bodies. These patterns have been linked to many things in one’s life such as their attachment styles, anxiety disorders, and quality of life, and neurologically connected to the parasympathetic nervous system which is involved with the fight or flight response. Understanding your own sensory processing pattern and preferences can help you understand how you can find sensory input to attain the optimal state of alertness. Knowing these patterns also helps you know which activities and environments are overstimulating and which are relaxing.
For this thesis, I collected sensory processing pattern data on most of the first-year students enrolled in the occupational therapy program at Eastern Kentucky University. This research provided insight on sensory patterns among students that want to go into the occupational therapy field. This research found a sensory processing profile that was most prevalent among the all the first-year students in the occupational therapy program at Eastern Kentucky University. The hope for this research is to allow for further research to be conducted in the future regarding adults’ sensory processing profiles and how they affect one’s life
“You Just Haven’t Found the Right Person Yet.”: A Study of the Relationship Differences Between Asexual and Allosexual Individuals
Get PDFAsexuality is an underreported and scarcely researched group. This study aimed to determine relationship and relationship goal differences between asexual and allosexual individuals. Using 134 responses to a Qualtrics survey, the current research found only one self-identified asexual individual and five total Asexuality Identification Scale identified individuals. Results showed little difference between Allosexual and Asexual relationships and relationship goals. There was a significant difference between the realization of an identity different from heterosexual and the self-claiming of an identity name