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Assessing and Increasing Physical Activity Engagement for Individuals with Autism
No full textChildren with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) often live sedentary lifestyles and are at risk for not meeting the CDC’s recommendations for 60 min of daily to moderate-to-vigorous physical activity for children, which can lead to serious health concerns (U.S. Department of Health Services, 2018). Therefore, it is important for behavior analysts to identify strategies for increasing physical activity engagement with individuals with ASD. However, there is limited research evaluating interventions for increasing physical activity engagement for children with ASD. The purpose of this study was to assess a physical activity analysis and subsequent intervention for increasing physical activity engagement in an individual with ASD. First, a physical activity analysis, that involved singly presenting physical activity tasks while sequentially introducing treatment components to increase physical activity, was conducted. Once the most effective physical activity and treatment combinations for increasing physical activity were identified, the intensity and duration of the exercise were increased. Lastly, a social validity analysis was conducted to determine if the participant preferred a sedentary activity or the physical activity with the effective treatment
An evaluation of strengthening precursors to increase compliance with instructions
Get PDFLow compliance is a common childhood problem and has been shown to be correlated with poor social and behavioral outcomes later in life. One empirically validated method for increasing compliance involves teaching individuals to emit precursors to compliance (e.g., making eye contact). Although this method has been found sufficient for increasing compliance in typically developing individuals, the generality of this approach to individuals with intellectual disabilities remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to assess the generality of this approach by using prompting and reinforcement to teach individuals with intellectual disabilities to emit precursors (sitting, orienting, eye contact, observing response) to compliance. Two tasks were trained in a discrete-trial format for all participants, and instructions were presented remotely via telehealth for two of the four participants. Training precursors was sufficient to increase compliance for two participants, whereas direct teaching of compliance was necessary for the other two participants
Efficacy of a mental health coaching program to mitigate burnout in collegiate athletes
Get PDFThis study aims to identify the impact of mental health coaching in decreasing symptoms of burnout among student-athletes. This multi-method study included pre/post surveys, semi- structured interviews, and daily questionnaire surveys. There was one participant in the study that was taking summer courses as well as competing in a summer sports league. The study took place over three weeks, where the participants received mental health coaching sessions that occurred once a week while also entering daily burnout questionnaires via Google Forms
Assessing lanes for change: the role of occupational therapy in water safety and swimming programs
Get PDFDrowning is the number one cause of death for children ages 1 to 4 years, and the second leading cause of unintentional death in children ages 5 to 14 years old in the United States (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2022). Globally, drowning remains a public health crisis, as it is the third most common cause of intentional death (World Health Organization, 2021). On the topic of water-related injuries and fatalities, the literature has displayed the influence of socioeconomic disadvantage and geographic location as being associated with an increased drowning risk (Willcox-Pidgeon et al., 2021). In addition, a cyclic correlation between lower socioeconomic status and ethnic and racial minority populations has been shown, as well as how these factors have developed decreased access to water-related lessons and activities for these communities (American Psychological Association, 2017; Omoruyi, 2019). A 14-week doctoral experiential capstone project implemented a caregiver water safety education program within an urban community as a drowning prevention technique
Increasing occupational engagement for individuals with partial hand loss through telehealth
Get PDFIndividuals with partial hand loss have diverse needs and experiences. Skoff & Skoff (2022) found that individuals with partial hand loss experience symptoms of anxiety, anger, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder for at least three months following amputation. For this Doctoral Experiential Capstone, the student researcher sought to expand the existing Unlimbited Wellness© telehealth program created by Dr. Debra Latour, OT, PP-OTD, M.Ed., OTR, to include individuals with partial hand loss in the population and add additional educational modules regarding returning to work. The program was a mixed-methods research design with a pre and post-program survey and Quick DASH. The program was based on the PEOP theoretical model and spanned over four weeks, with each session focusing on a different topic
Motherhood: maternal mental health for women of color (WOC) through the lens of occupational therapy (OT)
Get PDFMaternal mental health disorders significantly impact expectant mothers, causing complications during childbirth and affecting their ability to adjust to their new roles. Overwhelming feelings, anxiety, and sleep deprivation can hinder a mother’s ability to adjust to their new role. Occupational Therapy Practitioners (OTPs) can play a crucial role in supporting mothers during the perinatal and postpartum periods. There is a significant need for pregnant or mothers, who are of color to receive optimal mental health care. It is essential to prioritize the unique mental health needs of women of color during and after pregnancy to ensure the well-being of both mothers and their infants. The researcher focused on developing targeted educational materials specific to this population and topic. These materials were integrated into the Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) curriculum at Western New England University. The objective was to assess the impact of these materials and learning experiences on the confidence levels and knowledge of entry-level OTD students. Additionally, a service-learning opportunity was established, allowing students to apply their knowledge by engaging with residents at Christina\u27s House, a local community organization. The results of the study indicated an overall improvement in student confidence across the identified objectives. The integration of education on maternal mental health for women of color, combined with practical experience through service-learning, positively influenced the growth of knowledge among entry-level OTD students
“Made to Feel Broken”: Ending Conversion Practices and Saving Transgender Lives
Get PDFThere has been a recent unprecedented, coordinated campaign by state governments to deny gender-transition care to transgender youth. It is within this context that Florence Ashley argues in Banning Transgender Conversion Practices: A Legal and Policy Analysis that legislation banning conversion practices is both lifesaving to transgender people directly affected and an important step in securing health and the recognition of dignity for all transgender people. The Authors highly recommend the book as a thoughtful and well-researched look at the issue. They also expand on several topics discussed in the book, including the harm caused by these practices, the constitutionality of such legislation, and the underexplored influence of the troubled teen industry
REDEFINING REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT: REPAIRING THE CRACKS IN THE PATHWAY TO THE AMERICAN DREAM
Get PDFOnce the world leader in refugee resettlement, the United States has slowly but steadily obliterated its refugee resettlement program. Millions of people around the globe have been forced to seek refuge from violence and persecution in their native countries. The international consequences of the refugee crisis threaten economic stability and security.
This Note will outline the history and development of refugee resettlement in the United States from Ellis Island to the present, including an overview of the various government agencies and organizations involved in refugee resettlement. Through an in-depth analysis of the political, structural, and financial issues the country faces amid the global refugee crisis, the need to expand ethnic-based community investment and enhance funding to conquer the crisis will become clear. This Note argues that the expansion of ethnic-based community-led programs will complement the current refugee resettlement infrastructure. This Note further argues that a Congressionally funded contingency account should be designated to the Reception and Placement Program and the Office of Refugee Resettlement to stabilize refugee integration. These solutions focused on greater integration and funding will help to advance resettlement in the United States and foster safety, independence, and community for refugees around the world
An Evaluation of Progressive-Ratio Schedules Using Different Break Points
No full textA progressive schedule is a schedule of reinforcement in which response requirements increases across schedule completions. One type of progressive schedule is a progressive-ratio (PR) schedule. A PR schedule increases the ratio requirement after each reinforcement delivery. The breaking point is the last schedule requirement completed, and a break-point criterion is a period of time without a response that results in session termination. Although PR schedules have been applied in numerous studies, there is no standard for the duration of time used as the break-point criterion. The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the effects of different break-point criteria on the measurement of the reinforcing efficacy of different consequences. The results showed the same ranking of relative reinforcing efficacy under small differences in break-point criteria and disruption of rankings under large differences in break-point criteria