Community Practice

P20-Aging and Engaging: The Impact of Occupational Therapy on the Promotion of Health and Wellness within a Faith-Based Community

Presenter: Eleanor Sweeney

Description: This educational session focuses on a series of case reports of an 8-week occupational therapy lifestyle redesign group for elderly members who are a part of a church community. This project focuses on how involvement in an occupational therapy group affects the health, wellness, and occupational engagement for elderly members of a faith community. This session is geared toward occupational therapy students and practitioners interested in program development in a community-based setting, particularly one involved with the geriatric population.

P21-Understanding Occupational Therapy’s (OT) Role in Transition Services

Presenters: Katherine Williams, Emma Gelberg, Samantha Henninger, Annelise Wells, Annalisa Minaert, Anna Battistello and Dr. Daniel Rortvedt

Description: Opportunities exist for occupational therapy practitioners (OTP) to partner with special education organizations to advocate for the role of occupational therapy to support transition services for students with disabilities. This presentation outlines a collaboration between a National organization, the Division on Career Development and Transition Services (DCDT), and a graduate occupational therapy program. In Phase 1 of the project, a community-based needs assessment was completed. In Phase 2 of the project, an exploratory survey will be administered to special education professionals to explore their perception of the role of occupational therapy in collaborating to support transition services for students with disabilities.

P22-Interactions with Nature and Wellness: A Study of Accessibility at an Urban Conservatory

Presenter: Carley Rowe

Description: The researcher will discuss how this project sought to address occupational injustice issues by offering an accessible activity-based wellness program at an urban conservatory targeted towards adults with disabilities. The researcher will provide a summary of results of change in perceived wellbeing following participation in a wellness group at an urban conservatory. The researcher will discuss implications for future research and a model for community-based wellness initiatives to address occupational justice and accessibility.

P23-Active Advocacy: Identifying Occupational Therapy’s Role in Community Adaptive Sports

Presenter: Erin Thrasher

Description: This study consists of a mixed method design which used in-depth interviews, surveys, and participation assessments with current members of a community adaptive sports program to determine the influence that occupational therapy can have on participation in this community organization. The study also aims to identify general barriers and enablers to participation in adaptive sports through an occupational therapy lens. The findings from this study will help to support increasing occupational therapy engagement within adaptive sports programs and further enhance participation.