OTD Capstone Projects

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OTD Student Capstone Projects

The capstone project is the culminating experience of Indiana Wesleyan University’s Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) program, designed to showcase each student’s mastery of advanced occupational therapy concepts and their ability to contribute meaningfully to the profession. Through the capstone, students identify a topic of passion aligned with their professional goals and develop a project that integrates research, leadership, innovation, and service.

Guided by expert faculty mentors, students engage in scholarly inquiry, program development, advocacy, or evidence-based practice initiatives that address real-world needs in healthcare and community settings. The OTD capstone at IWU empowers future occupational therapists to become leaders who advance the field and make a lasting impact on the lives of those they serve.

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OTD Student Capstone Projects

  • Carissa Hess- Waking the Forgotten Occupation of Sleep: Improving Occupational Performance and Participation Through Pediatric Sleep Assessment and Intervention
  • Elizabeth Yang- Engaging Occupational Therapy Students in Hand Therapy Education: A Multi-Pedagogical Approach
  • Emily McCoy- Enhancing Occupational Performance with Vision Rehabilitation Programming
  • Emma Barteau- Pursuing Holistic Occupational Therapy: Advocating for Mental Health Practices Cross-Culturally
  • Grace McGuire- Setting the Stage for ASI: Establishing Competence and Enhancing Awareness
  • Haley Siegrist- Leisure Matters: A Comprehensive Occupational Therapy Approach to Supporting Meaningful Leisure Participation in Neurodivergent Student Populations
  • Hanna Kiefer- The Role of Occupational Therapy in Weight Management
  • Maison Bry- Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: Providing Intentional Care to Families
  • Meghan Thies- Supporting Academic Engagement through Self-Regulation: An Occupational Therapy Approach in a Cross-Cultural Context
  • Nicole Radam- Shaping Administrative Excellence in OT: Promoting Best Ability to Function Through Application of the Allen Cognitive Disabilities Model
  • Alex Whittig- Empowering Belizean Communities: Advocacy and Clinical Care in Belize
  • Arlina Claire- Enabling Aging in Place: The Collaborative Effects of Occupational Therapy and Area Agencies on Aging
  • Emily Decker- Occupational Therapy for Adults with Intellectual Developmental Disabilities
  • Hannah (Merrill) Haselhorst- Caregivers as Clients in Pediatric Occupational Therapy
  • Jessica Englehart- Transforming Occupational Therapy for Alzheimer’s Disease: Empowering Best Ability to Function
  • Josh Stephens- Occupational Therapy’s Role in Prison Healthcare
  • Michaela Fuller- Promoting Kindergarten Readiness Through Play and Literacy
  • Miciah Randolph- Advocacy of the Occupational Therapy Profession in Belize
  • Uriel Esquivel- Occupational Therapy and 3D Fabrication in Schools
  • Vinimol Wilson- The Importance of Fall Prevention for Older Adults
  • Alyssa Beller- Occupational Therapy Research in the Diagnoses of Cerebral Palsy and Cerebral Visual Impairment
  • Amanda Butler- CHAMPIONS Xtrme: A basketball program for children with disabilities 
  • Amy Masters- Streamlining Access to Care at a Top Naval Trauma Center to Address Occupational and Social Injustices
  • Chelsey Cregeen- Advising & Advocacy for Rehab Science Careers at the Community College Level
  • Ciera Tuozzo- Fostering school readiness in rural Alaska
  • Doorga Dave- Well-being of Community-Dwelling Older Adults: A Multifaceted Approach 
  • Emma Bragg- Social Emotional Learning - Camp Stirrup Hope
  • Gina Kang- Blueprint for Success: From Generalist to Hand Therapy Specialist
  • Ivy Evatt- Occupational Therapy's Role in Animal-Assisted Interventions
  • Janae Moffitt- Developing Social-Emotional Skills with High School Students in Rural Alaska
  • Jeremy Jones- My Red Isn't Your Red: Modern Knowledge, Concepts, and Practice of Ayres Sensory Integration
  • Jessica Cahill- Immersion Into DIRFloortime®: An Occupational Therapy Experience
  • Natalie Ambos- Breasts, Bottles & Bananas: Supporting Growth, Development & Quality of Life Through Occupational Therapy Intervention
  • Rachel Vogler- Occupational Therapy in Hospice Care: Why Is It Needed?
  • Shelley Downward- Thriving in Adulthood and Growing in Friendship: Programming Meaningful Activities for Adults with Disabilities
  • Annabel Olson- Life After the Military: The Role of OT in Civilian Re-Integration
  • Audi Stroup- Advancing Accessibility: Supporting the YMCA of Rock River Valley Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Initiative
  • Brittany Reavis- Big occupations and little babies: What I learned in the NICU
  • Cassandra Stahl- Adaption for Visual Impairments
  • Courtney Nennig- Making Meaningful Memories that Last a Lifetime
  • Hailey Martin- Low-Cost Community Service Clinic: Sustainability Planning for the Long-Term Success of a Student-Led Clinic
  • Haley McCool- Occupational Therapy in Adaptive Skiing
  • Jordy Schalk- Bridging the Gap of Occupational Therapy Services for Persons with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities: Addressing Needs During the Transition Period
  • Kayla Jordan- The Art of Hand Therapy 
  • Kelsey Garverick- Advocacy for Skilled Occupational Therapy Services in Conjunction with Applied Behavior Analysis for Improved Patient Outcomes
  • Tess McAllister- Advancement of Respite Care in Rural Indiana to Support Children and Their Caregivers
  • Tori Lefevers-Exploring the sensory experiences of adults with a history of childhood trauma: a Photovoice study
  • Trevor Bradway- Occupational Therapy & Aging in your Home
  • Urvi Patel- Optimizing Function Through Delta-Cast Splinting In Hand Therapy
  • Victoria Boyer- Impacting the Halls
  • Addison Fields- Here We Learn and Go All About Occupational Therapy
  • Ally Thies- The Development of Functional Communication Through Social Skills Groups
  • Amy Frederickson- Occupational Therapy in Therapeutic Riding
  • Austin Thompson- The Foundational Operations of Opening a Pediatric Pro Bono Occupational Therapy Clinic
  • Bailey Walter- Leadership and Occupational Therapy in a Summer Camp Setting
  • Brooke Hollinger- Advocating for DAThouse and the Surrounding Neighborhood
  • Caitlin Davis- Advocating for Refugees through Occupational Therapy
  • Christine Zimmerman- Advocacy and Refugees: An Occupational Therapy Perspective
  • Drew DelGallo- Leisure and COVID-19: Evaluating the Role of Leisure Pursuits among OTD Students and Practitioners during the COVID-19 Pandemic
  • Emily Magee- Grow As We Go: Pediatric OT in Underserved Puerto Rico
  • Fernando Hurtado- Context and Culture in Occupational Therapy Practice
  • Haley Roberts- Viewing Alaska: The Use of Occupational Therapy on Visual Skills in the Educational Settings of Rural Southeast Alaska
  • Karaline Hallett- Learning the Accreditation Process and Promoting Student Engagement in an Occupational Therapy Assistant Program
  • Kelly Matakovic - Implementation of Social Emotional Learning and Executive Functioning Skills in Rural Alaska: Hollis School
  • Lexi Pester- Get Up and Move! Adapting Exercise to Every Child’s Needs
  • Luke Dunham- Advancement of Client-Centered Hand and Orthopedic Occupational Therapy Treatment Approaches and Techniques: An Evidence-Based Practice
  • Maddie Ulrich- A Comprehensive Resource Guide to Support Childhood Development
  • Patrick Montag- Exploring Accessibility and Adaptations for Gardening within the Scope of Occupational Therapy
  • Purnima Patel- Promoting Independence and Success through Sensory Integration 
  • Stephen Crooks- The Implementation of Occupational Therapy in Hollis School
  • Tori Tiberi- Adaptive Scuba Diving and Occupational Therapy
  • Whitney Willms- Development of Occupational Therapy Programming for Adults with Disabilities to Increase Independent Living Skills and Occupational Engagement during Vocational Training

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