Capstone Project
Starting August 2025, I will be working with the Thrive Program at Cincinnati Children's assessing the effectiveness and satisfaction of clinicians leading groups for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Through the information collected changes will be made and implemented to ensure future materials and groups meet the participants, families, and clinicians needs.
What is Capstone?
Capstone is an independent project that allows us to work with a topic of interest. We can focus on research, leadership, program and policy development, advocacy, and education. This project allows me to incorporate my interests and education into my project.
Reflection: Year 2
Working with Cincinnati Children’s Project Search Program mission aligns with the capstone focus of program and policy development because I can incorporate different evidence and knowledge to help meet the needs of the individuals. I can continue to develop the program. This site meets Boyer’s Model of Scholarship of Teaching and Learning because it works to assist individuals to understand the information obtained from employability skills training and be able to apply that information to the workplace and internships. It also aligns with the doctoral capstone idea because it allows me to be a leader and immerse myself in an opportunity to synthesize and apply the knowledge I have learned to the site.
Reflection: Year 3
I will be working with Cincinnati Children's Thrive Program for my capstone project. The Thrive Program allows me to work with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities during the transitional period from high school to adulthood. The Thrive Program provides different groups to help individuals with IDD develop the life skills needed in adulthood. This capstone project aligns with the capstone focus of program and policy development because I can assess the clinicians perspectives of how previous groups have ran and what changes can be made for future groups to ensure the participants needs are met. By working with the Thrive Program for my capstone project I am able to embrace leadership skills as well as immerse myself in opportunity to apply my knowledge as well continue to learn about the profession of occupational therapy.
Reflection: Year 3.5
Over the past 3.5 years working on my doctoral capstone, I have grown tremendously both professionally and personally. This project gave me the opportunity to dive deeply into a topic I am passionate about, supporting transition-aged youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). I was given the opportunity to work at Cincinnati Children's Medical Hospital and learn about their mission and organization.
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Throughout the process, I discovered more about the role of occupational therapy than I ever expected. I learned how to tailor interventions to meet the unique needs of each client, how to engage in younger children with IDD, and how to work collaboratively with an interdisciplinary team and make strides towards the child and families goals. I also learned a lot about myself during this time. I learned how to adapt when things do not go as planned, how to advocate for clients, and how rewarding it is to see how small successes can make a big difference in someone's life.
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This capstone reinforced my passion for occupational therapy and strengthened my confidence in supporting individuals with IDD across the lifespan. It has left me inspired and prepared to continue growing as a occupational therapist who values holistic, client-centered care.
Capstone Proposal
Evaluating the effectiveness and satisfaction of clinician's leading groups within the Thrive Program through interviews. The information collected from the interviews will help develop new materials and inform changes to the groups to ensure future groups are more effectives and align with the clinicians and participants needs.
Description of Capstone Site
This doctoral capstone project took place at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. The Thrive Program Brain Builders group took place at the medical office building (MOB) down on main campus. Cincinnati Children's Hospital is committed to advancing children’s health and reshaping how care is delivered through integrated, internationally recognized efforts in research, education, and innovation. For patients and families locally, nationally, and globally, the organization strives to provide care that achieves the highest standards in medical outcomes, quality of life, and patient and family experiences. Cincinnati Children’s provides care for patients globally, addressing a wide range of pediatric medical and mental health conditions through comprehensive, specialized services.
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The other part of my project took place at Xavier University where I presented to second year occupational therapy doctoral students. The presentation was on occupational therapy's role in treat transition-aged youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
