Doctoral Capstone Project

Develop life skills by strengthening critical thinking, interpersonal, and coping self-management abilities to support participation in everyday occupations and post-school transitions under IDEA section 300.34 and occupational justice.

This literature review surveys social emotional learning and self-regulation interventions for youth with disabilities, including skills for life, video modeling, and social skills training, assessing self-efficacy and transition to adulthood.

Develop program resources guided by Mojo, developmental, and PEO models to promote social, emotional, and self-regulation skills for transition-age youth in school, work, and community, advocating for occupational therapy services.

Explore capstone site at the Waukee community transition center, supporting 18 to 21 year old students with life skills and job readiness through morning huddles, rotations, and field trips.

Demonstrate evidence-based practice in occupation-based settings by researching programming for a transition center. Cultivate lifelong learning habits and create handouts for faculty and caregivers on social, emotional, and self-regulation skills.

Present a 15-minute presentation to school faculty that defines occupational therapy, advocates for school-based practice, and highlights professionalism, ethical behavior, advocacy, and prompt hierarchy to expand services for transition-aged students.

Create handouts for Transition Center staff and caregivers that promote social emotional learning and self-regulation at school and home, supporting teachers and families in guiding students toward adulthood.

Develop social emotional learning and coping skills for transition age students through a client-centered program with morning rotations and a six-week activity sequence, documented as an artifact schedule.

Review questions about life skills, including interpersonal and coping skills, and their educational relevance. Explore how social, emotional and self-regulation skills influence participation in daily occupations and OT roles.

Review the references used to complete the doctoral capstone project presentation and acknowledge mentors and collaborators from Heartland AEA and Waukee CTC, including interviewees and the needs assessment.