Date of Award

2022

Document Type

Scholarly Project

Degree Name

Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD)

Department

Occupational Therapy

First Advisor

Kelly Dornbier

Abstract

Purpose Parent and caregiver collaboration, participation, education, and training has shown to improve therapeutic outcomes for the child receiving therapy services for sensory processing and integration challenges (Lin, Lin, & Yu, 2018; Miller-Kuhaneck & Watling, 2018; Schoen, Miller, & Flanagan, 2018; STAR Institute, 2021). However, parent education and training are often minimally conducted or lacking altogether in the therapeutic process (Gee & Peterson, 2016; Miller-Kuhaneck & Watling, 2018). This product was created with the purpose of enhancing parent and caregiver knowledge about sensory processing difficulties and to increase follow-through of sensory strategies across contexts, such as at home and school, in the therapy clinic, and within the community.

Methodology The product was developed following a comprehensive review of literature that emphasized the need for increased parent and caregiver education and support throughout the therapeutic process. Following the review of available literature, an on-site needs assessment was conducted to determine educational topics to include within the product. The product materials were organized based on the Ecology of Human Performance (EHP) Model (Dunn, Brown, & McGuigan, 1994).

Results The product includes instructional materials that can be accessible outside of the therapy clinic, such as written hand-outs with pictures and corresponding videos for parents to refer to when implementing sensory strategies. These educational resources are intended to reinforce the one-on-one education/discussions that occur during the individual therapy sessions. All instructional handouts were written to be at or below the eighth grade reading level to promote readability and understandability for the population served. Each educational material includes specific strategies and recommendations for parents and caregivers to try with their child to improve or overcome the challenges associated with sensory processing difficulties.

Summary The purpose of this product is to provide an outpatient pediatric clinic with resources and guidance to facilitate individualized parent education and support specific to the population served. Overall, the product should be utilized as both a direct and indirect service approach (AOTA, 2020) to enhance the child’s occupational performance across various contexts.

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