As April is Occupational Therapy Month, we’d like to honor the instrumental work of our Capstone Students and recognize the meaningful differences they make on the disability community.
United Spinal Association’s Capstone Program had humble beginnings—and now has a rock-solid place among Occupational Therapists in training who aspire to serve our community. It kicked off when we began working with two students in 2019, ahead of their placement with us the following year.
“Through the work of our capstone students we are able to enhance much needed information and resources to better serve our members. The capstone students bring a new and fresh perspective and are able to help us bridge that working relationship between community organizations and clinicians,” says Lindsey Elliot, Director Member Initiatives.
“We are truly grateful for all the capstone students who have come through our doors and looks forward to those who have yet to!”
Meet our 2023 Capstone Students:
Rachel Buckley
Katz School of Health and Science at Yeshiva University
Rachel created a toolkit to provide Primary Care Physicians more knowledge about SCI/D in order to help them better serve the community and increase satisfaction. The toolkit includes questions for individuals to ask before committing to a PCP, a client intake form, an accessibility page, clinician checklist and a resource page.
“The biggest takeaway I have learned while working at United Spinal is the importance of having representation and individuals living with SCI involved in all the decision making, planning, and the advocating process,” says Rachel on her Capstone experience.
Sarah Ingram
Murphy Deming College of Health Sciences
Sarah focused on making fashion and beauty products more accessible for wheelchair users. “As apparel impacts mental health, self-image and employment, I hoped to provide resources to support individuals in accessing desired, functional clothing and beauty products,” she says.
She completed interviews with members of the disability community to understand firsthand what problems they face and to offer solutions. “The willingness to share experiences, advocate and engage in meaningful discussions made my educational experience memorable and gave me insight for my future as an OT.”
Jonah Eckert
Huntington University
Throughout his time at United Spinal, Jonah harnessed the power of personal narratives to stress the importance of mental health awareness for people with spinal cord injuries. In three installments of “My Spinal Cord Injury Perspective”, he spoke directly to our members about their journeys to recovery after paralysis in order to provide support and resources for others in need.
“United Spinal has been thrilled with the contributions of the OT students who have partnered with us for their capstone projects. They provide perspective into OT best practices and are able to interact with our members and learn from individuals with lived experience which enhances their understanding,” says Abby Ross, Chief Operating Officer.
“It is a win-win arrangement and we hope the continues to grow with new universities and schools participating in the future.”
Please contact our Community Support team for more information about United Spinal’s chapters and programs. Join us by signing up for a free membership. To support our mission, donate here.
