The Role of Occupational Therapy in Supporting Neurodiverse Individuals in the Workplace

Authors

• M'Kenna J. Henson, Eastern Kentucky UniversityFollow

Files

Description

My doctoral capstone was completed in partnership with the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) and focused on the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) areas of education and program development. The project involved developing a nationally-accessible asynchronous continuing education e-course, The Role of Occupational Therapy in Supporting Neurodiverse Individuals in the Workplace, to increase occupational therapy (OT) practitioners' and students' knowledge of neurodiversity, workplace inclusion, and evidence-based employment supports.

Current literature highlights significant barriers to employment for neurodivergent individuals. Approximately 20% of people are neurodivergent, yet nearly 80% of neurodiverse adults are unemployed, demonstrating the need for greater workplace inclusion and practitioner education. This project addressed these gaps by translating current evidence into a nationally accessible educational resource.

A comprehensive literature review informed course development, with content focused on neurodiversity, workplace accommodations, OT interventions, interdisciplinary collaboration, workplace advocacy, and strategies to promote work readiness and sustained employment participation. To promote learner engagement and knowledge translation, the course incorporated embedded knowledge checks, an interactive case study, a downloadable quick-reference guide, and a summative final examination. All content underwent review by my site mentor to ensure accuracy and alignment with the learning objectives.

This capstone strengthened my skills in leadership, program development, evidence synthesis, instructional design, and professional collaboration. By creating a sustainable continuing education resource for AOTA, this project advances neurodiversity-affirming, evidence-based occupational therapy practice while promoting improved employment participation, workplace inclusion, and long-term employment success for neurodivergent individuals nationwide.

Graduation Date

2026

Keywords

neurodiversity, workplace readiness, inclusion, continuing education, employment participation, occupational therapy

Disciplines

Occupational Therapy

Comments

Link to presentation: https://youtu.be/yLBO5DP2tck

Degree Type

Book

Site Mentor

Debbie Amini, EdD, OT/L, FAOTA