Graduation Year

2021

Degree Type

Open Access Capstone

Degree Name

Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD)

Department

Occupational Therapy

Abstract

Sensory Paths are sensory motor-based interventions that will provide opportunities for teachers to incorporate structured movement into the natural classroom routine, such as before circle time, to help the children in their classes be ready for learning by increasing attention and decreasing out of seat events.

This single subject A-B-A design project, rooted in the Ecology of Human Performance framework, explored providing structured sensory motor-based opportunities prior to circle time throughout the classroom day to decrease interfering behaviors in the classroom, such as out of seat behaviors and improve attention during circle time.

The results indicate that the Sensory Paths had a positive effect on out of seat events in preschool children with special needs ages three through five. Of the five children who were able to participate in the full study, all demonstrated a decrease in out of seat events as well as therapeutic deceleration from Phase A1 to week 1 of Phase B1.

The participants demonstrated a decrease in out of seat events as compared to their baseline with the application of the Sensory Path intervention. Teachers reported the Sensory Paths were easy to implement and were an effective classroom intervention.

Faculty Mentor

Camille Skubik-Peplaski PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA

Department Affiliation

Occupational Therapy

Committee Member

Jennifer Hight, OTD

Department Affiliation

Occupational Therapy

Committee Member

Shirley O’Brien PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA

Department Affiliation

Occupational Therapy

Comments

This capstone project and the research behind it would not have been possible without the exceptional support of my academic advisor, Dr. Camille Skubik-Peplaski, whose constant support and guidance have expanded my mind beyond what I could have ever imagined. I would also like to thank the committee members, Dr. Shirley O’Brien and Dr. Jennifer Hight for the multiple edits and insightful comments.

My sincere thank you to the Staff at Variety Child Learning Center for offering me an opportunity to follow my dream and make a difference when working with children.

I am also grateful for the support of my family and friends whose ongoing encouragement was a beacon in dark hours.

IRB Approval Number (if applicable)

3708

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