Date Presented 04/20/2023
This qualitative study explored the roles and responsibilities of OTs working in disability services centers on university campuses, adding support for OTs in this setting.
Primary Author and Speaker: Amanda Call Henscheid
Additional Authors and Speakers: Karleigh Moore, Nicole Murphy, Katelin Munkres, Salvador Cano Jr.
INTRODUCTION: Students enrolled in primary and secondary education with an impairment resulting in functional limitations have access to various resources and services through their educational institution (U.S. Department of Education, n.d.). Because of their ability to understand ‘capabilities, flourishing, and well-being, occupational therapy is well equipped to meet the participation and inclusion needs of students with disabilities in tertiary education settings in Western contexts’ (Pereira, 2012, p. 394). Despite this, there is currently a lack of data defining the current and potential roles and responsibilities of occupational therapists within four-year university disability services centers. Prior to this study, existing literature has addressed current perceptions related to the responsibilities held by occupational therapists in this setting but has yet to clearly define these. Aim: This study aims to identify the roles and responsibilities of occupational therapists within disability services on campuses at four-year universities within the United States.
METHOD: Researchers administered a survey with open-ended questions to understand the current and potential roles of occupational therapists in university Disability Services offices.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Participants reported fulfilling a variety of roles within Disability Services offices, including providing direct and indirect services. They identified their primary contribution as applying the unique lens of occupational therapy to both evaluation and intervention as well as indirect services. Implications for practice and future research will be discussed.
References
Parker Harris, S., & Gould, R., (2019). ADA research brief: Higher education and the ADA, (pp. 1-6). Chicago, IL: ADA National Network Knowledge Translation Center.
ADA National Network. (2021). What are a public or private college-university’s responsibilities to students with disabilities? https://adata.org/faq/what-are-public-or-private-college-universitys-responsibilities-students-disabilities
American Occupational Therapy Association. (2020). Occupational therapy practice framework: Process and domain (4th ed.). American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 74(Suppl. 2). https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2020.74S2001
Pereira, R. B. (2012). The potential of occupational therapy services for students with disabilities within tertiary education settings. Australian Occupational Therapy Journal, 59(5), 393–396. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1440-1630.2012.01037.x
