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Capstone Semester and Project
Capstone Site: United Cerebral Palsy of Greater Cleveland
in the alternative education program
This page describes my capstone project, which is the culminating experience of my doctorate education in occupational therapy. For my capstone project, I created a Program Modification Plan in the United Cerebral Palsy (UCP) of Greater Cleveland's alternative education school program for children with complex needs.
About UCP ​
Mission: To be the indispensable resource for individuals with cerebral palsy and other disabilities, their families, and their communities.
Vision: A life of inclusion for individuals with disabilities
UCP is an organization devoted to providing resources for individuals, families, and communities impacted by cerebral palsy and other disabilities. UCP serves communities within the United States and Canada by providing resources, education, and support through their regional sites. UCP of Greater Cleveland serves Cuyahoga county and other communities within the state of Ohio, providing assistance to individuals with various disabilities through their LeafBridge Center for Children and OakLeaf center for adults.
About LeafBridge
The LeafBridge Center serviced 153 pediatric clients in 2020 between their alternative education program, outpatient services, and school-based services. The alternative education day program offered through the LeafBridge Center serves individuals aged 3-22 who have complex learning, medical, or motor needs that cannot be supported within their local school district (United Cerebral Palsy of Greater Cleveland, n.d.-b).
Sensory Processing
Many students in the alternative education program exhibit sensory processing difficulties that have a significant impact on their functioning in daily life. Sensory processing challenges can lead to difficulty with self-regulation and interfere with an individual's ability to successfully engage and participate in their daily occupations.
The Program Modification Plan​
The program modification involves occupation-based programming for youth aged 3-22 who attend the United Cerebral Palsy (UCP) of Greater Cleveland’s alternative education program to improve student performance in a variety of settings by promoting sensory processing and self-regulation strategies by providing a personalized sensory diet that describes successful sensory self-regulation strategies for each student
Program Goal: to improve student self-regulation and participation by addressing sensory processing using occupation-based services by a) providing sensory processing education and training to staff of the alternative education program; b) creating individualized sensory diets for each student, and c) creating a resource and structured method for continuous re-evaluation of student sensory processing.
Programming
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Programming was designed to meet the needs of the alternative education program which included staff education, individualized sensory diets, and re-evaluation methods.
Staff Education: consisted of an interactive training in-service session with handouts for future use.
Sensory Diets: a sensory book and schedule-based sensory diet was created for each student
Re-Evaluation: pre-sensory diet and post-sensory diet observation sheets were created and tailored to the needs and personnel of the alternative education program.
Staff 4-Quadrants Sensory Processing Handout
Staff Sensory Processing Brochure
Staff Sensory Input Tip Sheet
Sensory Diet Schedule
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