The Department of Occupational Therapy and Occupational Science is pleased to announce several recent publications by our very talented staff!

Dr. Wendy Stav, along with former students Laura Snider Weidley and Anthea Love, was published in the July/August 2011 edition of the American Journal of Occupational Therapy. Their study, “Barriers to developing and sustaining driving and community mobility programs,” focused on addressing the shortage of driving rehabilitation programs in the nation. Data was collected via survey from 2,869 occupational therapists, rehabilitation managers, and health care administrators. The findings from the study went on to help create a “resource toolkit” with strategies to overcome barriers to program development.

Dr. Lisa Crabtree was published in the July 5th edition of OT Practice. Dr. Crabtree’s article, “Autism is lifelong: Community integration of adults on the autism spectrum” focuses on her experiences and participation in the Center for Adults with Autism offered through Towson University. Her article highlights how the program supports young adults on the autism spectrum through student involvement and occupationally centered activities. Outcome measurements indicate how the program has had a significantly positive impact on clients, their families, and the student volunteers.

Dr. Theresa Smith, in collaboration with Amanda Drefus and Gayle Hersch, published the article, “Habits, routines, and roles of graduate students: Effects of Hurricane Ike,” in the July edition of Occupational Therapy in Health Care. Dr. Smith conducted a qualitative study of three occupational therapy students at the University of Texas Medical Center who were transitioning to graduate-level fieldwork when Hurricane Ike landed in the Gulf. Dr. Smith examined the importance of the students’ habits, routines, and roles pre– and post-hurricane.

Dr. Regena Stevens-Ratchford was published in the most recent edition of Activities, Adaptation, and Aging. Her article, “Longstanding occupation: The relation of the continuity and meaning of productive occupation to life satisfaction and successful aging” centers on how engagements in longstanding occupations can have a positive impact on the health of older adults. Her study focused on the experiences of 292 adults in the mid-Atlantic region. Older adults in the study identified longstanding occupations such as volunteerism, gardening, and cooking, as contributing to their overall wellness and life satisfaction